SOC 2 attestation in Sri Lanka

SOC 2 attestation in Sri Lanka at a glance

Sri Lankan software and BPM exporters selling to US enterprises usually meet SOC 2 in a security questionnaire before they meet it in a contract. A SOC 2 report is an attestation issued by a licensed CPA firm after examining controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality or privacy, under professional standards that the AICPA promulgates; it is not a certificate. At home, the Central Bank's Banking Act Directions base outsourcing decisions on independent assessments and require ISO 27001 certification from security operations suppliers, without naming SOC 2. The report is issued by the CPA firm, never by Sterling. Sterling's Mumbai office helps organisations define scope, design and operate controls, gather evidence and prepare for the examination, with Effivity software and Sterling Academy training included with the engagement.

Who needs SOC 2 in Sri Lanka, and what happens without it

In Sri Lanka 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.

• Software and SaaS exporters serving US and European customersEnterprise buyers ask service organisations for an independent report on security and related controls.
• ICT and business process management firmsOutsourcing customers use SOC reports to assess risks associated with outsourcing services.
• Fintech and payment technology providersBanks that outsource must base decisions on independent assessments, which pushes providers towards audited evidence.
• Data centre and cloud service providers to banksProviders of security operations and hosting services to banks face assurance requests alongside ISO 27001 requirements.

SOC 2 requirements in Sri Lanka

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

In Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka

One team from the Mumbai office carries the work from scoping to report. Clients across Sri Lanka are served from Sterling's Mumbai 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 Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lanka?

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

• Scope of services, trust services criteria and systems in the report
• Maturity of policies, access control and change management
• Length of the observation period for a type 2 report
• CPA firm scheduling and evidence collection

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 Sri Lanka?

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 Sri Lanka these factors move both.

• Number of systems, locations and trust services criteria
• Automation and evidence tooling
• CPA firm examination fees quoted separately from consulting
• Remediation of control gaps

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 Sri Lanka

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 Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka: questions clients ask

More on SOC 2 for Sri Lankan 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 Sri Lanka and every other standard Sterling delivers there

Other standards Sri Lankan businesses ask Sterling for

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

All 23 standards Sterling delivers in Sri Lanka →