As more companies expect their partners to align with recognized frameworks like SOC 2, having the right reports for assurance is both a competitive differentiator and a trust signal. If you’re planning to obtain a SOC 2 report, it’s essential to first understand how these documents are structured and how you can set up your team for a successful attestation process.
In this guide, we’ll explore SOC 2 reports in-depth and discuss:
- The different types of SOC 2 reports
- Who needs these reports and when
- Five main parts of a SOC 2 report
- How automation can simplify the process
What is a SOC 2 report?
A SOC 2 report is an attestation document issued by an independent auditor that validates if your organization’s information security controls align with the five Trust Services Criteria (TSC) developed by the AICPA. These criteria are:
- Security
- Availability
- Processing integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
The report outlines if your controls are designed correctly and, where applicable, operate effectively over time. This distinction forms the basis for the two types of SOC 2 reports: type 1 and type 2.
Refer to the following table to see how SOC 2 type 1 and type 2 reports differ:
If you’re new to SOC 2, a Type 1 report can be a smart first step to demonstrate a robust security posture and basic compliance readiness for your organization. As your security program matures, you can progress to a Type 2 report, which provides stronger assurance to stakeholders by assessing the long-term effectiveness of controls.
“
Many companies end up underestimating what a SOC 2 type 2 report represents. It’s an attestation of operational consistency and effectiveness, which is a much higher bar than the point-in-time validations that follow a checklist-like one-and-done approach. An unqualified Type 2 report is proof that your security program has stability and maturity and holds up well in real-world scenarios.”
How long is a SOC 2 report valid for?
Technically, a SOC 2 report doesn’t expire, but it’s typically considered valid for up to 12 months from the date it was issued. That’s because the report captures the state of your controls during the audit period, which means it’ll be considered outdated over time. To maintain trust with your stakeholders, you should renew your SOC 2 audit annually or semi-annually to obtain a fresh attestation report.
Subsequent SOC 2 examinations evaluate changes to your systems, policies, or infrastructure, and confirm whether they continue to meet TSC. If you can’t renew your SOC 2 report on time, you can use a bridge letter (or gap letter) to provide interim assurance.
The letter is typically written by management and addresses gap windows of 1–3 months. It has no standardized format, but generally contains:
- The dates your previous SOC 2 report was valid through
- The dates covered by the bridge letter
- The CPA firm that performed the audit
- Updates to your controls since the previous audit
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Who needs a SOC 2 report?
Service organizations that handle customer or third-party information—such as SaaS providers, cloud platforms, IT service firms, and payment processors—typically need a SOC 2 report.
It’s worth noting that SOC 2 isn’t a legal requirement, but a voluntary standard for demonstrating strong security and data protection practices. That said, any business that interacts with sensitive information—especially those in highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government contracting—can benefit from the report.
Additionally, aligning with SOC 2 is a widely recognized best practice and can give you a competitive advantage in industries where security is a strong buying factor. A SOC 2 report validates your security posture through an independent audit, which provides prospects with confidence in how you will safeguard their data.
How to get a SOC 2 report
To obtain a SOC 2 report, your organization needs to undergo and pass a SOC 2 attestation audit conducted by an independent, AICPA-accredited auditor. The auditor assesses your information security controls and practices and issues a report detailing their effectiveness.
Know that preparing for a SOC 2 audit is a layered, multi-step process that begins well before the formal review. Ideally, you should conduct an internal readiness or gap assessment to identify missing controls and documentation early, and then take remediation steps if necessary.
Once you’re prepared, you can move on to the formal SOC 2 audit, which includes:
- Scoping your SOC 2 report and identifying the relevant TSC
- Implementing and testing required controls
- Engaging an auditor (or team) from an AICPA-accredited firm
- Collecting and organizing evidence and documentation
- Undergoing the audit, addressing uncovered gaps, and receiving your SOC 2 report
SOC 2 report breakdown: 5 key components
The contents of a SOC 2 report depend on the type of report, as well as your organization’s size and complexity. However, they often follow a standard structure backed by these five sections:
- Auditor’s report
- Management assertion
- System description
- Description of criteria
- Appendices
Section 1: Auditor’s report
The auditor’s report is the most visible part of your SOC 2 report. It summarizes their findings on whether your security practices follow the TSC. In this section, the auditor will document one of four independent opinions related to your SOC 2 compliance status:
- Unqualified opinion: Your controls meet SOC 2 criteria
- Qualified opinion: Controls don’t sufficiently meet one or or more criteria
- Adverse opinion: Your controls do not meet SOC 2 criteria
- Disclaimer of opinion: The auditor didn’t have enough information to decide
The ideal outcome is to have an unqualified SOC 2 report that demonstrates trustworthiness and operational rigor.
