What is SOC 2?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a recognized security standard designed to assess an organization's internal controls for managing and protecting sensitive data.

This report, created by theAICPA (American Institute of CPAs), is particularly crucial for companies providing cloud services, SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions or any other digital service involving the management of sensitive data.

The main aim of SOC 2 compliance is toassure customers that the organization implements strict security practices to protect the personal, sensitive and financial information it handles.

SOC 2 secures customer data by ensuring that effective controls are in place to prevent the risk of unauthorized access or leakage of sensitive information. The audit enables continuous evaluation and improvement of security measures, reinforcing the organization's cybersecurity posture.

Certification reassures customers and partners that a company is serious about data management. Many organizations, particularly in the cloud and digital services sectors, require this certification before establishing collaborations.

SOC 2 meets the market's growing demands for compliance and security. Although not mandatory, it has become a key reference for companies operating in regulated environments and handling sensitive data.

Beyond compliance, SOC 2 optimizes risk management and builds stakeholder confidence by demonstrating a strong commitment to cybersecurity.

Unlike ISO 27001, which is a management system certification, SOC 2 is an audit report that attests to the effective implementation of controls. The two frameworks can be complementary

SOC 2 is based on five fundamental principles, which form the basis for assessing a company's internal controls. These principles are essential not only to comply with SOC 2 requirements, but also to establish a robust data security and risk management strategy.

- Security: This principle ensures that systems and data are protected against unauthorized access and malicious attacks. This includes the implementation of firewalls, access controls, intrusion detection mechanisms and other security solutions to prevent data breaches.

- Availability: Availability ensures that services can be accessed as planned, even in the event of failure or malfunction. This principle ensures that companies have backup and disaster recovery mechanisms in place to guarantee service continuity.

- Processing Integrity: This criterion ensures that data is processed completely, accurately and on time. Companies must demonstrate that they have systems in place to prevent errors and data corruption, and to ensure that processing is carried out as intended.

- Confidentiality: This principle stipulates that sensitive and confidential information is protected against unauthorized disclosure. This may concern commercial information, personal data or other types of sensitive data.

- Privacy: The principle of privacy is particularly relevant to organizations that collect and process personal data. It ensures that this information is processed in compliance with privacy regulations (such as GDPR, CCPA, etc.), guaranteeing its confidentiality and security.

‍

Scope and criteria‍

SOC 2 applies to any organization providing data processing services, but each company can choose to be audited for one or more of these five principles, depending on the nature of its services and the needs of its customers.

For example, a company managing sensitive personal data might choose to focus primarily on the principles of confidentiality and privacy .

The SOC 2 compliance process consists of a number of stages which enable us to assess the organization's compliance with the defined criteria. The process is structured, rigorous and involves an audit by an accredited auditor.

- Pre-assessment and preparation: Before starting the audit, the company must carry out an internal assessment of its security practices. This includes reviewing its internal policies and procedures to identify any weaknesses or gaps in existing controls. It may be necessary to implement new processes to meet SOC 2 requirements.

- External audit: An external auditor, accredited and experienced in SOC 2 audits, examines the company's internal controls to check that they comply with SOC 2 criteria. The auditor interviews stakeholders, analyzes internal documents and performs tests on security systems and processes.

- Report : After the audit, the auditor produces a report detailing the organization's compliance with SOC 2 criteria. The report includes conclusions on the design and effectiveness of controls, as well as recommendations for any necessary improvements. Depending on the type of audit chosen (SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2), the report may include a one-off assessment or an analysis over a longer period of time.

To comply with SOC 2, we recommend an approach that emphasizes agility and continuous improvement in process management, particularly in areas such as information security. Here are a few tips to implement:

In a competitive market, SOC 2 compliance can offer a distinctive advantage. It can be a key criterion for attracting new customers, especially those in regulated sectors that require such compliance.