SOC 2 guides
SOC 2 is an attestation report in which a CPA firm gives an opinion on your controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. These guides cover the report types, the criteria and their 2027 revision, and the work of getting ready for the audit.
- SOC 2 Evidence List: What Auditors Ask For, Control by ControlThe evidence SOC 2 auditors ask for, control by control: populations, samples and the records each common control should leave behind during the period.
- SOC 2 Bridge Letter: What It Covers, With a TemplateA SOC 2 bridge letter covers the gap between your last report period and today. What it must say, how long it can stretch, and a template you can adapt.
- The 2027 SOC 2 criteria and what they mean for your next auditThe AICPA's 2027 SOC 2 exposure draft cuts the common criteria from 33 to 20, renumbers them and writes AI into almost every series. Here is what changes and what to do now.
- SOC 2 Exceptions and Qualified Opinions: What They MeanWhat a SOC 2 exception is, when exceptions lead to a qualified opinion, the four opinion types, and how to respond so the report still reads well.
- Complementary Controls in SOC 2: CUECs, CSOCs and Subservice OrganizationsWhat complementary user entity controls and subservice organizations mean in a SOC 2 report, carve-out versus inclusive method, and what each side must do.
- How to Write a SOC 2 System Description (DC 200)What the SOC 2 system description must contain under the AICPA DC 200 description criteria, how to write each section, and the mistakes that cause rework.
- How Long Does SOC 2 Take? A Realistic Audit TimelineHow long SOC 2 takes from first gap assessment to a Type 2 report in hand: readiness, the review period, fieldwork and issuance, and what moves each phase.
- SOC 2 Checklist: A Readiness Checklist From Scope to ReportA SOC 2 readiness checklist in the order the work happens: scope, gap assessment, policies, controls, evidence, auditor selection and the review period.
- SOC 1 vs SOC 2 vs SOC 3: Which Report Do Your Customers Need?SOC 1 covers controls over customers' financial reporting, SOC 2 covers security against the Trust Services Criteria, and SOC 3 is a public SOC 2 summary.
- SOC 2 Ultimate Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Service Organization ControlA complete guide to running a SOC 2 programme: the report types, the five Trust Services Criteria, the key controls, the roadmap and common pitfalls.
- SOC 2 Implementation Guide: How to Achieve Compliance and Build Customer TrustLearn how to achieve SOC 2 compliance with this comprehensive guide, from initial planning to audit execution, ensuring data security and building customer trust.
- SOC 2 Type I vs Type II: Understanding the Key Differences and RequirementsLearn the key differences between SOC 2 Type I and Type II reports, their requirements, and best practices for implementation to ensure your organization’s security and compliance.
- SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria: Complete Guide to Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and PrivacyUnderstand SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria, including Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy, and learn how to implement them for SOC 2 compliance.
Trust, settled.
Reading about it is the slow way. See it running against your own systems.