This report also outlines different aspects of the audit process, including:
- The audit scope
- Audit methodology
- Timeframe covered
- Examined TSC
Section 2: Management assertion
The second section of your SOC 2 report is a copy of your management assertion. It’s a document you submit to the auditor at the start of the audit. Its purpose is to provide written evidence to support your statements about the organization’s security posture.
The assertion lays the groundwork for the entire audit process by setting clear expectations for the auditor and establishing accountability for your security claims. It details information about:
- Your security controls and how they work
- Scope of the assessment
- Leadership’s commitment to transparent compliance processes
Section 3: System description
While the management assertion is a summary of your system, the system description is a more in-depth overview of your information security environment.
This document, prepared by your team, explains what’s being audited: your information security system and its operational details.
Key points include:
- System components, including infrastructure and key personnel
- System boundaries, processes, and requirements
- Your control frameworks
- Any data security incidents
- Supplemental context about your system and operations
The scale and complexity of your system description expand as your systems grow. As a general best practice, provide enough transparency here to avoid triggering extra work for your auditor. This keeps the audit focused and may even speed up the attestation process.
Section 4: Description of criteria
This is the core and often the most elaborate section of your SOC 2 report. It’s prepared by the auditor and provides a detailed record of the controls you have in place and how well they function to protect sensitive data. For Type 2 reports, the section also details each control’s performance and operational effectiveness over the scoped audit period.
Due to the level of detail and volume of data required, this section is usually presented in a table or spreadsheet for easy absorption. It contains:
- A breakdown of controls per TSC
- Your description of each control
- The auditor’s test procedures and results
- Any exceptions or gaps identified
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Section 5: Appendices or other information
The final section of a SOC 2 report contains any additional documentation and background your auditor may find relevant. For instance, if any controls fail tests during the audit, the auditor may include your formal response in this section.
Appendices typically provide the surrounding context for the audit with information such as:
- Remediation plans for exceptions found during the audit
- Risk management practices
- Business continuity plans
- Vendor relationships and third-party dependencies
Any control gaps or failures will be visible in the attestation report, which means preparedness should be a top priority at this final stage. Think: When you share the SOC 2 report with your customers and partners, they can access the appendices to find a written account of missing controls and whether you took enough (or timely) steps to remediate the gaps.
How automation can simplify the SOC 2 attestation process
Preparing for and maintaining a SOC 2 attestation manually puts significant pressure on your teams, increasing the risk of errors, oversights, and delays. Using an automation solution has become a near-necessity for organizations aiming to maintain continuous audit readiness in different compliance ecosystems.
Automation solutions support SOC 2 compliance teams by:
- Automating evidence collection: Pull data from multiple systems continuously, maintaining up-to-date documentation without manual effort
- Centralizing documentation: Store all SOC 2-relevant data in a single repository for easy access, instead of relying on scattered systems and spreadsheets
- Maintaining live risk registers: Track, assess, and update your risk profile as systems evolve, allowing you to tap into proactive mitigation strategies
- Streamlining vulnerability scans: You can automate scans to identify and fix vulnerabilities consistently, which is an essential part of ongoing SOC 2 compliance
- Enabling continuous monitoring: Compliance solutions such as Vanta help provide real-time insights into your SOC 2 compliance status, which is particularly valuable for Type 2 reports
How Vanta helps you get SOC 2 reports faster
Vanta is a leading agentic trust platform that streamlines SOC 2 attestation through advanced automation, built-in resources, and tailored guidance. The platform’s risk management and oversight tools and integrations accelerate every step leading up to the SOC 2 audit.
