SOC2
Originally developed as a data privacy and security standard for accountants, SOC2 is a way to assess whether your organization is appropriately handling customer data. Customers should be able to trust that you will have their data available, secure it to ensure privacy and data integrity, and restrict sharing.
As an IT professional, SOC2 compliance should be a priority for keeping your client data as secure as possible. Since your clients trust you with access to their systems and data, you must protect that trust. Although the SOC2 framework shares some similarities with other guidelines.
- Customer Trust.
- Market Competitiveness.
- Improved Internal Processes.
- Data protection.
- Enhanced trust and credibility.
- Competitive advantage.
- Legal and regulatory compliance.
Scoping and Planning
Determine the scope of the SOC 2 audit, including which systems, processes, and services will be included.
System can be SAAS products/platforms.
Services can be ‘bespoke software development’.
Identify the relevant trust service categories (security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, a nd privacy) based on the organization's services and customer requirements.Risk Assessment
Identify potential risks and threats to the security and integrity of systems and data. This is generally derived from understanding the relationship with customers whose will use the system and the criticality and the sensitivity of their data. Assess the impact and likelihood of these risks occurring.
Control Selection and Design
Choose control objectives and criteria that align with the chosen trust service categories.
Design controls that address the identified risks and align with industry standards (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework).
Implementation
I Implement the controls as designed, making sure they are integrated into the organization's processes and systems.
Make personnel responsible by involving them in the policy decisions related to controls.
Provide training and awareness programs to ensure employees understand their roles and responsibilities related to SOC 2 compliance.
Documentation
Regularly test the effectiveness of the implemented controls to ensure they are operating as intended.In the beginning it could be a monthly review, as the systems and processes mature the frequency can be reduced. Address any control deficiencies or weaknesses identified during testing.
Testing and Evaluation
In this phase the attacker configures it control to maintain access on the compromised systems for extensive control on the network over long periods of time. ISECURION’s security team helps in identifying the compromised systems and eradicating the threats.
Monitoring and Continuous Improvement
Implement ongoing monitoring processes to ensure that controls remain effective over time.
Continuously assess the evolving threat landscape and adjust controls accordingly.
Regularly review and update policies and procedures to reflect changes in technology, regulations, and business operations.
Third-Party Assessment
Engage a qualified third-party auditing firm to conduct an independent assessment of your organization's controls.
The auditors will review documentation, conduct interviews, and perform testing to validate the effectiveness of the implemented controls.
Report Generation
Once the assessment is complete, the auditing firm will provide a SOC 2 audit report.
The report will detail the scope of the audit, the controls assessed, assessment period (Type 1/Type 2), any findings or exceptions, and an overall opinion on the organization's compliance with SOC 2 standards.