When trying to determine whether they need a compliance audit, many service organizations face obstacles. However, choosing the right SOC 2 auditor for your organization—although difficult—is an important step in addressing these hurdles.

It's safe to say that you're probably familiar with ISO 27001 and SOC 2.

You may have also heard that they are similar in nature, but there are a few key differences between the two standards. In this post, we'll examine these differences and help you decide which standard is right for your organization.

If you’re in an organization that handles protected health information (PHI), you might be asked to complete a HIPAA attestation.

An IT audit is an assessment of your company's current IT infrastructure. It provides a clear picture of your company's IT system and where its potential risks lie.

Conducting an audit allows you to identify any gaps that exist as well as identify areas for improvement.

The focus on data protection and security has led organizations operating under SOC 2 compliance requirements to implement new technologies that help them protect sensitive data while meeting regulatory standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR.

The scope statement is defined in the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 under section 4. It shortly describes the purpose or context of your organization and what processes are relevant to run your business. In other words, it defines the boundaries, subject, and objectives of your ISMS.

Customers, employees, and stakeholders are focused on the security of their data, information, and personal identity when considering partnering or doing business with your company. SOC 2 audit reports that certify compliance with these standards will put them— and you— at ease.

No matter which path you take, you will end up at the SOC 2 Type 2 report. There isn’t a wrong way to approach it. As you are making your choice, talk to your customers (if you can) and talk to your auditor about what is going on. Your auditor can walk you through both paths and help you make the best decision for your company.

For many companies trying to achieve SOC 2 compliance, keeping up with both the work necessary to get their controls in place along with actually running their business can be quite the juggling act. Luckily, you have a Customer Success Manager (CSM) to help!