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1. End-to-End Readiness Support

Some firms only perform the final audit. Others guide you through the full readiness process — gap assessment, control design, policy writing, evidence preparation — and then coordinate the audit. For most companies undertaking SOC 2 Type 2 for the first time, end-to-end support is far more valuable than audit execution alone.

2. ISO 27001 Overlap Expertise

If your organisation already holds or is pursuing ISO 27001 certification, a provider who understands the control overlap between ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria can dramatically reduce your audit workload and overall timeline.

3. Industry Sector Experience

SOC 2 Type 2 requirements look different for a SaaS platform than for a healthcare data processor or a financial services firm. Providers with sector-specific experience understand the evidence expectations and common control gaps in your industry from day one.

4. CPA Firm Relationships

In the United States, SOC 2 audits must be performed by a licensed CPA firm. Understanding how your provider coordinates with the CPA auditor — and whether that relationship is established and smooth — directly affects your timeline and audit outcome.

5. Clear Communication and Ongoing Support

SOC 2 Type 2 is not a one-time project. Once certified, you need to maintain controls, collect ongoing evidence, and prepare for annual renewal audits. A provider who offers structured check-ins and long-term support is significantly more valuable than one who disappears after the report is issued.

6. Transparent Scoping Process

Providers who clearly define scope, timelines, and deliverables upfront signal a well-run engagement. Vague scoping at the start often leads to scope creep, extended timelines, and unexpected resource demands on your internal teams mid-engagement.

CyberSapiens

CyberSapiens is a specialist cybersecurity and compliance firm with a proven track record delivering SOC 2 Type 2 engagements for technology companies, SaaS platforms, and managed service providers across the United States, Australia, Canada, and India.

What sets CyberSapiens apart in the US market is the depth of hands-on engagement their team provides throughout the entire compliance journey. Rather than handing clients a checklist and stepping back, the CyberSapiens team works directly inside the client’s environment — assessing existing controls, identifying gaps, designing remediation roadmaps, writing and reviewing policies, preparing evidence packages, and coordinating with CPA auditors through to final report issuance.

For organisations that hold ISO 27001 certification or are pursuing it concurrently, CyberSapiens has developed a structured methodology for mapping ISO 27001 Annex A controls to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. This overlap strategy reduces duplication, cuts preparation time, and lowers the overall cost of achieving both certifications. Their team also brings expertise across HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST CSF, and Essential Eight — making them an effective partner for US organisations operating under multiple regulatory obligations simultaneously. Learn more about their SOC 2 compliance services and the automated vs manual compliance approach.

One of the Big Four professional services firms with one of the largest SOC 2 audit practices in the United States. Deloitte serves large enterprises, publicly listed companies, and multinationals requiring SOC 2 Type 2 compliance as part of broader enterprise risk and assurance programs. Their integrated advisory model makes them a natural fit for organisations that need SOC 2 embedded within a wider risk management engagement. Best suited for enterprise clients with complex, multi-jurisdiction environments.

A global professional services firm with a significant SOC 2 Type 2 assurance practice across the United States. EY primarily serves large enterprise and multinational clients and integrates SOC 2 audit work into broader risk management, internal audit, and technology assurance programs. Their breadth of sector coverage — including financial services, healthcare, and technology — makes them a practical choice for large organisations seeking consolidated assurance across multiple frameworks.

A Big Four firm with a well-established SOC 2 Type 2 audit practice serving enterprise clients across financial services, healthcare, technology, and government sectors in the United States. KPMG’s SOC 2 engagements are typically delivered as part of broader technology risk and cybersecurity advisory programs, making them a strong choice for organisations that require integrated assurance across multiple regulatory frameworks simultaneously.

PwC operates one of the most extensive SOC 2 Type 2 audit practices in the United States, particularly for large financial services institutions, insurance companies, and multinational technology platforms. Their trust and transparency reporting practice integrates SOC 2 Type 2 into broader digital trust advisory programs. PwC is the preferred auditor for organisations where the SOC 2 report will be scrutinised by institutional investors or large regulated enterprise clients.

A top-15 US accounting and advisory firm with a dedicated SOC 2 Type 2 audit practice serving mid-market companies across technology, healthcare, real estate, and professional services. Well regarded in the Pacific Northwest and Western US markets, Moss Adams offers a practical alternative to the Big Four for organisations that need a credentialed licensed CPA auditor without the overhead and cost structure of a global firm.

BDO USA is a top-10 US accounting and advisory firm with an active SOC 2 Type 2 audit practice across technology, nonprofit, government contracting, and financial services sectors. Their national footprint across more than 70 US offices makes them accessible for mid-market organisations outside the major coastal markets. BDO is particularly active in SOC 2 engagements for government contractors and organisations with FedRAMP requirements alongside their SOC 2 program.

