What is SOC?
SOC (Service Organization Control) refers to a suite of reports conducted by independent auditors to evaluate the controls of service organizations related to information security. These reports assure clients and stakeholders about the effectiveness of the control environment in managing data integrity, security, and privacy. The SOC framework includes several types of reports:
- SOC 1: Focuses on controls relevant to financial reporting.
- SOC 2: Assesses controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
- SOC 3: Similar to SOC 2, but designed for a broader audience, it has a general report on controls without detailed descriptions.
SOC reports are essential to complete for businesses that handle or store customer data, providing a standardized method to demonstrate their commitment to data protection and operational integrity.