Elevate Consulting

Cyber Security Compliance

SOC 2

SOC 2 Consulting Services:

Ensuring Trust and Security in Your Organization

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a comprehensive auditing framework designed to assess and report on the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls of service organizations. High quality SOC 2 reports can demonstrate trust and commitment, and provide a competitive advantage, for both new and existing clients.

Our expert consulting services will guide you through the assessment and preparation for an eventual SOC 2 audit and opinion, helping you save time and money to achieve a successful audit and compliance solution.

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2, developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), sets forth the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) that guide organizations in managing customer data securely. This framework requires service organizations to implement controls that align with key trust principles, ensuring that user data is managed with the highest standards of security and reliability.

The Five Trust Services Criteria:

Ensures that information and systems are protected against unauthorized access, threats, and potential vulnerabilities. Security is mandatory in every SOC 2 engagement.

Verifies that information and systems are accessible for operation and use, meeting up time and performance requirements.

Confirms that system processing is accurate, timely, and authorized.

Ensures information designated as confidential is handled with appropriate security measures, including encryption and access controls.

Validates that personal data is collected, used, retained, and disposed of in line with privacy policies and legal obligations, such as GDPR.

The Security criteria is the minimum required criteria for a SOC 2, also referred to as the Common criteria. However, most organizations scope their audits with some combination of the Security, Availability, and Confidentiality criteria. The Processing Integrity and Privacy criteria are typically reserved for unique or specialized outsourced services.

SOC 2 Report Types:

Evaluates the design and implementation of controls at a specific point in time, ensuring the control environment is adequately structured.

Examines both the design and operational effectiveness of controls over a specified period (usually 6–12 months), demonstrating consistent control execution.

Key Control Areas

Our SOC 2 consulting services thoroughly address critical control areas spanning the five Trust Services Criteria:

  • Control Environment: We review governance, ethical values, oversight, and roles to ensure a solid foundation for the control environment.
  • Risk Assessment: Identifying and assessing risks to financial reporting or operational objectives.
  • Information and Communication: Ensuring timely and quality information is communicated throughout the organization.
  • Monitoring Activities: Ongoing evaluations to ensure controls operate as intended.
  • Access Control: Managing system access to prevent unauthorized entry.
  • System Operations: Monitoring and detecting deviations or system failures.
  • Change Management: Ensuring systematic, documented control over changes to systems and applications.
  • Incident Response: Developing and testing response plans for potential security incidents.
  • Risk Mitigation: Identifying risks and implementing policies to reduce exposure.

Performance and Uptime Monitoring: Ensuring systems meet availability commitments with consistent monitoring.

Backups and Replication: Managing backup protocols and data replication for system recovery.

Disaster Recovery: Developing and testing disaster recovery plans to ensure minimal downtime.

Business Continuity: Planning for service continuity, including remote operations and alternative resources.

  • System Processing: Ensuring processing is complete, accurate, and timely.
  • Error Handling: Implementing processes for detecting, correcting, and logging errors.
  • Quality Assurance: Monitoring processing accuracy with quality checks and controls.

Data Classification: Defining data sensitivity levels and implementing security accordingly.

Data Retention: Setting retention schedules for confidential data, ensuring data lifecycle management.

Data Encryption: Using encryption to secure data both in transit and at rest.

Access Controls: Restricting access to confidential information based on need-to-know principles.

  • Personal Information Management: Policies and processes for collecting, using, retaining, and disposing of personal information.
  • Data Retention and Disposal: Adhering to privacy requirements for personal data storage, usage, and deletion.
  • Consent and Communication: Ensuring individuals are informed of data collection and processing practices.
Our SOC 2 Assessment Process

Our SOC 2 consulting approach ensures each critical element is effectively addressed, resulting in a compliant and resilient control environment.

Scoping and Planning

We collaborate with you to define the scope of the SOC 2 audit based on your service commitments, risk tolerance, and relevant Trust Services Criteria:

Identifying business processes, technology systems, and data flows that impact SOC 2 criteria.

