Wat is een SOC 2-verklaring?

Een SOC 2-verklaring is een rapport van een onafhankelijke auditor waarin wordt bevestigd dat een organisatie voldoet aan de Trust Services Criteria voor informatiebeveiliging, beschikbaarheid, vertrouwelijkheid, verwerkingsintegriteit en privacy.

Voor wie is SOC 2-certificering relevant?

SOC 2-certificering is vooral relevant voor IT-dienstverleners, SaaS-bedrijven, cloudproviders en andere organisaties die klantdata verwerken en willen aantonen dat zij op een verantwoorde manier omgaan met informatiebeveiliging en privacy.

Wat is het verschil tussen SOC 2 Type I en Type II?

SOC 1 – Beoordeelt het ontwerp van beveiligingscontroles op een specifiek moment; SOC 2 – Evalueert de effectiviteit van deze controles over een langere periode (meestal 6-12 maanden); SOC 1 en SOC 2 worden soms SOC 2 type I en type II genoemd. Men weet wat hiermee bedoeld wordt, maar feitelijk is dit foutief.

Hoe verloopt het SOC 2-audittraject?

Het audittraject start met een voorbereiding waarin uw processen worden beoordeeld. Vervolgens voert een auditor een formele beoordeling uit op basis van de Trust Services Criteria. Na afloop ontvangt u een SOC 2 verklaring.

Is SOC 2 een certificering of een verklaring?

Hoewel vaak gesproken wordt over 'SOC 2-certificering', betreft het officieel een verklaring (rapport) van een onafhankelijke auditor, en geen formeel certificaat zoals bij ISO-normen.

Why a SOC 2 report is indispensable for your organization

In a time in which cyber threats and data leaks are becoming more common, it is important
for organizations to demonstrate that they take information security seriously. A SOC 2
report confirms that your organization meets security standards and handles customer data
carefully.

What are the benefits of a SOC 2 report and how do you prepare for a SOC 2 audit?
This page provides a detailed overview. This ensures you have the right information to meet
customer and legislative requirements.

What is a SOC 2 report?

A SOC 2 report is an independent assurance report that demonstrates that a service organization meets strict standards for information security and data management. The report is based on the Trust Services Criteria, consisting of five core principles:

Security – Protecting systems and data from unauthorized access and threats;
Availability – Ensuring that systems and services are accessible when needed;
Processing integrity – Ensuring that data is processed accurately, completely and in a timely manner;
Confidentiality – Limiting access to sensitive information to authorized individuals;
Privacy – Protecting personal data in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

With a SOC 2 report, your organization demonstrates that information security and data protection are structurally secured.

Different types of SOC reports

There are three types of SOC reports, each serving a different purpose:

SOC 1 – This report focuses on the design of internal controls at a specific point in time, often in the context of financial reporting;

SOC 2 – This examines whether controls have operated effectively over a specific period. This is usually a period of six to twelve months;

SOC 3 – This is a condensed, publicly available version of the SOC 2 report, without confidential details of the measures taken.

Although in practice, it is sometimes referred to as SOC 2 Type I and Type II, this actually refers to SOC 1 and SOC 2. Which makes the use of these terms confusing and inaccurate.

The benefits of a SOC 2 report

Obtaining a SOC 2 report provides several benefits:

Increased customer confidence – Demonstrable assurance of secure data processing;
Competitive advantage – Differentiation in the market;
Risk management – Understanding and managing security risks;
Efficiency improvement – Optimization of internal processes by implementing best practices;
Compliance with laws and regulations – Support for compliance with GDPR and other relevant legislation.

More and more companies are making a SOC 2 report mandatory for their IT suppliers. This makes certification not only a valuable investment, but also a strategic necessity.

A SOC 2 audit helps organizations improve their security processes and provides an independent assessment that creates trust with customers and partners.

How does a SOC 2 audit proceed?

To obtain a SOC 2 report, an organization goes through the following stages:9

Preparation – Assessment of existing security measures via a baseline measurement;
Scope determination – Determining which Trust Services Criteria are relevant to your organization;
Execution of the audit – Controls based on documentation, interviews and samples;
Reporting – Extensive audit report with findings and possible points for improvement.

A SOC 2 certification contributes to a solid information security strategy and strengthens the reliability of your organization.

Take the next step towards a SOC 2 report

A SOC 2 certification offers your organization demonstrable confirmation of reliable data processing and information security.

Do you want insight into the steps towards a successful SOC 2 audit?
Are you curious about how a SOC 2 certification strengthens your market position?

Contact our experts for more information about obtaining a SOC 2 report.