You’ll get a SOC 2 Starter Guide that walks you through defining the audit scope, documenting policies, implementing controls, and preparing for attestation. Once the initial setup is complete, Vanta provides continuous monitoring across key areas. Here are some helpful features designed to make SOC 2 compliance more efficient:
- 1200+ automated, hourly tests
- Automated evidence collection through 400+ integrations
- Continuous monitoring through a centralized dashboard
- Personalized code snippets for faster remediation, generated by Vanta AI
- Pre-populated system templates
If you’re looking for accredited auditors, use Vanta’s partner network to choose from 100+ reputable firms.
Once you obtain your SOC 2 attestation, share it via a Trust Center to demonstrate compliance and undergo external security reviews faster.
Schedule a demo today for a more personalized walkthrough.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 product page
FAQs
1. How much does a SOC 2 report cost?
The overall cost of preparing for and getting a SOC 2 report varies depending on factors like location, audit scope, the TSCs covered, and the type of report you pursue. According to some estimates, obtaining the attestation can range anywhere from $10,000 to more than $80,000. You can, however, reduce costs with tools like Vanta that automate evidence collection and control monitoring.
2. Who issues a SOC 2 report?
SOC 2 reports are issued by Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms that have been accredited by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The report is issued after they conduct an audit and confirm that your controls meet the requirements outlined by the TSC.
3. Who can I share a SOC 2 report with?
SOC 2 reports are typically not public documents. Since a SOC 2 report contains detailed information about your security controls, you should share it only with trusted parties—such as customers, partners, and regulators—and ideally under an NDA.
4. How often should I renew my organization’s SOC 2 report?
There is no mandatory re-attestation time frame, although the general best practice is to renew SOC 2 reports semi-annually or annually. If there’s no time to conduct a SOC 2 audit when it’s due, use a bridge letter to vouch for your control implementation.
SOC 2 reporting and documentation
SOC 2 reports 101: A complete breakdown
SOC 2 reporting and documentation
SOC 2 reports 101: A complete breakdown
Download the checklist
Looking to automate up to 90% of the work for SOC 2 compliance?
As more companies expect their partners to align with recognized frameworks like SOC 2, having the right reports for assurance is both a competitive differentiator and a trust signal. If you’re planning to obtain a SOC 2 report, it’s essential to first understand how these documents are structured and how you can set up your team for a successful attestation process.
In this guide, we’ll explore SOC 2 reports in-depth and discuss:
- The different types of SOC 2 reports
- Who needs these reports and when
- Five main parts of a SOC 2 report
- How automation can simplify the process
What is a SOC 2 report?
A SOC 2 report is an attestation document issued by an independent auditor that validates if your organization’s information security controls align with the five Trust Services Criteria (TSC) developed by the AICPA. These criteria are:
- Security
- Availability
- Processing integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
The report outlines if your controls are designed correctly and, where applicable, operate effectively over time. This distinction forms the basis for the two types of SOC 2 reports: type 1 and type 2.
Refer to the following table to see how SOC 2 type 1 and type 2 reports differ:
If you’re new to SOC 2, a Type 1 report can be a smart first step to demonstrate a robust security posture and basic compliance readiness for your organization. As your security program matures, you can progress to a Type 2 report, which provides stronger assurance to stakeholders by assessing the long-term effectiveness of controls.
“
Many companies end up underestimating what a SOC 2 type 2 report represents. It’s an attestation of operational consistency and effectiveness, which is a much higher bar than the point-in-time validations that follow a checklist-like one-and-done approach. An unqualified Type 2 report is proof that your security program has stability and maturity and holds up well in real-world scenarios.”
How long is a SOC 2 report valid for?
Technically, a SOC 2 report doesn’t expire, but it’s typically considered valid for up to 12 months from the date it was issued. That’s because the report captures the state of your controls during the audit period, which means it’ll be considered outdated over time. To maintain trust with your stakeholders, you should renew your SOC 2 audit annually or semi-annually to obtain a fresh attestation report.
Subsequent SOC 2 examinations evaluate changes to your systems, policies, or infrastructure, and confirm whether they continue to meet TSC. If you can’t renew your SOC 2 report on time, you can use a bridge letter (or gap letter) to provide interim assurance.
