SOC 2 attestation in Ireland

SOC 2 attestation in Ireland at a glance

Enterprise buyers rarely accept a security questionnaire alone from a service provider, and a SOC 2 report is one of the answers they ask for. In Dublin's IFSC, in Cork's technology cluster and across Ireland's SaaS firms, customers want an independent view of how security, availability, confidentiality and privacy are managed. SOC 2 is an attestation by a licensed CPA firm, following the AICPA's trust services criteria, and it is not a certificate. DORA adds pressure from regulated financial customers, who must manage ICT third-party risk, although the Central Bank's DORA FAQ does not name the report. Sterling's London office helps Irish service organisations define the system description, close control gaps and gather evidence, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included in the engagement. The CPA firm that examines the controls remains independent of Sterling.

Who needs SOC 2 in Ireland, and what happens without it

In Ireland the question rarely comes from a law. It comes from the buyer, the regulator or the partner that wants proof before it signs. These are the organisations that get asked.

• SaaS and cloud providers selling to enterprise customersEnterprise buyers ask a service organisation for an independent report on its controls; a SOC 2 report from a licensed CPA firm is a common answer.
• Fintech and payments technology providersRegulated financial customers must manage ICT third-party risk under DORA and look for independent evidence on suppliers.
• Fund administrators and outsourced service firms around the IFSCClients and their auditors review the controls of the firm that holds or processes their data.
• Technology companies with their EU base in IrelandCustomers ask how security, availability and confidentiality are managed across the whole service.
• Business-process and managed-service providersContracts commonly ask for a recognised assurance report rather than a self-declaration.

SOC 2 requirements in Ireland

Strip away the vocabulary and SOC 2 asks a service organisation to report on six things about the controls behind its service.

In Ireland these six sit alongside the local laws and regulations listed under drivers below; one system can evidence both. The detail is on the global hub: SOC 2 explained →

How to get a SOC 2 report in Ireland

One team from the London office carries the work from scoping to report. Clients in Ireland are served from Sterling's London office, on-site where the work needs it and remotely otherwise.

1. Discovery call and scopeEntities, locations, regulators and target date, agreed before any proposal.
2. Gap assessment against SOC 2 and the Irish requirements that apply to youControls you already run for your regulators and customers are reused, not rebuilt.
3. Your system built with your team in EffivityRisks, controls, evidence, incidents and reviews in one live system the auditor can see.
4. Internal audit, management review and corrective actionsYour internal auditors trained by Sterling; the evidence proven before any external review.
5. The independent examination and reportA licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the report. Sterling supports the examination.

The Sterling Promise: 100% on-time completion, 100% success, 8,100+ client engagements.Sterling does not certify. Certification decisions stay with independent bodies.

• SOC 2 gap analysis
• SOC 2 implementation plan

How long does SOC 2 attestation take in Ireland?

There is no standard duration: it depends on your scope and on how much of the system already runs. In Ireland these are the factors that set the timeline.

• Whether a Type 1 or Type 2 report is needed
• Which trust services criteria are in scope
• Maturity of controls and evidence collection
• Length of the observation period the customer expects

Sterling agrees a dated plan with you on the discovery call, once the scope is known.

• What drives the SOC 2 timeline
• Scope and timeline estimator

How much does SOC 2 attestation cost in Ireland?

The cost has two parts: the consulting work to build and prove the system, and the CPA firm’s fees, which are quoted separately. In Ireland these factors move both.

• Scope of systems, locations and subservice organisations
• Number of criteria and controls tested
• CPA firm examination fees quoted separately from consulting
• Evidence tooling and remediation effort

Sterling gives one customised, all-inclusive proposal after the discovery call, never before the scope is agreed.

• What makes up the cost of SOC 2

SOC 2 consultants and auditors in Ireland

Two different organisations are involved. A consultant helps you build the system and prove it works; a licensed CPA firm then audits or assesses it and decides. Keeping the two separate is what makes the result credible to buyers and regulators.

• Check that the body’s accreditation or approval covers SOC 2 and your sector, and that its certificates can be verified online.
• Ask the consultant how the local requirements in Ireland are mapped into the same system, so nothing runs twice.
• Ask for client references in your sector; Sterling’s client letters are available on request.
• Agree who owns the evidence and the tool after the engagement; with Sterling the system stays yours, in Effivity.

SOC 2 in Ireland: questions clients ask

More on SOC 2 for Irish organisations

• SOC 2: the complete guide
• Watch: How to implement SOC 2
• Accounting and professional services: SOC 2 for the sector
• BPO and shared services: SOC 2 for the sector
• Fintech and payments: SOC 2 for the sector
• Healthcare IT and health BPO: SOC 2 for the sector
• HR, payroll and staffing: SOC 2 for the sector
• MSPs and data centres: SOC 2 for the sector
• SaaS and technology: SOC 2 for the sector
• SOC 2 attestation in Ireland and every other standard Sterling delivers there

Other standards Irish businesses ask Sterling for

Organisations in Ireland often combine SOC 2 with one of these, under one management system where the scopes allow.

All 22 standards Sterling delivers in Ireland →