SOC 2 attestation in Türkiye

SOC 2 attestation in Türkiye at a glance

Procurement teams at US and multinational enterprises ask the same question of Turkish SaaS firms, outsourcers and fintechs: where is your SOC 2 report? It is not a certificate. A licensed CPA firm examines controls against the Trust Services Criteria and issues an attestation report, either Type 1 at a point in time or Type 2 over a period. The AICPA sets the professional standards for SOC engagements; no Turkish regulator requires the report, and no accreditation body issues it. For technopark start-ups, the report can be the credential that opens a first enterprise contract. Sterling's Dubai office prepares the control environment and evidence, on-site or remotely, but never issues the report, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.

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

In Türkiye 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 companies selling to US and global enterprisesEnterprise buyers ask for a SOC 2 report in procurement, and the report is issued by a CPA firm.
• Technology-zone start-ups and scale-upsYoung companies in technoparks need a credible assurance report to win first enterprise contracts.
• Outsourcing and contact-centre firms serving overseas clientsClients abroad ask service organisations for independent assurance over security and availability.
• Fintechs and payment service providersPartners and investors request assurance beyond regulatory licences.

SOC 2 requirements in Türkiye

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

In Türkiye 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 Türkiye

One team from the Dubai office carries the work from scoping to report. Clients across Türkiye are served from Sterling's Dubai 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 Turkish 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 Türkiye?

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

• Choice of Type 1 point-in-time or Type 2 period-of-time report
• Control environment and evidence to build before the examination
• Observation window for a Type 2 report
• CPA firm availability and report timing

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 Türkiye?

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 Türkiye these factors move both.

• Number of systems, services and Trust Services Criteria in scope
• Control tooling and remediation
• CPA firm fees, quoted separately
• Readiness assessment and training

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 Türkiye

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 Türkiye 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 Türkiye: questions clients ask

More on SOC 2 for Turkish 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 Türkiye and every other standard Sterling delivers there

Other standards Turkish businesses ask Sterling for

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

All 21 standards Sterling delivers in Türkiye →