How SOC 2 Came to Be

When we think about modern security and compliance frameworks, SOC 2 is now one of the first names that comes to mind. But this wasn’t always the case.

SOC 2 history is rooted in the evolution of financial and operational auditing practices, and in growing expectations around how companies protect their data.

Let’s take a closer look at how SOC 2 came to be and why it matters more than ever in today’s digital world.

From Financial Controls to Data Security

The story begins in the early 2000s, when corporate scandals and accounting failures triggered new regulatory requirements.

In 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was passed in the U.S., introducing stricter standards for financial reporting and internal controls. As part of this effort, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) developed the SAS 70 auditing standard to assess the control environment of service organizations, particularly those whose services impacted financial reporting.

However, SAS 70 was never intended to address broader data security compliance or privacy concerns. As more businesses moved their operations online and cloud service providers emerged, it became clear that organizations needed a new way to demonstrate trustworthiness, not just in financial processes but in how they handled data.

The Birth of SOC Reports

In response to these shifting needs, the AICPA introduced the System and Organization Controls (SOC) reporting framework.

• SOC 1 replaced SAS 70, maintaining a focus on financial reporting controls.

• SOC 2 was created to evaluate operational and security controls for technology and cloud service providers.

• SOC 3 was introduced as a simplified, public-facing version of SOC 2.

SOC 2 was especially significant because it expanded the scope from financial controls to a broader focus on trust and data protection. It provided a framework to assess how organizations manage risk, protect personally identifiable information (PII), and maintain secure system operations.

The Role of the Trust Services Criteria

At the heart of SOC 2 are the Trust Services Criteria (TSC), developed by the AICPA to define key areas of organizational trust:

• Security

• Availability

• Processing Integrity

• Confidentiality

• Privacy

These criteria provide a comprehensive foundation for evaluating how organizations:

• Conduct risk assessments

• Protect against unauthorized access

• Manage system and organization controls

• Ensure data is accurate, timely, and authorized

• Maintain continuous monitoring of key processes

Early versions of SOC 2 reports focused primarily on security and availability. Today, the Trust Services Criteria align well with broader frameworks such as ISO 27001 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), allowing companies to build integrated compliance programs.

SOC 2 in Today’s Digital World

Fast forward to today, and SOC 2 has become a critical standard for cloud-first companies, SaaS platforms, and AI-driven services.

As more customers demand transparency and proof of security and compliance, SOC 2 serves as a powerful tool to:

• Demonstrate operational maturity and continuous monitoring

• Build customer trust

• Differentiate in competitive markets

• Meet enterprise buyer expectations

Many customers now require a SOC 2 Type 2 report, which covers a defined period and demonstrates that controls are operating effectively throughout that timeframe.

For many industries, SOC 2 is no longer just a "nice-to-have." It has become essential for conducting business and demonstrating that your organization can reliably protect data, support robust system operations, and effectively manage disaster recovery capabilities.

Building on the Foundation of SOC 2

Understanding how SOC 2 works and how it has evolved helps organizations appreciate its role in today’s complex digital landscape. The combination of Trust Services Criteria, common criteria, and a structured risk assessment approach enables companies to demonstrate trust and compliance.

By adopting a robust SOC 2 compliance strategy and leveraging tools like DSALTA for automation and continuous monitoring, organizations can ensure that their systems and organizational controls remain resilient, secure, and trustworthy.