SOC 2 Certified: A Simple Way to Vet IT Companies
Vetting an IT company? Ask about the SOC 2 Type 2 audit first. It’s a simple way to see if they’re in the big leagues or just talk a good game. See, the SOC, or System and Organization Controls, audit is essentially a stamp of security approval. It says this company can securely handle your confidential data.
If an IT company is SOC certified, they’ve been independently approved.
If they’re not SOC certified, you’re left to rely on what they say. And data security isn’t something to gamble on.
The Golden Ticket: SOC 2 Type 2
While there are several different SOC certifications, SOC 2 Type 2 is what you really want. This means a licensed CPA firm, in our case KirkpatrickPrice, independently confirms how well an IT company protects client data.
Here’s what the process looks like for iVenture. Over the course of 6 months, KirkpatrickPrice evaluates us on 5 criteria:
- Security
- Availability
- Processing Integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
These are the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria. Through gap analyses, scoping exercises, onsite visits and evidence gathering, each criterion is vetted. When the audit concludes, the CPA firm approves or denies certification.
Why Add SOC 2 To Your Conversations
It’s hard to tell if an IT company is trustworthy. Many businesses go by gut instinct. Wouldn’t it be nice to have solid evidence to guide your gut? That’s where SOC comes in. The SOC 2 audit process must be facilitated by a licensed independent CPA firm.
If an IT company promises the safest, securest service, the SOC audit will objectively prove (or deny) that to be true.
With iVenture, passing the audit means we’re operating at the highest security standards. In other words, your data is safe with us.
Points to Consider
SOC 2 Type 2 compliance is voluntary. The audit takes time and effort. But we think it’s important to test ourselves for your benefit. Shouldn’t every IT company feel this way?
Hackers use IT companies as a springboard. If your business is secure, but your IT vendor isn’t, that’s an open door for attack. Businesses with compliance reqs like HIPAA should be especially cautious.
Vetting an IT company doesn’t have to be hard. Ask about SOC first and go from there. If you’d like to learn more about our own SOC process, contact our team today
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iVenture’s award-winning team delivers managed services, cloud and cybersecurity to Florida’s best businesses. With statewide coverage, our offices in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa make us your local IT partner. Whether you need end-to-end IT or a boost to your internal IT team, we’re ready. At iVenture, we give you more time to do what matters most.
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