Preparing yourself for the challenging endeavor of achieving SOC 2 compliance? Implementing SOC 2 controls can be complex for organizations due to the several requirements and the need for ongoing monitoring and testing. One of the essential things you’ll need to familiarize yourself with is the requirements against which auditors will evaluate your business and the SOC 2 controls implemented to fulfill these requirements. 

 

So what really are SOC 2 controls? And how can you ensure you select the most appropriate ones? Let’s explore this in the article below.

 

Also, learn Why Do You Need SOC 2 Compliance Automation Software?

 

What are SOC 2 controls?

 

SOC 2 controls are specific policies, procedures, and safeguards organizations implement to meet the trust services criteria (TSC) outlined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). These controls are designed to ensure data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy within a service organization.

 

What are trust service criteria (TSC)?

 

Trust services criteria (TSC) are the foundation for SOC 2 compliance. They are principles and guidelines developed by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) to evaluate the controls in place at service organizations. TSC comprises five categories: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Each category focuses on specific aspects that contribute to overall trustworthiness.

 

Visit our blog to explore A Comprehensive Guide to SOC 2 Common Criteria List for more information. 

 

SOC 2 controls to satisfy trust service criteria (TSC)

 

The SOC 2 controls that can be used to satisfy the TSC are given below.

 

Security controls

 

Security controls for TSC include the following: 

 

• Access controls: Implementing robust access controls ensures that only authorized individuals have appropriate access to systems and data. This includes user authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), strong password policies, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) to protect against unauthorized access.

 

• Incident response and management: Establishing an effective incident response plan allows organizations to detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents promptly. This includes defining incident response procedures, incident escalation protocols, and conducting post-incident analysis to improve future incident handling.

 

• Security monitoring and testing: Regular security monitoring and testing help identify potential vulnerabilities and proactively address security risks. This includes activities such as security information and event management (SIEM), vulnerability assessments, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), penetration testing, and periodic security audits.

 

Availability controls

 

A few controls for the availability Trust Service Criteria are given below: 

 

• Redundancy and fault tolerance: Implementing redundancy measures, such as redundant systems, network components, and data backups, ensures continuous availability during hardware failures or disruptions. Fault tolerance mechanisms help mitigate single points of failure and maintain uninterrupted services.

 

• Capacity planning: Effective capacity planning ensures systems have sufficient resources to handle expected workloads. It involves monitoring resource utilization, forecasting demand, and scaling infrastructure appropriately to prevent performance degradation or service interruptions during peak periods.

 

• Disaster recovery: Developing comprehensive disaster recovery plans and procedures help organizations recover critical systems and data in the event of a major disruption or disaster. This includes regular backups, offsite storage, backup restoration testing, and establishing alternate infrastructure and data centers.

 

Processing integrity controls

 

Processing integrity controls include the following:

 

• Data validation and processing accuracy: Implementing controls to validate data inputs, perform integrity checks, and ensure accurate processing helps maintain data integrity and prevent errors or discrepancies. This includes data validation rules, quality checks, reconciliation processes, and accuracy audits.

 

• Change management: Establishing robust change management processes helps ensure system changes are properly planned, tested, and documented. Change management controls mitigate the risk of unauthorized or unintended modifications that could impact processing integrity, system stability, or data accuracy.

 

• System documentation: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date system documentation, including architectural diagrams, network configurations, and procedural documentation, promotes transparency, enables effective system management, and supports auditing and compliance efforts.

 

 

Confidentiality controls

 

A few confidentiality controls are given below:

 

• Data classification and encryption: Implementing data classification policies allows organizations to categorize data based on sensitivity and apply appropriate encryption measures to protect confidential information during transmission and storage.

 

• User access management: Implementing user access management controls ensures access privileges are granted based on job roles and responsibilities. This includes user provisioning and de-provisioning processes, periodic access reviews, and least privilege principles.

 

• Confidentiality agreements: Requiring confidentiality agreements with employees, contractors, and third-party service providers helps establish legal obligations and expectations regarding protecting and non-disclosing sensitive information.

 

Privacy controls

 

Privacy controls include the following: 

 

• Data collection and usage policies: Developing and implementing clear data collection and usage policies ensures compliance with privacy regulations. These policies outline the purpose and lawful basis for data collection, the types of data collected, and the intended use and retention periods.

 

• Consent management: Establishing processes for obtaining, documenting, and managing user consent ensures compliance with privacy regulations. This includes obtaining consent for data collection and processing activities, providing opt-in and opt-out mechanisms, and maintaining consent records.

 

• Data retention and disposal practices: Implementing proper data retention and disposal practices helps organizations manage data in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. This includes defining data retention periods, securely disposing data at the end of its lifecycle, and maintaining appropriate data disposal logs. 

 

Read also: Guide to Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) Cyber Security Framework

 

Achieving SOC 2 compliance with CyberArrow GRC

 

Meeting SOC 2 controls to satisfy trust services criteria (TSC) is essential for demonstrating that your organization can safeguard customer data. However, manually managing these requirements can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process.

 

This is where CyberArrow GRC transforms the game, automating SOC 2 compliance and ensuring your business stays aligned with TSC effortlessly.

 

Why choose CyberArrow GRC for SOC 2 automation?

 

• Automated controls management: CyberArrow GRC automates the process of implementing and tracking SOC 2 controls, saving your team time and reducing the risk of errors.

 

• Real-time compliance monitoring: Gain real-time insights into your compliance status with dashboards that help you stay ahead of audits and customer expectations.

 

• Audit-ready documentation: Automatically gather and organize the required documents for SOC 2 audits, making the audit process fast and painless.

 

• Cross-framework compatibility: Easily map your SOC 2 controls with other standards like ISO 27001, simplifying compliance across multiple frameworks.

 

A healthcare organization leveraged CyberArrow GRC to automate their SOC 2 controls, reducing the time spent on managing documentation by 75%. The platform’s real-time monitoring and cross-framework mapping helped them ensure continuous compliance and pass their audit on the first attempt.

 

See what Emirates Development Bank have to say about CyberArrow GRC: