SOC 2 CERTIFICATION

What Is SOC 2?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an attestation report developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), based on its 2017 Trust Services Criteria (with revised points of focus published in 2022). A SOC 2 report is produced when a licensed, independent CPA firm examines a service organisation’s controls relevant to security and, where in scope, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. SOC 2 is an attestation, not an ISO certification: there is no ISO-style certificate. A SOC 2 Type I report assesses the design of controls at a point in time, while a SOC 2 Type II report tests the operating effectiveness of those controls over a period, typically three to twelve months.

SOC 2 Requirements

• Security (the Common Criteria): protection of information and systems against unauthorised access and disclosure. This is the mandatory criterion in every SOC 2 report.
• Availability: systems are available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
• Processing integrity: system processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorised.
• Confidentiality: information designated as confidential is protected as committed or agreed.
• Privacy: personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in line with the entity’s privacy commitments.
• The examination is performed under the AICPA SSAE 18 attestation standard, and the service organisation selects which optional criteria apply based on its scope.

Achieve SOC 2 attestation with Univate Global. Book a free scoping consultation today. Available in 9 markets.

Benefits of SOC 2

• Provides independent, third-party assurance over your security and data-protection controls.
• Meets the due-diligence and vendor-risk requirements of enterprise customers, especially in the USA.
• Shortens sales cycles by answering security questionnaires with a recognised attestation report.
• Strengthens internal controls and reduces the risk of security incidents and data breaches.
• Supports and complements other frameworks such as ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR readiness.
• Builds customer trust and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to security, since a Type II report covers a period of operation.

SOC 2 in 9 Markets

• UAE: SOC 2 readiness and attestation coordination for technology and outsourcing providers serving international clients.
• Saudi Arabia: Readiness support and CPA-firm coordination for SaaS and service organisations pursuing SOC 2.
• Philippines: SOC 2 preparation for BPO, IT, and shared-services providers whose clients require an attestation.
• South Africa: Controls readiness and evidence preparation for service organisations undergoing a SOC 2 examination.
• USA: Full SOC 2 Type I and Type II readiness, aligned to the AICPA Trust Services Criteria, for organisations serving US enterprise customers.
• Singapore: SOC 2 readiness for cloud and fintech providers meeting customer and partner assurance demands.
• Malaysia: Preparation and gap remediation for service organisations pursuing SOC 2 attestation.
• Vietnam: SOC 2 readiness for software and outsourcing firms whose overseas clients require an attestation report.
• India: SOC 2 and SSAE 18 readiness for IT services and SaaS providers serving global customers.

SOC 2 Implementation Process

1. Scoping workshop to select the relevant Trust Services Criteria and define the systems in scope.
2. Gap analysis of existing controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria.
3. Remediation: designing and implementing policies, controls, and monitoring to close gaps.
4. Evidence collection and a control-operation period for a Type II examination.
5. Readiness assessment to confirm controls are in place and operating.
6. Coordination of the independent examination by a licensed CPA firm.
7. Issuance of the SOC 2 report, followed by support to maintain controls for future, typically annual, reports.

Get a fixed-fee SOC 2 implementation quote from Univate. No hidden costs. Speak to a consultant in your market today.

Why Univate Global for SOC 2?

Univate Global provides SOC 2 readiness and advisory services across nine markets, led by experienced information-security and controls specialists. We are not a CPA firm and do not issue the SOC 2 report; instead, we prepare your organisation’s controls and evidence so the independent CPA examination runs smoothly, and we help you select and coordinate a licensed auditor. Engagements are scoped on a fixed-fee basis with milestone-based delivery, and we support you in maintaining controls between reporting periods. Univate Global is led by CEO Bansi Mohan Rath.

Univate Global delivers ISO certification support, data privacy compliance, and cybersecurity and assurance frameworks across 9 markets. Our consultants guide organisations from readiness assessment through to a successful outcome.