What SOC compliance shows
Service Organization Controls (SOC) reporting shows how you design and operate controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. A SOC report gives customers independent evidence that those controls work, so you can manage operational risk and meet regulatory expectations.
It gives customers and regulators independent assurance that your security and operational processes are running as intended, lowers audit risk, and answers the questions procurement teams ask before they sign.
Who needs a SOC report
If you handle sensitive data or provide outsourced services, customers often ask for a SOC report before they buy:
- Technology and SaaS companies proving secure data handling and system availability.
- Financial services and fintech firms validating controls over financial data and transactions.
- Healthcare and healthtech providers evidencing control over sensitive health data.
- Managed service providers, data centres and cloud providers assuring client infrastructure.
CyberSigma’s role
We are your readiness and implementation partner. We scope the criteria, run the gap assessment, design and implement controls, build the evidence routine, and prepare you for the audit — then coordinate the CPA firm through fieldwork to a clean report.
Who issues the report
A SOC report is issued only by a licensed CPA firm, following its independent examination against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Keeping the auditor independent of the team that built the controls is what gives the report its credibility. CyberSigma prepares and coordinates; the CPA firm examines and issues.
How we deliver
Scoping and gap assessment
We agree which Trust Services Criteria apply — security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy — define the systems and processes in scope, and assess your current controls to give you a prioritised gap list before any audit begins.
Control design and remediation
We help you design and implement the controls, policies and procedures the criteria expect, sized to how your business actually runs, and close the gaps found in readiness rather than during the audit.
Evidence and readiness review
We build the evidence-collection routine, run an internal readiness review against the criteria, and confirm the controls are documented and operating consistently ahead of the audit period.
Audit support and coordination
We coordinate the independent CPA firm that performs the SOC examination, manage the evidence exchange, and support you through Type I or Type II fieldwork to a clean report.
What you receive
- Scoping decision on the applicable Trust Services Criteria and report type
- Gap assessment against the criteria with prioritised findings
- Control, policy and procedure design mapped to each criterion
- Evidence-collection routine and readiness review before fieldwork
- Remediation plan to close gaps ahead of the audit period
- Coordination of the CPA firm through Type I or Type II fieldwork
Indicative timeline
Readiness typically runs about two to four months from gap assessment to the start of the audit. A SOC 2 Type II then observes the controls over a defined period — commonly three to twelve months — before the CPA firm reports.
Timelines vary with scope and readiness; we confirm a schedule after the gap assessment.
Types of SOC report
The right report depends on your services, risk exposure and what your customers ask for:
SOC 1
Controls that affect financial reporting — for service organisations whose systems influence client financial statements.
SOC 2
Controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy — the report technology and service providers are most often asked for.
SOC 3
A high-level, publicly shareable summary of SOC 2 results, confirming controls were evaluated against the Trust Services Criteria.
Type I vs Type II
Type I assesses control design at a point in time; Type II assesses design and operating effectiveness over a defined period.
Representative engagement
A SaaS provider needed a SOC 2 Type II report to clear enterprise procurement. We scoped the applicable Trust Services Criteria, ran the gap assessment, designed and implemented the missing controls, built the evidence routine, and coordinated the CPA firm through the observation period to a clean report. Named client references are available under NDA on request.
Who leads your engagement
Your engagement is led by a senior consultant experienced in the Trust Services Criteria and SOC readiness — supported by security, cloud and governance specialists. Every deliverable passes independent quality review before it reaches you or the CPA firm. We introduce your named lead on the first call.
Planning a SOC 2 for a customer or deal?
Get a free SOC 2 readiness snapshot — share your work email and we map your control gaps before the CPA audit.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SOC Compliance Audit
A SOC Compliance Audit evaluates whether an organisation meets established trust service criteria for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Why is SOC compliance important for organisations
SOC compliance builds customer trust by providing independent assurance over security, availability, and operational controls.
Who needs a SOC Compliance Audit
Organisations that handle customer data, provide outsourced services, or support regulated clients typically require SOC audits.
What are the different types of SOC reports
SOC 1 focuses on financial reporting, SOC 2 on trust services criteria, and SOC 3 provides public assurance.
What is SOC 2 compliance
SOC 2 compliance evaluates controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
How long does a SOC Compliance Audit take
Most SOC audits take three to six months, depending on scope, readiness, and control maturity.
What is the difference between SOC 1 and SOC 2
SOC 1 addresses financial reporting controls, while SOC 2 focuses on security and operational controls.
What is SOC 2 Type I vs Type II
Type I reviews control design at a point in time, while Type II tests control effectiveness over time.
What is included in a SOC Compliance Audit scope
The scope includes systems, processes, services, locations, and controls relevant to customer data and operations.
What are Trust Services Criteria
Trust Services Criteria define requirements for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.