Explaining the SOC 2 Report

For organizations pursuing SOC 2 compliance, the final goal is often the same: receiving the official SOC 2 report.
But what exactly is a SOC 2 report—and why does it matter so much to your customers and business partners?

In this guide, we’ll explain what a SOC 2 report is, what it contains, and how it helps you build trust in today’s competitive digital markets.

Defining the SOC 2 Report

A SOC 2 report is an independent, third-party attestation that your organization manages its systems and data in line with the Trust Services Criteria.
It is prepared by an external licensed CPA firm following a detailed audit of your control environment.

Rather than being a certification or seal of approval, the SOC 2 report is an in-depth document that provides:

• A narrative of how your systems operate

• A description of your implemented controls

• The results of an independent auditor’s evaluation of those controls

This report is primarily intended for customers and prospects who want assurance that your organization can be trusted with their data.

Why Customers Request SOC 2 Reports

Today’s enterprise buyers face growing pressure to carefully vet their vendors, especially when sensitive data or critical operations are involved.

A SOC 2 report gives them confidence that your organization:

• Has well-defined security and governance practices

• Regularly monitors and improves its controls

• Understands and mitigates key operational risks

Without a SOC 2 report, you may find that security reviews drag on or that specific buyers won’t move forward.

What’s Inside a SOC 2 Report

The SOC 2 report itself is structured to provide a comprehensive view of your control environment.
It includes several key sections:

First, your management team provides an assertion about the design and effectiveness of your controls.
Next, the auditor delivers their opinion, stating whether your controls meet the applicable Trust Services Criteria.
The report also contains a detailed description of your system and the controls you’ve implemented to protect customer data.

For Type II reports, the auditor additionally documents how your controls performed over a defined period, offering even deeper insight into your operational maturity.

This structure is consistent across industries and aligns well with other compliance frameworks, such as ISO 27001 and GDPR, which emphasize transparency and accountability.

Type I vs Type II Reports

There are two types of SOC 2 reports, each serving a different purpose.

A SOC 2 Type I report assesses whether your controls are effectively designed at a specific point in time.
It’s a good starting point for organizations pursuing SOC 2 for the first time.

A SOC 2 Type II report takes a more rigorous approach, assessing whether your controls operated effectively over a specified period (typically 3 to 12 months).
Type II reports are generally preferred by enterprise buyers who want assurance of continuous compliance.

How SOC 2 Reports Are Used

Once issued, your SOC 2 report can be shared under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with customers, prospects, and partners.
It helps shorten sales cycles, accelerates trust, and reduces the friction of lengthy security questionnaires.

Importantly, the report is not a public document like a SOC 3 report—it is intended for an informed audience that understands how to interpret its findings.