Preparing your organization for compliance with System and Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) is no small feat. If you're reading this, it might be that that responsibility has fallen squarely on your shoulders. In that case, you already know that compliance isn't going to be that simple.
There are a lot of hurdles and pitfalls towards SOC 2 certification. Whether it's navigating the complexities of compliance to resource limitations, you'll need the know-how to overcome them.
We can help you with that. Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS) has guided many businesses to achieving their compliance goals. In this article, we'll help you overcome the obstacles to SOC 2 certification. We'll go over the common challenges you will face and the strategies you can use to resolve them.
8 SOC 2 Compliance Challenges Your Business Might Face
You're likely to encounter several significant challenges toward SOC 2 certification. These can vary depending on the nature and size of your business, but some common ones include:
1. Auditor Selection and Engagement
The Challenge:
Finding the right auditor and engaging with them throughout the process is crucial for a successful SOC 2 audit.
Unfortunately, that is easier said than done. Not all Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firms have relevant knowledge and experience in your industry. Without that, they may struggle to grasp the unique complexities and nuances of your business. It can lead to misinterpretations of critical control objectives. That can potentially jeopardize the accuracy of your audit findings.
How to Tackle It:
Conduct thorough research to identify auditors with relevant experience and expertise in your industry. Maintain open communication with the auditor, provide all requested documentation promptly, and address any concerns or findings proactively.
2. Defining Audit Scope
The Challenge:
Defining the scope of SOC 2 compliance efforts is crucial, but often overlooked. Ideally, your audit scope will be limited to systems and data crucial for the delivery of your services. More than that, and you could be wasting resources maintaining systems at higher standards for no reason.
How to Tackle It:
Conduct a thorough inventory of systems, applications, and data assets to identify those in scope for SOC 2 compliance. Clearly define the boundaries of the audit and document the rationale for including or excluding specific components. Engage with stakeholders from different departments to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the organization's operations.
3. Substantial Financial Investment
The Challenge:
Achieving SOC 2 compliance requires a hefty financial investment. The costs associated with hiring consultants, implementing security upgrades, and undergoing audits can be substantial. You may find it challenging to allocate sufficient funds for SOC 2 certification.
How to Tackle It:
Plan your budget carefully. Try to prioritize investing in critical security solutions first. Consider spreading out costs over time. You can also look for cost-effective solutions, such as automation tools that can streamline compliance processes.
4. Limited Time and Manpower
The Challenge:
Managing SOC 2 compliance requires dedicated time and personnel. These are resources you don't have in abundance, especially if you're a small business. Trying to meet SOC 2 requirements may strain your existing resources. For example, your IT team is already busy dealing with day-to-day issues. They may not have the bandwidth to manage compliance on top of it.
How to Tackle It:
Allocate resources strategically by identifying key team members who can manage compliance efforts. You can also consider outsourcing to supplement your team's expertise for compliance.
5. Complex Regulatory Landscape
The Challenge:
Nowadays, there are a lot of regulations to follow. There are local and industry-specific regulations to consider. Not to mention international standards as well. It can all be overwhelming. Your team might struggle trying to keep up, especially if your business operates in multiple jurisdictions.
How to Tackle It:
Break down the requirements into manageable steps. Focus on understanding the specific regulations relevant to your business. Also, seek guidance from experts or industry associations to clarify any ambiguities.
6. Aligning Existing IT Systems
The Challenge:
Aligning your existing IT systems with SOC 2 requirements can be a tall order. How difficult it will be depending on how far along you are in your cybersecurity journey. If you're just starting out, it may require a lot of upgrades. That will require technical expertise and even more resources.
How to Tackle It:
Take a phased approach to implementation, starting with the most critical security controls. Invest in IT infrastructure upgrades where necessary and consider leveraging cloud-based solutions that offer built-in security features.
7. Documentation and Reporting
The Challenge:
SOC 2 compliance requires comprehensive documentation and reporting. You need to keep track of everything from policies and procedures to controls. When done right, It’s a challenging and time-consuming task. Your team might struggle because of the sheer volume of data you need to document. If not done properly, it can lead to gaps and inconsistencies which could significantly delay your certification.
How to Tackle It:
Develop standardized templates and processes for documenting policies, procedures, and controls. Implement a centralized system for storing and managing documentation. Lastly, regularly review and update records to ensure their accuracy.
8. Resistance from Employees
The Challenge:
SOC 2 auditors won’t just look at your IT security. They’ll check on what your organization is doing to protect client data. That includes whether you have a culture of security awareness and compliance throughout the organization. The challenge is promoting across all departments may be an uphill battle. Employees may resist implementing new security protocols or procedures. That’s because they may view them as unnecessary obstacles to their workflow.
How to Tackle It:
Communicate the importance of SOC 2 compliance to employees. Provide training to raise awareness about security best practices. Lead by example and encourage open communication to foster a culture of accountability and responsibility.
Ready to Face the Challenges of SOC 2 Certification?
You are bound to face a lot of obstacles on your way to a SOC 2 certification. Addressing those challenges requires a lot of preparation and planning. Thankfully, this article helps you proactively identify them so you can confidently tackle each one.
If you still need help overcoming the challenges of getting a SOC 2 certification, we can help. Our experts at ITS have assisted hundreds of businesses resolve their compliance challenges. Schedule a meeting with us; we can help you prepare your organization before your SOC 2 audit.