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Illustration of the SOC 2 compliance journey progressing from a Type 1 audit to a Type 2 audit.

Why We Recommend SOC 2 Type 1 (Even Though You Don't Need It)

Most companies skip straight to Type 2. It's the *real* SOC 2, right? Type 1 is just not worth it. We used to think that way too. We've changed our...

Featured image for SOC 2 SLA for vulnerability patching

SOC 2 Ticketing & SLAs: Vulnerability Patching & Incident Response

TL;DR: SOC 2 compliance requires a formal, trackable process for all security-relevant activities. Under the Trust Services Criteria, this means...

Audit scope (magnifying glass) for SOC 2 includes Employees, Contractors, and Vendors, linking them to security controls (shield/lock). This process integrates with a GRC Platform featuring Secureframe, Vanta, and Drata logos. Light blue background with coding elements.

SOC 2 People Scoping: Which Employees, Contractors, and Vendors

TL;DR: The core question for SOC 2 people scoping: does their role or access affect your system's ability to meet its Trust Services Criteria...

Automate CI/CD Security for SOC 2: SAST, SCA, DAST Integration Guide

Automate CI/CD Security for SOC 2: SAST, SCA, DAST Integration Guide

As a CTO, securing your CI/CD pipeline is critical for SOC 2 compliance. This guide shows you how to automate essential security scans, Container...

Supply Chain Cyber Risk: Why Your Vendors' Security Is Your Problem

Supply Chain Cyber Risk: Why Your Vendors' Security Is Your Problem

Supply chain cyber risk has become one of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges for businesses of all sizes. A single compromise in a supplier’s...

Why Invest in Compliance Automation If You Only Need SOC 2?

Why Invest in Compliance Automation If You Only Need SOC 2?

TL;DR: Even when SOC 2 is the only compliance requirement on the table, a compliance automation platform (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Scrut) pays for...

Security Questionnaire Automation: From Fire Drill to System

Security Questionnaire Automation: From Fire Drill to System

Security Questionnaire Automation: From Fire Drill to System

A 200-question security questionnaire lands in the sales team's inbox on a Thursday...

Is SOC 2 a Waste of Money? Evaluating Its Security Value

Is SOC 2 a Waste of Money? Evaluating Its Security Value

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SOC 2 Scorecard

Score Your SOC 2 Security Program

16 questions mapped to Common Criteria. See your strengths, find your gaps, get a...

CMMC Explained: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification

CMMC Explained: Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification

Most companies first hear about CMMC when a solicitation arrives with a clause they have never seen before, or when a prime contractor asks a...

What Is Cyber Security Posture? Definition and Importance

What Is Cyber Security Posture? Definition and Importance

Like in any industry, cyber security and cybercrime is constantly evolving. To keep up, you need to remain familiar with upcoming trends and the...

SOC 2 Trust Services Categories: Security, Availability, and Beyond

SOC 2 Trust Services Categories: Security, Availability, and Beyond

As a startup navigating the complexities of data security, understanding SOC 2 compliance is essential. SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is...

Shift-Left Cybersecurity Compliance: Benefits & Challenges

Shift-Left Cybersecurity Compliance: Benefits & Challenges

New business reality is that companies must prioritize cybersecurity compliance to protect customer data and demonstrate their security posture. The...

SOC 2 Renewal: What Changes the Second Time Around

SOC 2 Renewal: What Changes the Second Time Around

For many SaaS companies, achieving SOC 2 compliance is a major milestone, a sign that they take security and customer trust seriously. But the real...

What Is a SOC 2 Type 2 Report and Why Does It Matter?

What Is a SOC 2 Type 2 Report and Why Does It Matter?

TL;DR: A SOC 2 Type 2 report is an independent audit that evaluates whether an organization's security controls are operating effectively over a...

How to Build a Security Program That Maps to Any Framework

How to Build a Security Program That Maps to Any Framework

Every compliance framework, SOC 2, ISO 27001, CMMC, HIPAA, asks the same fundamental question: does this organization have an effective security...

A Practical Guide for Ransomware Response

A Practical Guide for Ransomware Response

Ransomware attacks are among the most disruptive forms of cybercrime, locking businesses out of their own data and demanding ransom for its release....

SOC 2 Compliance Roadmap: From Gap Assessment to Audit-Ready

SOC 2 Compliance Roadmap: From Gap Assessment to Audit-Ready

Every SOC 2 roadmap on the internet reads the same way: pick a platform, connect your integrations, run the gap analysis, remediate, audit. Five...

SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: How to Sequence Them and Share Controls

SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: How to Sequence Them and Share Controls

Roughly 70% of SOC 2 and ISO 27001 controls overlap, so a company can pursue both without doubling the work. The overlap is in the controls...

Automate SOC 2 on AWS with Compliance as Code

Automate SOC 2 on AWS with Compliance as Code

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SOC 2 Scorecard

Score Your SOC 2 Security Program

16 questions mapped to Common Criteria. See your strengths, find your gaps, get a...

SOC 2 CSOCs: Carve-Out vs Inclusive Method

SOC 2 CSOCs: Carve-Out vs Inclusive Method

SOC 2 CSOCs (Complementary Subservice Organization Controls) are third-party vendor controls your system depends on but does not operate. You address...

What Is ISO 42001? The AI Management Standard Explained

What Is ISO 42001? The AI Management Standard Explained

What Is ISO 42001? The AI Management Standard Explained

ISO/IEC 42001:2023 is the world's first international standard for managing artificial...

ISO 42001 and the EU AI Act: What Maps and What Doesn't

ISO 42001 and the EU AI Act: What Maps and What Doesn't

The Compliance Question Every AI Company Is Asking

The EU AI Act entered into force on August 1, 2024, making it the first comprehensive AI...

ISO 42001 Software Costs: What to Budget for Certification

ISO 42001 Software Costs: What to Budget for Certification

The Cost of AI Governance: Benchmarking Investment in ISO 42001 Compliance Software

Implementing ISO/IEC 42001 is a strategic necessity for AI SaaS...

SOC 2 / ISO 27001 Frequently Asked Questions

SOC 2 / ISO 27001 Frequently Asked Questions

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SOC 2 Scorecard

Score Your SOC 2 Security Program

16 questions mapped to Common Criteria. See your strengths, find your gaps, get a...

SOC 2 Automation: What Vanta & Drata Don't Cover

SOC 2 Automation: What Vanta & Drata Don't Cover

Six months after buying Drata, Vanta, Secureframe, or any other compliance automation platform, a company realizes the dashboard is half-populated,...

Security Logging and Monitoring Architecture for SOC 2 and ISO 27001

Security Logging and Monitoring Architecture for SOC 2 and ISO 27001

In cybersecurity, what you don’t know can hurt you. An unmonitored system is a black box where attackers can operate undetected for weeks or months. ...

Web Summit Vancouver: Gary Marcus on AI Limitations and Risks

Web Summit Vancouver: Gary Marcus on AI Limitations and Risks

Key Takeaways from the Web Summit Keynote: A Reality Check on the AI Hype

AI dominated the conversation at this 2025's Web Summit, and for good...

NRC IRAP Funding for SOC 2 Compliance in Canada

NRC IRAP Funding for SOC 2 Compliance in Canada

Yes, NRC IRAP funding can cover a significant portion of SOC 2 and other cybersecurity compliance costs for Canadian companies. The work has to be...

CMMC Level 1 Compliance: Requirements and Implementation Guide

CMMC Level 1 Compliance: Requirements and Implementation Guide

As of November 2025, CMMC is no longer a concept the DoD is considering. It is a contract requirement. Contracting officers are now including CMMC...