Question 1

What is SOC 2?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a compliance framework developed by the AICPA for service organizations. It evaluates controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of customer data. SOC 2 reports are issued by independent CPA firms after auditing an organization against the Trust Service Criteria.

Question 2

How much does SOC 2 compliance cost?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 costs vary significantly by organization size, scope, and current readiness. Typical ranges: $20,000-$75,000 for small companies (under 50 employees), $50,000-$200,000 for mid-size organizations, and $100,000+ for enterprises. Costs include readiness assessment, remediation, auditor fees, and ongoing compliance tooling.

Question 3

What are the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria?

Accepted Answer

The five Trust Service Criteria (TSC) are: Security (always required — the Common Criteria), Availability (system uptime and recovery), Processing Integrity (accurate and complete processing), Confidentiality (data protection for restricted information), and Privacy (personal information handling per privacy notice). Most SOC 2 audits include Security plus one or two additional criteria relevant to the business.

Question 4

What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 Type I evaluates whether controls are suitably designed at a specific point in time. SOC 2 Type II evaluates both design and operating effectiveness over a period (typically 6-12 months). Type II is more rigorous and more commonly requested by enterprise customers because it demonstrates sustained compliance, not just a snapshot.

Question 5

How long does SOC 2 certification take?

Accepted Answer

Timeline depends on current readiness and audit type. Type I can be achieved in 3-6 months for organizations with strong foundations. Type II requires a 6-12 month observation period after controls are in place, plus 3-6 months of preparation beforehand. Total timeline: 6-18 months from starting readiness work to receiving the final report.

Question 6

Is there a free SOC 2 readiness assessment tool?

Accepted Answer

PlainAudit offers a free SOC 2 gap assessment that evaluates your readiness across all Trust Service Criteria at the individual control level. Unlike surface-level quizzes, it maps responses to AICPA Common Criteria controls with weighted scoring based on control importance. No signup required — results with gap analysis in about 10 minutes.

Question 7

How is this different from other SOC 2 readiness assessments?

Accepted Answer

This tool maps responses to individual AICPA Common Criteria controls, not surface-level category questions. It produces control-level gap analysis with weighted scoring based on control importance, cost estimates with transparent input factors, and framework overlap analysis for organizations with existing certifications like ISO 27001 or HIPAA.

Free SOC 2 Gap Assessment