Compliance & Risk Management Services

SOC 2 Type I is a point-in-time assessment an auditor evaluates whether the described controls are suitably designed as of a specific date. It verifies design (the controls are designed correctly) but not operation (the controls have been operating consistently over time). SOC 2 Type II covers an observation period (typically 6-12 months) the auditor verifies that the controls were both suitably designed AND operating effectively throughout the period. Type II provides significantly stronger assurance than Type I because it demonstrates that controls are not just designed correctly but are actually followed consistently. Most enterprise customers accept a current Type I during the transition period while a Type II observation period accumulates. The long-term requirement for most enterprise relationships is an annual Type II report most large buyers will not renew vendor contracts without a current (less than 12 months old) SOC 2 Type II report.