As companies continue to rely more on technology to support their operations, customers and prospects are increasingly asking questions about security, and how sensitive information is protected. While SOC 2 audits are often associated with technology or SaaS companies, they are relevant to far more than just traditional tech organizations.
A SOC 2 audit provides assurance that a company has controls in place to address risks related to security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy. These categories apply to any organization that handles customer data or supports critical services, regardless of industry.
It is a common misconception that SOC 2 is only for software or cloud based businesses. However, many non-technology organizations pursue SOC 2 audits because of the nature of the services they provide or the information they handle. This includes healthcare services organizations, professional services firms, group purchasing organizations, and other service providers that access or process sensitive customer or partner data. At Pease Bell, SOC examinations are performed for companies across a wide range of industries, including healthcare services and group purchasing organizations. The SOC 2 helps demonstrate that appropriate controls are in place even when an organization does not view itself as a technology company.
One reason SOC 2 works well across industries is its flexibility. Unlike many other compliance frameworks, SOC 2 is not a one size fits all checklist. The Trust Services Criteria are designed to be applied based on an organization’s actual business operations, systems, and risk profile. The scope is tailored to how the company operates rather than forcing controls that do not make sense in practice.
One of our differentiators is our consultative approach to the SOC 2, while staying extremely conservative when it comes to our independence. To do so, we strive to learn as much as possible about our client’s operations and control environment prior to offering any opinion about control design or process efficiency. If we do identify deficiencies, we provide our clients with the proper resources and education to resolve the deficiencies. This allows organizations to evaluate and enhance controls in a way that aligns with their business process rather than for compliance’s sake.
SOC 2 can also provide internal benefits. Many organizations already perform key activities such as access management, system monitoring, incident response, and vendor management. The SOC 2 process encourages these activities to be clearly defined, consistently performed, and documented. Over time, this reduces reliance on informal knowledge, clarifies ownership across teams, and supports growth as systems and operations become more complex.
Before pursuing a SOC 2 audit, companies often ask themselves a few questions:
- Do customers or partners ask about your security controls or request audit reports
- Do you store, process, or have access to sensitive customer information
- Are you frequently completing security questionnaires or vendor risk assessments
- Are key control activities informal or inconsistently documented
- Is management looking for better visibility into technology and operational risks
- Are you planning to grow, expand services, or work with larger or more regulated customers
If the answer to several of these questions is yes, a SOC 2 audit is often a logical next step.
Many organizations begin with a SOC 2 Type 1 report to evaluate control design and later move to a SOC 2 Type 2 report to demonstrate that controls operate effectively over time. When approached as an ongoing process rather than a one time exercise, SOC 2 can provide lasting value by strengthening risk management, improving consistency, and building trust with key stakeholders.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss whether a SOC 2 audit may be appropriate for your organization, feel free to contact Senior Associate, Leo Abramson, CISA.