To achieve SOC 2 certification, companies must meet five key requirements aligned with the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. These criteria ensure that organizations implement robust practices for data protection and risk management, demonstrating the effectiveness of their controls through an independent audit. Successfully obtaining SOC 2 certification helps build customer trust, especially in industries handling sensitive data.

1. What are the key requirements that a
company must meet to achieve SOC 2
certification, and how do these requirements
relate to the Trust Services Criteria
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) certification is a critical standard for organizations
that handle sensitive customer data, particularly in the tech, SaaS, and cloud computing
industries. It focuses on ensuring that service providers meet rigorous requirements related to
security, availability, processing integrity, SOC 2 Certification confidentiality, and privacy. These
requirements are mapped against the Trust Services Criteria (TSC), a framework developed by
the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to ensure proper controls are in place for data
protection and integrity.
Key Requirements for SOC 2 Certification
1. Security: The most critical of the five Trust Services Criteria, security involves ensuring
that the system is protected against unauthorized access (both physical and logical). This
includes measures like firewalls, encryption, multi-factor authentication, regular
vulnerability assessments, and stringent access controls. Organizations must demonstrate
that their systems and data are safeguarded from threats and unauthorized access.
2. Availability: This criterion addresses the accessibility of the system, ensuring it is
available for operation and use as committed or agreed upon. To meet this requirement,
organizations must implement robust monitoring systems that detect and address
downtime, conduct regular backup procedures, and create disaster recovery plans. The
focus is on ensuring that the service remains operational and accessible, with minimal
downtime, for customers.
3. Processing Integrity: Processing integrity ensures that the system’s processing is
complete, accurate, timely, and authorized. This includes controls for data entry, data
processing, and the handling of transactions. Organizations are required to prove that
their systems function as expected and produce reliable and accurate outputs, without
errors or processing delays.

2. 4. Confidentiality: Confidentiality involves safeguarding data that is designated as
confidential, such as financial information or intellectual property. Companies must
implement encryption, access controls, and other privacy measures to ensure that this
data is protected both in transit and at rest. It also requires clear policies around who can
access sensitive information, ensuring that only authorized personnel have access.
5. Privacy: The privacy criterion is specifically concerned with how personal data is
collected, stored, and used, in alignment with privacy laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR,
CCPA). Companies must ensure that personal data is handled with the utmost care,
protecting individuals' privacy rights and maintaining transparency about data usage
practices.
Relationship to Trust Services Criteria
SOC 2 certification is based on these Trust Services Criteria. The AICPA developed these
criteria to offer a structured approach to data security and privacy, helping service organizations
ensure their practices align with industry best standards. The TSC provide a detailed framework
against which organizations can measure their internal controls and operational procedures.
To achieve SOC 2 certification, an organization must pass an independent audit conducted by a
CPA or other qualified assessor. This audit evaluates whether the company’s practices and
controls align with the five TSC criteria. During the audit process, the assessor reviews the
company’s policies, procedures, and operational practices, examining the effectiveness of its
controls, including the implementation of security measures, availability guarantees, integrity of
data processing, and confidentiality and privacy protections.
The relationship between SOC 2 certification and the TSC is direct—SOC 2 is essentially a
measurement tool that gauges whether a company meets the TSC’s stringent standards. By
meeting these criteria, a company demonstrates that it has the necessary controls in place to
protect customer data, manage risks effectively, and comply with relevant regulations.
Conclusion
In summary, achieving SOC 2 certification requires a company to demonstrate compliance with
the five Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and
privacy. These criteria guide companies in establishing strong data protection and risk
management practices. By successfully meeting these criteria, organizations not only safeguard
sensitive data but also build trust with customers, which is especially important in today’s data-
driven and security-conscious business environment.