Crafting a tailored audit plan based on your unique organizational needs.

Compiling a comprehensive request list of policies, control evidence, and procedural documentation.

Documentation and Reporting

We produce a detailed gap analysis report with recommendations for aligning with SOC 2 requirements. Key deliverables include:

Identifying gaps in control design or execution and recommending improvements.

Assisting in developing policies, procedures, and evidence documentation.

A comprehensive report outlining areas of compliance and steps to prepare for the audit.

Control Evaluation and Testing

Our team examines and tests controls for design and operational effectiveness:

Assessing the adequacy of control design in meeting SOC 2 requirements.

For Type 2 reports, we conduct sampling and testing over the specified period, confirming control effectiveness through interviews, evidence review, and system walkthroughs.

Providing actionable insights into areas that require enhancement.

Ongoing Support and Continuous Compliance

Our relationship doesn’t end with the SOC 2 audit. We provide continuous support to maintain compliance and enhance resilience:

Ongoing assessments to validate control effectiveness.

Ensuring that security policies remain aligned with best practices and evolving risks.

Regular staff training on SOC 2 requirements and control expectations.

Scoping and Planning

We collaborate with you to define the scope of the SOC 2 audit based on your service commitments, risk tolerance, and relevant Trust Services Criteria:

Identifying business processes, technology systems, and data flows that impact SOC 2 criteria.

Crafting a tailored audit plan based on your unique organizational needs.

Compiling a comprehensive request list of policies, control evidence, and procedural documentation.

Control Evaluation and Testing

Our team examines and tests controls for design and operational effectiveness:

Assessing the adequacy of control design in meeting SOC 2 requirements.

For Type 2 reports, we conduct sampling and testing over the specified period, confirming control effectiveness through interviews, evidence review, and system walkthroughs.

Providing actionable insights into areas that require enhancement.

Documentation and Reporting

We produce a detailed gap analysis report with recommendations for aligning with SOC 2 requirements. Key deliverables include:

Identifying gaps in control design or execution and recommending improvements.

Assisting in developing policies, procedures, and evidence documentation.

A comprehensive report outlining areas of compliance and steps to prepare for the audit.

Ongoing Support and Continuous Compliance

Our relationship doesn’t end with the SOC 2 audit. We provide continuous support to maintain compliance and enhance resilience:

Ongoing assessments to validate control effectiveness.

Ensuring that security policies remain aligned with best practices and evolving risks.

Regular staff training on SOC 2 requirements and control expectations.

Benefits of Our SOC 2 Consulting Services

  • Our proven methodology streamlines the SOC 2 readiness process, saving time and reducing resource demands.
  • We partner with you throughout the readiness process, including assessment, remediation and standing by your side during the audit itself.
  • We work to identify and address control gaps, minimizing the risk of non-compliance and potential audit issues.
  • Our team works until the gaps are sufficiently closed to pass an audit and ensure you are prepared to demonstrate compliance.

Our team’s depth of experience spans various industries, helping organizations meet SOC 2 standards with precision.

  • A SOC 2 report demonstrates commitment to securing customer data, building trust with clients and partners.

Achieving SOC 2 compliance sets you apart by showing dedication to high-quality, secure service delivery.

Why Choose Us for SOC 2 Compliance?

  • Our team includes SOC 2 specialists with extensive knowledge of audit requirements and security standards.
  • As an organization we employee cyber and compliance efforts that team up to provide you with the best service possible.
  • We customize our services to fit your organization’s structure, processes, and risk profile.
  • As a partner we work with your team to become experts in your organization and truly understand your environment to ensure efficient and accurate readiness support.
  • From scoping and readiness to ongoing compliance, we guide you at every step.
  • Our team is always available to support your needs, answer your questions, or work side by side through compliance problems.
  • We provide recommendations to strengthen your control environment and promote lasting compliance.

Ensure the integrity of your financial reporting processes relevant to your user entities and prepare for a SOC 2 audit with our SOC 2 consulting services. Contact us today to start your journey towards SOC 2 compliance and operational excellence.