The letter is typically written by management and addresses gap windows of 1–3 months. It has no standardized format, but generally contains:
- The dates your previous SOC 2 report was valid through
- The dates covered by the bridge letter
- The CPA firm that performed the audit
- Updates to your controls since the previous audit
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Who needs a SOC 2 report?
Service organizations that handle customer or third-party information—such as SaaS providers, cloud platforms, IT service firms, and payment processors—typically need a SOC 2 report.
It’s worth noting that SOC 2 isn’t a legal requirement, but a voluntary standard for demonstrating strong security and data protection practices. That said, any business that interacts with sensitive information—especially those in highly regulated industries such as finance, healthcare, or government contracting—can benefit from the report.
Additionally, aligning with SOC 2 is a widely recognized best practice and can give you a competitive advantage in industries where security is a strong buying factor. A SOC 2 report validates your security posture through an independent audit, which provides prospects with confidence in how you will safeguard their data.
How to get a SOC 2 report
To obtain a SOC 2 report, your organization needs to undergo and pass a SOC 2 attestation audit conducted by an independent, AICPA-accredited auditor. The auditor assesses your information security controls and practices and issues a report detailing their effectiveness.
Know that preparing for a SOC 2 audit is a layered, multi-step process that begins well before the formal review. Ideally, you should conduct an internal readiness or gap assessment to identify missing controls and documentation early, and then take remediation steps if necessary.
Once you’re prepared, you can move on to the formal SOC 2 audit, which includes:
- Scoping your SOC 2 report and identifying the relevant TSC
- Implementing and testing required controls
- Engaging an auditor (or team) from an AICPA-accredited firm
- Collecting and organizing evidence and documentation
- Undergoing the audit, addressing uncovered gaps, and receiving your SOC 2 report
SOC 2 report breakdown: 5 key components
The contents of a SOC 2 report depend on the type of report, as well as your organization’s size and complexity. However, they often follow a standard structure backed by these five sections:
- Auditor’s report
- Management assertion
- System description
- Description of criteria
- Appendices
Section 1: Auditor’s report
The auditor’s report is the most visible part of your SOC 2 report. It summarizes their findings on whether your security practices follow the TSC. In this section, the auditor will document one of four independent opinions related to your SOC 2 compliance status:
- Unqualified opinion: Your controls meet SOC 2 criteria
- Qualified opinion: Controls don’t sufficiently meet one or or more criteria
- Adverse opinion: Your controls do not meet SOC 2 criteria
- Disclaimer of opinion: The auditor didn’t have enough information to decide
The ideal outcome is to have an unqualified SOC 2 report that demonstrates trustworthiness and operational rigor.
This report also outlines different aspects of the audit process, including:
- The audit scope
- Audit methodology
- Timeframe covered
- Examined TSC
Section 2: Management assertion
The second section of your SOC 2 report is a copy of your management assertion. It’s a document you submit to the auditor at the start of the audit. Its purpose is to provide written evidence to support your statements about the organization’s security posture.
The assertion lays the groundwork for the entire audit process by setting clear expectations for the auditor and establishing accountability for your security claims. It details information about:
- Your security controls and how they work
- Scope of the assessment
- Leadership’s commitment to transparent compliance processes
Section 3: System description
While the management assertion is a summary of your system, the system description is a more in-depth overview of your information security environment.
This document, prepared by your team, explains what’s being audited: your information security system and its operational details.
Key points include:
- System components, including infrastructure and key personnel
- System boundaries, processes, and requirements
- Your control frameworks
- Any data security incidents
- Supplemental context about your system and operations
The scale and complexity of your system description expand as your systems grow. As a general best practice, provide enough transparency here to avoid triggering extra work for your auditor. This keeps the audit focused and may even speed up the attestation process.
Section 4: Description of criteria
This is the core and often the most elaborate section of your SOC 2 report. It’s prepared by the auditor and provides a detailed record of the controls you have in place and how well they function to protect sensitive data. For Type 2 reports, the section also details each control’s performance and operational effectiveness over the scoped audit period.
