Understanding the Elements of SOC 2 Compliance

Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) is a framework designed to help businesses manage their data securely. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a SOC 2 report provides a detailed examination of a company's internal controls over information security. The framework is built on five key principles, known as the Trust Services Criteria.

1. Security

This is the mandatory and foundational criterion for all SOC 2 reports. It focuses on protecting information and systems from unauthorized access, unauthorized disclosure of information, and damage. Security controls include access controls, firewalls, two-factor authentication, intrusion detection, and data encryption.

2. Availability

The Availability criterion addresses whether the system is available for operation and use as agreed upon. This includes considerations for network performance, disaster recovery, and the ability to maintain operations in the event of an outage or disruption.

3. Processing Integrity

Processing Integrity refers to the completeness, accuracy, timeliness, and authorization of system processing. This ensures that a system's processing is free from errors and aligns with its business purpose. It is particularly relevant for financial services, e-commerce, and other data-processing industries.

4. Confidentiality

This criterion addresses the protection of data designated as confidential. Confidential information could include sensitive business data, intellectual property, or customer information. Controls related to Confidentiality are designed to prevent unauthorized disclosure of such data.

5. Privacy

The Privacy criterion focuses on the collection, use, retention, disclosure, and disposal of personal information in conformity with the organization’s privacy policies. This is especially important for organizations that handle personally identifiable information (PII).