SOC 2

What it means

SOC 2 is an audit report under a US standard that examines how a service provider protects its customers' data. It is most common among SaaS and cloud companies that process sensitive client information and need to show that their controls actually work.

The report is built on the so-called trust services criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. Security is always mandatory, while the other areas are chosen according to what the company promises its customers and which services it really provides.

Unlike ISO 27001, it is not a certificate but an attestation report by an independent auditor. Type I assesses the design of controls at a single date, while Type II tests how they operated over a longer period, usually several months, and therefore carries more weight with customers.

How it works in practice

A Slovak company mostly meets SOC 2 when it sells software or IT services to larger foreign clients, especially from the US. Their procurement team asks for the report as part of supplier due diligence, and without it a deal may be delayed or stall altogether.

Preparation usually starts with a gap analysis, after which the company adds missing processes: access management, backups, change management, incident response, a security policy and regular penetration tests. Only then does the observed period and the audit itself follow.

When choosing a cloud supplier, the view is reversed: the company can ask the supplier for its SOC 2 report. It should read the scope, the exceptions found by the auditor and the controls the customer must provide itself, and compare them with the commitments in the SLA and the data processing agreement.

What to watch out for

SOC 2 does not replace compliance with GDPR or with European cybersecurity rules. It is evidence for business partners rather than a legal obligation, and its value depends on whether the chosen scope covers the services the customer actually uses.

In customers' eyes the report ages quickly, and most expect it to be renewed every year. The costs of the audit, tooling and internal work are significant, so it is worth first checking whether key clients really require it or would accept other evidence.