
SOC 2 Audits Tailored for Agencies
Unlike other auditors, ConstellationGRC realizes that agencies are very different from SaaS companies and warrant different controls and systems. We're ready to work with you to identify a path to compliance that best suits your organization's needs.

Simple SOC 2 for Agencies and Professional Services
Managing client data is a significant responsibility. For agencies and professional service providers, SOC 2 compliance goes beyond being just a certification—it’s a powerful way to build trust. Demonstrate your commitment to data protection with an audit process customized to fit your specific services. From data governance to operational security, we’re here to support you at every step of the journey.
Advantages Key Benefits of SOC 2 Examinations
Identify and Mitigate Risk
SOC 2 controls serve as a security roadmap. The SOC 2 process helps organizations mitigate risks such as data breaches, unauthorized access, insider threats, and service disruptions, through highlighting and prescribing ways to address control deficiencies.
Stakeholder Confidence
SOC 2 reports assure your stakeholders that your organization has implemented meaningful controls to secure your systems, processes, and confidential information. This demonstrates that your organization can be trusted with sensitive information.
Tailored Security Policies
SOC 2 attestations are highly customizable and allow you to design a security framework that fits your unique business model and industry needs. Whether you’re using a cloud-only infrastructure or handling data in innovative ways, SOC 2 adjusts to your setup.
Competitive Advantage
A good SOC 2 report showcases your organization's commitment to data security and integrity, providing a competitive advantage and building trust with clients who trust your organization with their confidential information. Your SOC2 will help win business.
Ready to Learn More?
Our experts can answer any questions you may have about how your organization can achieve a great SOC 2 report that will help your organization earn trust and business.
Frequently Answered SOC 2 Questions
Type II examinations are much more respected than Type I, because they provide assurance that an organization's controls have actually operated effectively over a period of time. Thus, it's rare for organizations to only get a Type I report. Instead, Type I's serve as a stop-gap since they can be issued within weeks, rather than months. They also serve as an opportunity to ensure all controls are in place and well designed before initiating a several months long Type II observation period.
While SOC 2 Type II reports carry a bit more weight with longer observation periods, most organizations initially pursue a 3-month observation window so that they can have a SOC 2 report ready as soon as possible. After the first report, organizations can opt to continue pursuing 3-month observation windows each year, or to strengthen their reports by pursuing longer observation periods.
The key is to focus on what assurance your clients are looking for in your SOC 2 report (see below for descriptions of each TSC and the sorts of organizations they typically apply to). If clients simply ask for a SOC 2 and you don't expect that they're concerned with any criteria apart from the default, Security, a common strategy is to simply pursue the Security TSC for the first year. Then if any client requests to see additional TSC's, you can offer your previous SOC 2 report as a stop-gap and assure them that you'll add the additional TSC's to the next report.
The Availability criterion ensures that systems are operational and accessible as outlined in service-level agreements (SLAs). This is particularly critical for cloud service providers, SaaS companies, and other organizations offering uptime-dependent services. Relevant controls include system performance monitoring, capacity planning, disaster recovery and business continuity plans, backup procedures, and incident management to minimize downtime.
The Processing Integrity criterion emphasizes accurate, complete, valid, and authorized data processing. It is ideal for organizations handling high-volume transactional data, such as financial institutions and payment processors. Controls in this area include input validation, automated processing controls, audit trails for data changes, and regular testing to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
The Confidentiality criterion is aimed at protecting sensitive information, such as trade secrets or personal data, from unauthorized disclosure. It is particularly relevant for industries such as legal, healthcare, and other sectors that manage proprietary or confidential client information. Key controls include data classification, encryption, secure file transfer mechanisms, restricted access to sensitive information, and employee training on data handling.
The Privacy criterion ensures that personal information is collected, used, retained, and disposed of in compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. This criterion is vital for organizations handling personal data, including e-commerce platforms, healthcare providers, and social media companies. Controls include mechanisms for obtaining consent, managing data subject rights (e.g., access, correction, and deletion requests), secure storage and disposal of personal information, and conducting privacy impact assessments.
Because SOC 2's are flexible in which controls you select and how you satisfy them, there's little "going out of your way just to check the box." Generally your organization should implement these controls even if you weren't getting a SOC 2 report, for the sake of securing your information and systems.
