SOC 3 Compliance
Demonstrate Trust Through General-Use Reporting
The System and Organization Controls 3 (SOC 3) is trust service report providing general-use assurance about controls at service organizations related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy. SOC 3 report designed for general distribution without detailed controls information making it suitable for public disclosure and marketing purposes. Report provides independent auditor's opinion on whether organization's controls meet applicable trust service criteria. SOC 3 reports issued annually following examination by independent CPA firm. Organizations use SOC 3 reports to demonstrate trust and security to customers, partners, and stakeholders. At Glocert International, we help organizations achieve SOC 3 compliance through readiness assessments, control implementation, audit preparation, audit coordination, and ongoing compliance ensuring organizations obtain SOC 3 reports demonstrating trust and security.
What is SOC 3?
System and Organization Controls 3 (SOC 3) is trust service report providing general-use assurance about controls at service organizations. Report designed for general distribution without detailed controls information making it suitable for public disclosure and marketing purposes.
Trust Service Criteria
SOC 3 reports evaluate controls against trust service criteria:
- Security: Information and systems protected against unauthorized access
- Availability: System available for operation and use
- Processing Integrity: System processing complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized
- Confidentiality: Information designated as confidential protected
- Privacy: Personal information collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed in conformity with commitments
Who Needs SOC 3?
SOC 3 reports beneficial for:
- Service organizations seeking public trust demonstration
- Cloud service providers
- Software as a Service (SaaS) providers
- Data center operators
- Managed service providers
- Organizations processing customer data
SOC 3 vs SOC 2
SOC 3 differs from SOC 2: SOC 3 provides general-use report suitable for public distribution, SOC 2 provides detailed report with controls information for restricted use, SOC 3 includes auditor's opinion and system description, SOC 2 includes detailed controls testing and results, SOC 3 suitable for marketing and public disclosure, SOC 2 suitable for customers requiring detailed assurance. Organizations often obtain both SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports.
Why SOC 3 Matters
1. Public Trust Demonstration
SOC 3 reports demonstrate trust and security to public audiences including customers, partners, and stakeholders. General-use report suitable for public disclosure and marketing enabling organizations showcase security commitment. Public trust demonstration builds customer confidence and enables business growth.
2. Competitive Advantage
SOC 3 reports differentiate organizations from competitors demonstrating security commitment. Public availability enables customers verify security practices. Competitive advantage enables customer acquisition and market leadership. SOC 3 seal can be displayed on websites and marketing materials.
3. Customer Confidence
SOC 3 reports build customer confidence through independent assurance of security controls. Customers trust organizations with SOC 3 reports protecting their data. Confidence enables customer acquisition and retention. SOC 3 demonstrates commitment to security and trust.
4. Regulatory Alignment
SOC 3 reports align with regulatory requirements for security and data protection. Reports demonstrate due diligence protecting customer data. Regulatory alignment reduces compliance risks and supports business operations. SOC 3 supports compliance with various regulations.
5. Business Growth
SOC 3 reports enable business growth by demonstrating trust and security. Public availability attracts customers requiring security assurance. Business growth enables market expansion and competitive positioning. SOC 3 supports business development and customer acquisition.
Our SOC 3 Services
Glocert International provides comprehensive SOC 3 compliance services for organizations.
SOC 3 Readiness Assessment
Comprehensive evaluation of current controls against SOC 3 trust service criteria. Assessment reviews security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls. Identifies gaps and provides prioritized remediation roadmap.
Control Implementation
Implementation support for controls meeting SOC 3 trust service criteria including security controls, availability controls, processing integrity controls, confidentiality controls, and privacy controls. Ensures controls implemented correctly meeting SOC 3 requirements.
SOC 3 Audit Preparation
Preparation for SOC 3 audit including system description development, control documentation, evidence collection, and audit coordination. Ensures readiness for SOC 3 examination and successful report issuance.
SOC 3 Audit Coordination
Coordination with independent CPA firm conducting SOC 3 examination including auditor selection, audit planning, evidence organization, audit facilitation, finding remediation, and report review. Ensures smooth audit process and successful report issuance.
System Description Development
Development of system description meeting SOC 3 requirements including system overview, infrastructure, software, people, procedures, and data. System description included in SOC 3 report providing context for controls.
Ongoing SOC 3 Compliance
Continuous compliance programs maintaining SOC 3 compliance including control monitoring, compliance reviews, control testing, change management, and annual audit preparation. Ensures SOC 3 compliance maintained throughout year.
Trust Service Principles
SOC 3 reports evaluate controls against trust service criteria:
Security
Information and systems protected against unauthorized access including access controls, authentication, encryption, network security, and security monitoring. Security critical for all service organizations.
Availability
System available for operation and use including system monitoring, capacity management, incident response, and disaster recovery. Availability ensures systems accessible when needed.
Processing Integrity
System processing complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized including data validation, error handling, processing controls, and quality assurance. Processing integrity ensures accurate processing.
Confidentiality
Information designated as confidential protected including encryption, access controls, data classification, and confidentiality agreements. Confidentiality protects sensitive information.
Privacy
Personal information collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed in conformity with commitments including privacy notices, consent management, data subject rights, and data retention. Privacy protects personal information.
Benefits of SOC 3 Compliance:
Public Trust
Demonstrates trust and security to public audiences through general-use report.