Due to the level of detail and volume of data required, this section is usually presented in a table or spreadsheet for easy absorption. It contains:
- A breakdown of controls per TSC
- Your description of each control
- The auditor’s test procedures and results
- Any exceptions or gaps identified
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Section 5: Appendices or other information
The final section of a SOC 2 report contains any additional documentation and background your auditor may find relevant. For instance, if any controls fail tests during the audit, the auditor may include your formal response in this section.
Appendices typically provide the surrounding context for the audit with information such as:
- Remediation plans for exceptions found during the audit
- Risk management practices
- Business continuity plans
- Vendor relationships and third-party dependencies
Any control gaps or failures will be visible in the attestation report, which means preparedness should be a top priority at this final stage. Think: When you share the SOC 2 report with your customers and partners, they can access the appendices to find a written account of missing controls and whether you took enough (or timely) steps to remediate the gaps.
How automation can simplify the SOC 2 attestation process
Preparing for and maintaining a SOC 2 attestation manually puts significant pressure on your teams, increasing the risk of errors, oversights, and delays. Using an automation solution has become a near-necessity for organizations aiming to maintain continuous audit readiness in different compliance ecosystems.
Automation solutions support SOC 2 compliance teams by:
- Automating evidence collection: Pull data from multiple systems continuously, maintaining up-to-date documentation without manual effort
- Centralizing documentation: Store all SOC 2-relevant data in a single repository for easy access, instead of relying on scattered systems and spreadsheets
- Maintaining live risk registers: Track, assess, and update your risk profile as systems evolve, allowing you to tap into proactive mitigation strategies
- Streamlining vulnerability scans: You can automate scans to identify and fix vulnerabilities consistently, which is an essential part of ongoing SOC 2 compliance
- Enabling continuous monitoring: Compliance solutions such as Vanta help provide real-time insights into your SOC 2 compliance status, which is particularly valuable for Type 2 reports
How Vanta helps you get SOC 2 reports faster
Vanta is a leading agentic trust platform that streamlines SOC 2 attestation through advanced automation, built-in resources, and tailored guidance. The platform’s risk management and oversight tools and integrations accelerate every step leading up to the SOC 2 audit.
You’ll get a SOC 2 Starter Guide that walks you through defining the audit scope, documenting policies, implementing controls, and preparing for attestation. Once the initial setup is complete, Vanta provides continuous monitoring across key areas. Here are some helpful features designed to make SOC 2 compliance more efficient:
- 1200+ automated, hourly tests
- Automated evidence collection through 400+ integrations
- Continuous monitoring through a centralized dashboard
- Personalized code snippets for faster remediation, generated by Vanta AI
- Pre-populated system templates
If you’re looking for accredited auditors, use Vanta’s partner network to choose from 100+ reputable firms.
Once you obtain your SOC 2 attestation, share it via a Trust Center to demonstrate compliance and undergo external security reviews faster.
Schedule a demo today for a more personalized walkthrough.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-blocks"}} | SOC 2 product page
FAQs
1. How much does a SOC 2 report cost?
The overall cost of preparing for and getting a SOC 2 report varies depending on factors like location, audit scope, the TSCs covered, and the type of report you pursue. According to some estimates, obtaining the attestation can range anywhere from $10,000 to more than $80,000. You can, however, reduce costs with tools like Vanta that automate evidence collection and control monitoring.
2. Who issues a SOC 2 report?
SOC 2 reports are issued by Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms that have been accredited by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). The report is issued after they conduct an audit and confirm that your controls meet the requirements outlined by the TSC.
3. Who can I share a SOC 2 report with?
SOC 2 reports are typically not public documents. Since a SOC 2 report contains detailed information about your security controls, you should share it only with trusted parties—such as customers, partners, and regulators—and ideally under an NDA.
4. How often should I renew my organization’s SOC 2 report?
There is no mandatory re-attestation time frame, although the general best practice is to renew SOC 2 reports semi-annually or annually. If there’s no time to conduct a SOC 2 audit when it’s due, use a bridge letter to vouch for your control implementation.
Explore more SOC 2 articles
Introduction to SOC 2
Preparing for a SOC 2 audit
SOC 2 reporting and documentation
Streamlining SOC 2 compliance
SOC differences and similarities
Additional SOC 2 resources
Get started with SOC 2
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