Grant Thornton is a US-based accounting and advisory firm with a growing SOC 2 Type 2 audit practice focused on mid-market technology companies, financial services firms, and healthcare organisations. Their cybersecurity and risk advisory practice delivers SOC 2 Type 2 engagements integrated with broader IT risk assessments, making them a strong choice for organisations that want audit and advisory from a single credentialed firm.

Protiviti is a global consulting firm and subsidiary of Robert Half with a dedicated technology risk and SOC 2 advisory practice in the United States. They work with mid-market and enterprise clients across financial services, retail, energy, and technology sectors. Protiviti is particularly strong at managing complex SOC 2 Type 2 engagements where the scope spans multiple systems, business units, or geographic locations across a single observation period.

A US-based cybersecurity advisory and audit firm with a significant SOC 2 Type 2 practice alongside FedRAMP, PCI DSS, and HITRUST. Coalfire serves mid-market and enterprise clients across cloud infrastructure, SaaS, and financial services and is known for their structured audit methodology and strong documentation support. A practical choice for technology companies that want a specialist cybersecurity firm rather than a generalist accounting practice to lead their SOC 2 Type 2 audit.

“Claude and Ketki from Cyber Sapiens guided us seamlessly through our SOC 2 Type II journey. Their communication was clear and professional, helping us leverage ISO 27001 overlaps and address any gaps with expert advice. This has strengthened our market position and ability to win new business and retain current clients who now have a requirement for their key vendors handling sensitive data to have SOC 2 Type II practice in place.”

“Cyber security is a top priority for us given the nature of our business, and we’ll continue maintaining SOC 2 Type II with Cyber Sapiens going forward. A big thank you for the end-to-end support through to CPA assessment. We look forward to a long-term relationship in the industry.”

SOC 2 Type 1

SOC 2 Type 2

For organisations with no existing security program. Includes gap assessment (4 to 8 weeks), control implementation (2 to 4 months), observation period (6 to 12 months), and audit (6 to 10 weeks).

The CyberSapiens overlap methodology allows existing ISO 27001 controls to satisfy a substantial portion of SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. Readiness phase compressed to 4 to 8 weeks.

Annual renewal audits for organisations who have maintained consistent controls and evidence throughout the year. Most compliance-mature organisations treat SOC 2 as an ongoing operational program.

What is SOC 2 Type 2 compliance?

SOC 2 Type 2 is an independent security audit framework developed by the AICPA that assesses whether an organisation’s security controls not only exist but have operated effectively over a sustained observation period, typically six to twelve months. A SOC 2 Type 2 report is issued by a licensed US CPA firm and provides enterprise clients with evidence that your organisation maintains consistent security practices over time, not just on the day of an audit. Learn more about our SOC 2 compliance services.

Who needs SOC 2 Type 2 in the United States?

Any US organisation that stores, processes, or transmits customer data on behalf of other businesses should consider SOC 2 Type 2. It is effectively mandatory for SaaS companies targeting enterprise clients, cloud service providers, managed service providers, healthcare technology platforms, and fintech companies. Many US enterprise procurement teams and government agencies now require a current SOC 2 Type 2 report as a condition of vendor onboarding.

How is SOC 2 Type 2 different from SOC 2 Type 1?

SOC 2 Type 1 assesses whether your security controls are designed correctly at a single point in time. SOC 2 Type 2 tests whether those controls operated effectively over an observation period of six to twelve months. Enterprise clients strongly prefer Type 2 because it demonstrates sustained operational security rather than a one-day snapshot.

How long does SOC 2 Type 2 take in the US?

For organisations starting from scratch, the full journey typically takes twelve to eighteen months. For organisations with ISO 27001 already in place, the readiness phase can be compressed significantly, bringing the total timeline closer to nine to twelve months. Annual renewal audits typically take eight to twelve weeks from the end of the observation period.

Can ISO 27001 certification reduce SOC 2 Type 2 effort?

Yes, significantly. ISO 27001 and SOC 2 share substantial control overlap. An experienced compliance partner can map existing ISO 27001 Annex A controls to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria, identifying which requirements are already satisfied and where genuine gaps remain. This overlap strategy reduces readiness time, eliminates duplicated policy work, and lowers overall compliance cost.

Does SOC 2 Type 2 need to be renewed annually?

Yes. SOC 2 Type 2 reports cover a specific observation period and have an effective date. Enterprise clients and procurement teams expect organisations to maintain a current report, which means completing an annual renewal audit each year. Most compliance-mature organisations treat SOC 2 maintenance as an ongoing operational program rather than a one-time project. A virtual CISO can help manage ongoing compliance obligations year-round.

What is the difference between SOC 2 and SOC 1?

SOC 1 reports assess controls relevant to financial reporting and are most commonly required by financial services companies whose systems affect their clients’ financial statements. SOC 2 reports assess controls across the five Trust Services Criteria relevant to data security and privacy. Most technology companies, SaaS platforms, and cloud service providers require SOC 2, not SOC 1. See our SOC 2 compliance checklist to understand what is required for your organisation.