From readiness to report. One SOC 2 experience.

SOC 2 is an independent audit report that evaluates whether a service organization has controls in place to protect customer data. It is commonly requested of SaaS, technology, and cloud-based companies because it helps customers assess how an organization manages security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy.

A SOC 2 Type I audit evaluates the design of controls at a specific point in time. It helps show whether the right controls are in place as of the report date.

A SOC 2 Type II audit evaluates both the design and operating effectiveness of controls over a review period, often 3 to 12 months. It helps show whether controls are not only designed appropriately, but also operating consistently over time.

SOC 1 evaluates controls that could impact a customer's financial reporting. It is primarily intended for organizations such as payroll providers, payment processors, and financial service providers whose services affect their customers' financial statements.

SOC 2 assesses an organization's controls for protecting customer data based on the Trust Services Criteria. It is the most widely requested audit for B2B SaaS and technology companies.

SOC 3 is a public-facing summary of a successful SOC 2 audit. It confirms that an organization has met the applicable Trust Services Criteria without including the detailed control descriptions and testing results found in a SOC 2 report, making it suitable for websites and marketing materials.

Controls are the policies, procedures, systems, and activities an organization uses to reduce risk and meet audit criteria. In a SOC 2 audit, controls are evaluated against the Trust Services Criteria included in the audit scope.

The Trust Services Criteria are the categories used to evaluate controls in a SOC 2 audit. They include Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Privacy, and Processing Integrity. Every SOC 2 audit includes Security, and additional criteria may be added based on customer requirements and business needs.

SOC 2 audit costs vary based on scope, company size, systems included, Trust Services Criteria, audit type, and the length of the review period. Thoropass helps make the process more predictable by defining scope early, managing the audit lifecycle in one place, and guiding the engagement through final report delivery.

Working with Thoropass gives your team access to experienced SOC 2 auditors equipped with proprietary AI tools that automate repetitive tasks, accelerate evidence review, and surface insights throughout the audit. Combined with our Audit Lifecycle Platform for managing requests, evidence, comments, issues, and reporting, you get a faster, more transparent audit experience without compromising quality or rigor.

Ongoing SOC 2 audit readiness means keeping the controls, documentation, and evidence needed for future SOC 2 audits organized and current. For Type II audits in particular, organizations need to show that controls operated effectively over the review period, so consistent preparation can make future audit cycles more efficient.