For many businesses, especially across North America, complying with SOC 2 standards can be the difference between success or sinking into the red. If your company isn’t meeting all the requirements needed to obtain or renew your SOC 2 compliance, you’ll have to address those issues as quickly as possible.

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But how do you find those missing gaps in your SOC 2 compliance, and how do you close them so you can get the certification you need? 

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Two ways to identify SOC 2 compliance gaps

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If you think you’re missing some requirements for SOC 2 compliance, time is of the essence. You have two options for finding and identifying any gaps: run an automated compliance scan or conduct a manual investigation.

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Option 1: Run a SOC 2 compliance scan

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Without question, the quickest and most reliable way to identify a gap in your SOC 2 compliance report is to use an automated compliance scanning tool. A Vanta SOC 2 compliance scan, for example, digs through your system and compares it against a detailed checklist of SOC 2 compliance criteria. It’s as simple as purchasing the tool and initiating the process. When the scan is finished, you’ll have a clear report that documents satisfactory standards and areas that need attention. 

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There are strong advantages to this type of process. It’s quick, thorough, and accurate, providing you with a low-effort way to identify compliance gaps. The only disadvantage is making the investment and purchasing the compliance software.

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Option 2: Perform a manual compliance gap analysis

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The other way to find gaps in your SOC 2 compliance is to have your team or compliance specialist manually investigate the system to see which SOC 2 criteria are satisfactory or missing. Your internal team can then prepare a report and begin the process of addressing any gaps should they exist.

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The primary advantage of this method is that you don’t need to purchase compliance scanning software. However, that doesn’t mean this option is easier on the bottom line. The internal time spent to ensure your company is SOC 2 compliant may outweigh the cost of an automated platform. Outside of cost, there are several concerning disadvantages to a manual compliance review. Consider the following questions. 

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Does your team have sufficient SOC 2 knowledge?

To fully ensure SOC 2 compliance, your team should have a thorough understanding of the Trust Service Criteria (TSC). If they don’t have the same kind of knowledge on par with an auditor, you risk a failed audit, wasted resources, and worst of all—a security breach.

Is human error a possibility? 

Perhaps the biggest advantage of an automated, continuous monitoring platform is confidence. No matter how skilled or experienced your team is, there is always a risk of human error. In a manual assessment, it’s easy for something to get overlooked or completed incorrectly. Entering a SOC 2 audit without complete confidence is never fun. 
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Does your team have enough bandwidth?

A manual compliance analysis is simply exhausting. It can take weeks for your team to complete a manual SOC 2 compliance review, and during that time, you run the risk of falling victim to a security vulnerability, never mind a missed opportunity with a potential client. If there are gaps in your SOC 2 compliance, it’s critical to close them as quickly as possible.

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The importance of multiple assessments 

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Once you’ve identified the missing pieces in your SOC 2 compliance, your team can get to work and close those gaps. The process for fixing them, of course, will depend on what those gaps are, but starting with a clear compliance analysis will set you on the right path. Although each company’s SOC 2 reports can look different, common gaps include:

• Unmonitored or insecure user access across your org.
• Poor documentation of protocols
• Not defining someone who’s in charge of security
• Not aligning technology or protocols to controls
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After addressing each security gap, it’s crucial that you perform another test—manual or automated—to make sure nothing was missed. This allows you to be confident that all the compliance criteria have been satisfied before you call in an auditor. If you’re ready to learn more, check out our SOC 2 checklist as a guide to help you earn and maintain your certification.