Cybersecurity Compliance
Made Simple

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is an auditing standard developed by the AICPA that evaluates an organization's information systems based on five Trust Service Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Any service organization that stores, processes, or transmits customer data should consider SOC 2 compliance.

SOC 2 Type I evaluates the design of controls at a specific point in time, while Type II assesses both the design and operating effectiveness of controls over a period (typically 6-12 months). Type II is generally more valued by customers as it demonstrates sustained compliance.

Achieving SOC 2 compliance typically takes 6-12 months for the initial audit. Type I can be completed faster since it's a point-in-time assessment. Type II requires a monitoring period of 3-12 months. Our readiness assessment helps determine a realistic timeline based on your current posture.

The five Trust Service Criteria are: Security (the foundation, required for all SOC 2 reports), Availability (system uptime and accessibility), Processing Integrity (data processing accuracy and completeness), Confidentiality (protection of confidential information), and Privacy (handling of personal information). Only Security is mandatory; others are selected based on your services.

SOC 2 reports are typically issued annually. Type II reports cover a specific monitoring period, and organizations usually undergo annual audits to maintain continuous compliance and provide up-to-date reports to their customers and stakeholders.

Yes, SOC 2 controls often overlap with other frameworks like ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR. Many organizations use SOC 2 as a foundation and extend their compliance program to cover additional requirements. We can help you map SOC 2 controls to other frameworks for maximum efficiency.

ISO 27001 is the international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). Published by ISO and IEC, it provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company and customer information. It matters because it demonstrates to clients, partners, and regulators that your organization takes information security seriously and follows globally recognized best practices.

An ISMS is a framework of policies, procedures, and controls that systematically manages an organization's information security risks. ISO 27001 requires the ISMS to cover risk assessment, risk treatment, security controls (Annex A), internal audits, management reviews, and continual improvement. It takes a holistic approach to security, covering people, processes, and technology.

Typical timelines range from 6 to 18 months depending on the organization's size, complexity, and current security maturity. The process includes gap analysis (1-2 months), ISMS design and implementation (3-9 months), internal audit (1 month), and the two-stage certification audit (1-2 months). We help streamline this process with proven methodologies.

Annex A of ISO 27001 lists 93 controls (in the 2022 version) organized into four themes: Organizational (37 controls), People (8 controls), Physical (14 controls), and Technological (34 controls). Organizations select applicable controls through risk assessment and document them in a Statement of Applicability (SoA). Not all controls are mandatory — they must be justified based on your risk landscape.

ISO 27001 is a certifiable international standard focused on building a complete ISMS, while SOC 2 is an attestation report on security controls by a CPA firm. ISO 27001 is more widely recognized globally, particularly in Europe and Asia, while SOC 2 is prevalent in North America. Many organizations pursue both to satisfy different customer and market requirements.

Costs vary based on organization size, scope, and existing maturity. Key expenses include consulting and implementation support, technology and tooling, employee training, internal audit costs, and certification body audit fees. For small to mid-size organizations, total costs typically range from $20,000 to $100,000+. We provide detailed estimates during our gap analysis to help you budget accurately.