Datadog and SOC 2: Which Controls Datadog Covers and What Still Needs a Program

Datadog can supply SOC 2 evidence for vulnerability identification (CC7.1), security monitoring (CC7.2), alert evaluation (CC7.3), unauthorized or malicious software detection (CC6.8), and cloud configuration checks mapped to the SOC 2 framework. Governance, risk assessment, access reviews, vendor management, and policies need a GRC platform, written processes, and an owner.

SOC 2 Criteria Datadog Can Cover, Criterion by Criterion

Datadog maps most directly to the Common Criteria for logical access (CC6) and system operations (CC7). Each row shows the evidence Datadog produces and what the auditor expects beyond it.

The Datadog Cloud Security Management guide covers scanning in detail, the Datadog Cloud SIEM guide covers detection and triage, and the Datadog vs Wazuh vs Nessus scanner comparison covers on-premises scanning for CC7.1.

SOC 2 Controls That Need a GRC Platform and Written Processes

The criteria about governance, people, and third parties make up a large share of a typical SOC 2 audit and need other tools and written processes:

• CC1 (control environment): leadership oversight, organizational structure, background checks, and security awareness training.
• CC2 (communication): security policies communicated to employees, and system commitments communicated to customers.
• CC3 (risk assessment): a documented risk assessment, a risk register, and fraud risk consideration.
• CC5 (control activities): written policies and procedures for each control.
• CC6.2 and CC6.3 (user access): onboarding and offboarding records and periodic access reviews for every in-scope application, including Datadog itself.
• CC8.1 (change management): approved, tested, and reviewed changes, usually evidenced from the code repository and ticketing system.
• CC9.2 (vendor management): reviews of critical vendors' SOC 2 reports, including Datadog's own.

A GRC platform such as Vanta, Drata, or Secureframe typically tracks these controls, collects evidence from HR, identity, and code systems, and gives the auditor one workspace. Datadog findings and case records go into that workspace as CC6 and CC7 evidence. The overview of what Vanta and Drata leave to the security team covers the work a GRC platform still needs from people.

How Datadog's Own SOC 2 Report Fits Into a Customer's Vendor Review

Datadog has a SOC 2 Type 2 report and ISO/IEC 27001 certification, both listed on the Datadog trust center. The report covers Datadog's controls and affects a customer's own audit in two ways:

• Vendor review (CC9.2): Datadog processes customer logs that can include personal data, so it belongs in the vendor inventory.
• Complementary user entity controls: duties Datadog expects customers to handle, such as account access. Single sign-on and quarterly access reviews of Datadog usually cover them.

Evidence That Turns Datadog Output Into a Passing SOC 2 Control

Datadog output becomes SOC 2 evidence when it shows a control operating consistently across the observation period, usually three to twelve months for a Type 2 report.

When a Company on Datadog Brings In a SOC 2 Consultant

Companies on Datadog tend to bring in a SOC 2 consultant once the tooling is in place and the program around it needs an owner. In our experience that work otherwise falls to the CTO or a senior engineer. A consultant typically handles four things:

1. The coverage map. Each in-scope criterion assigned to Datadog, the GRC platform, another tool, or a process.
2. Configuration for audit as well as operations. SOC 2 framework report on, severity tied to policy, signals routed to cases, retention matched to policy.
3. The policies and procedures. Logging, monitoring, vulnerability, incident response, and change management documents that match how the team uses Datadog.
4. Operating the program through the audit. Weekly reviews, remediation tracking, access and vendor reviews, and audit evidence requests.

Companies with a security lead who has time often manage SOC 2 themselves. The guide to choosing a SOC 2 consultant covers hiring outside help, and the SOC 2 consulting for Datadog users page describes how Truvo Cyber runs this engagement.

How to Check Datadog SOC 2 Coverage in a Few Working Sessions

1. List the in-scope systems and criteria. Start from the systems that store or process customer data.
2. Inventory the Datadog products already licensed. Note which security products are active, and on which hosts and accounts.
3. Compare Datadog's host list to the in-scope system list. Each in-scope host without the Agent is a scanning and monitoring gap.
4. Open the SOC 2 compliance report in Datadog Cloud Security for each connected cloud account and note the failing controls.
5. Build a criterion table with three columns per in-scope criterion: what Datadog covers, what the GRC platform covers, and what still needs an owner.

The rows that still need an owner are the work plan for the SOC 2 program.

Frequently Asked Questions About Datadog and SOC 2

Can Datadog make a company SOC 2 compliant?

Datadog supplies technical evidence for the CC6 and CC7 criteria. Governance, risk assessment, access reviews, vendor management, and policies need a GRC platform and owned processes.

Is Datadog SOC 2 compliant?

Yes. Datadog has a SOC 2 Type 2 report and ISO/IEC 27001 certification, listed on its trust center. Customers review that report as part of vendor management under CC9.2.

Does Datadog have a SOC 2 compliance report for my environment?

Yes, for connected cloud accounts. Datadog Cloud Security maps cloud resources to the AICPA SOC 2 framework with pass and fail results by control. Hosts running the Datadog Agent, including on-premises servers, are checked against CIS benchmarks.

Do we need Vanta or Drata if we have Datadog?

Usually. Datadog covers the technical CC6 and CC7 controls. A GRC platform tracks policies, training, access reviews, vendor reviews, and the auditor workflow, and stores Datadog evidence with the rest.

Should we hire a SOC 2 consultant if we already use Datadog?

It depends on who will design and operate the program. A consultant helps when the team needs someone to map controls, write policies, run weekly reviews, and manage the audit.