Competitive Advantage
Differentiates organizations demonstrating security commitment to customers.
Customer Confidence
Builds customer confidence through independent assurance of security controls.
Marketing Tool
SOC 3 seal can be displayed on websites and marketing materials.
SOC 3 Services Pricing
Our SOC 3 services pricing is transparent and based on system complexity, trust principles selected, and current control state.
Request a Quote
Get a personalized estimate based on your SOC 3 compliance needs.
Contact Us for PricingWhat's Included:
- SOC 3 readiness assessment
- Control implementation
- SOC 3 audit preparation
- SOC 3 audit coordination
- System description development
- Ongoing SOC 3 compliance
- Annual audit support
- Report distribution support
Note: Pricing varies based on system complexity, number of trust principles, current control state, audit scope, and ongoing support requirements. Contact us for detailed quote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find answers to common questions about SOC 3:
System and Organization Controls 3 (SOC 3) is trust service report providing general-use assurance about controls at service organizations related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy. SOC 3 report designed for general distribution without detailed controls information making it suitable for public disclosure and marketing purposes. Needs it: Service organizations seeking public trust demonstration, Cloud service providers, Software as a Service (SaaS) providers, Data center operators, Managed service providers, Organizations processing customer data. SOC 3 reports issued annually following examination by independent CPA firm. Organizations use SOC 3 reports to demonstrate trust and security to customers, partners, and stakeholders. SOC 3 seal can be displayed on websites and marketing materials.
Key differences: SOC 3 provides general-use report suitable for public distribution, SOC 2 provides detailed report with controls information for restricted use, SOC 3 includes auditor's opinion and system description, SOC 2 includes detailed controls testing and results, SOC 3 suitable for marketing and public disclosure, SOC 2 suitable for customers requiring detailed assurance, SOC 3 report shorter and less detailed, SOC 2 report comprehensive and detailed. Organizations often obtain both SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports. SOC 2 provides detailed assurance for customers, SOC 3 provides public trust demonstration. Both reports evaluate same trust service criteria but differ in detail and distribution.
SOC 3 reports evaluate controls against trust service criteria: Security - Information and systems protected against unauthorized access including access controls, authentication, encryption, network security, and security monitoring. Availability - System available for operation and use including system monitoring, capacity management, incident response, and disaster recovery. Processing Integrity - System processing complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized including data validation, error handling, processing controls, and quality assurance. Confidentiality - Information designated as confidential protected including encryption, access controls, data classification, and confidentiality agreements. Privacy - Personal information collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed in conformity with commitments including privacy notices, consent management, data subject rights, and data retention. Organizations select relevant trust principles based on services provided.
SOC 3 audit timeline: Readiness assessment (2-4 weeks), Control implementation (3-6 months depending on gaps), Audit preparation (1-2 months), SOC 3 examination (1-2 months), Report issuance (typically 1-2 months after examination). Total timeline typically 6-12 months from start to report issuance. Factors affecting timeline: current control state, system complexity, number of trust principles, control implementation requirements, auditor availability, evidence collection completeness. Organizations with existing controls can achieve SOC 3 faster. Annual SOC 3 audits required for ongoing compliance.
Yes, SOC 3 reports designed for general distribution and marketing purposes. SOC 3 reports can be: Posted on websites, Included in marketing materials, Shared with prospects and customers, Displayed in sales presentations, Used in proposals and RFPs, Referenced in contracts. SOC 3 seal can be displayed demonstrating security commitment. Public availability enables customers verify security practices. Marketing use differentiates organizations from competitors. SOC 3 demonstrates commitment to security and trust building customer confidence.
Glocert provides: SOC 3 readiness assessment evaluating controls against trust service criteria, Control implementation implementing controls meeting SOC 3 requirements, SOC 3 audit preparation preparing for SOC 3 examination, SOC 3 audit coordination managing audit process, System description development creating system description, Ongoing SOC 3 compliance maintaining compliance, Annual audit support preparing for annual audits, Report distribution support facilitating report distribution. Expertise in SOC 3 trust service criteria, control implementation, audit processes, and compliance management. Experience helping organizations achieve SOC 3 compliance. Proven track record of successful SOC 3 reports and audit acceptance.
Why Choose Glocert for SOC 3?
SOC 3 Trust Services Expertise
Glocert specializes in SOC 3 compliance with deep expertise in SOC 3 trust service criteria, control implementation, audit processes, system description development, and compliance management. We understand SOC 3 requirements helping organizations achieve practical compliance meeting trust service criteria while supporting business operations.
Proven SOC 3 Experience
We've successfully helped organizations achieve SOC 3 compliance including cloud service providers, SaaS providers, data center operators, managed service providers, and organizations across industries. Experience demonstrates ability to deliver comprehensive SOC 3 compliance meeting trust service criteria and enabling public trust demonstration.
Related Services
Organizations requiring SOC 3 compliance often need complementary services. Glocert also provides ISO 27001 certification (security controls supporting SOC 3), SOC 2 reporting (detailed assurance), security assessments, and compliance consulting. We coordinate multiple engagements providing integrated trust services addressing SOC 3 alongside other requirements.
Achieve SOC 3 Compliance
Contact us to learn about our SOC 3 compliance services and demonstrate trust through general-use reporting.
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