SOC 2 attestation in the United States

SOC 2 attestation in the US at a glance

“Can you send us your SOC 2 report?” is now a standard line in American security questionnaires, and for SaaS, cloud and managed-service providers it often decides whether a deal moves forward. SOC 2 is an attestation, not a certification: a licensed CPA firm examines controls at a service organisation relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality or privacy, and reports under AICPA standards. A Type 1 report covers control design at a point in time; a Type 2 report adds operating effectiveness over an observation period. Regulation sits around it rather than behind it — the HIPAA Security Rule for vendors handling ePHI, 23 NYCRR Part 500 for providers to New York financial institutions, the FTC Safeguards Rule for non-bank financial firms — and a well-scoped SOC 2 helps answer all three. Sterling's New York office prepares the control set, policies and evidence, runs a readiness assessment and supports the CPA firm's fieldwork, with Effivity and Sterling Academy included. The local route and common questions follow.

Who needs SOC 2 in the US, and what happens without it

In the US 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, cloud and managed-service providers selling to US enterprisesCustomers' security questionnaires commonly request a SOC 2 report.
• Business associates hosting or processing ePHIThe HIPAA Security Rule requires safeguards for ePHI; a SOC 2 report is one way vendors evidence them to covered entities.
• Service providers to New York banks and insurersCovered entities must maintain a third-party service provider security policy.
• Fintech and non-bank financial firmsThe FTC Safeguards Rule requires a written information security programme.

SOC 2 requirements in the US

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

In the US 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 the US

One team from the New York office carries the work from scoping to report. Delivered from the New York office across the US, with remote delivery for teams in other time zones and on-site work as agreed.

1. Discovery call and scopeEntities, locations, regulators and target date, agreed before any proposal.
2. Gap assessment against SOC 2 and the US 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 the US?

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

• Type 1 versus Type 2 and the length of the observation period
• Number of trust services categories in scope
• Maturity of control evidence and tooling
• Number of systems, locations and subservice organisations

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 the US?

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 the US these factors move both.

• Number of trust services categories and systems in scope
• CPA firm fees quoted separately from consulting
• Carve-out or inclusive treatment of subservice organisations
• Evidence-collection tooling

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 the US

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 the US 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 the US: questions clients ask

More on SOC 2 for US 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
• Sterling in New York
• SOC 2 attestation in the US and every other standard Sterling delivers there

Other standards US businesses ask Sterling for

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

All 23 standards Sterling delivers in the United States →