Building Independent SOC 2 Type II

Description

What is the Building Independent SOC 2 Type II course about?

Build the independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice in 10 weeks. SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + cloud audit + automation audit + AI audit + engagement economics + practice positioning. Independent SOC 2 and automation auditors compete with large CPA firms and audit-tech platforms on the same engagements. Customers ask for modern SOC 2, ISO 27001, cloud audit, automation.

Why this course?

What do you take away from the Building Independent SOC 2 Type II course?

A documented SOC 2 framework. An ISO 27001 framework. A cloud audit framework. An automation audit framework. An AI audit framework. An engagement economics framework. A client engagement model. A 10-week build plan.

What you get with this course?

The 12-module course delivered as text plus downloadable templates. Templates and worked examples for SOC 2 framework, ISO 27001 framework, cloud audit framework, automation audit framework, AI audit framework, sector overlays, engagement economics framework, client engagement model, practice positioning, vendor partnerships. A hand-built implementation playbook generated for your specific practice. Three worked examples of independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practices.

What you will have in hand by Day 1, Week 1, Month 1?

Day 1: SOC 2 framework scaffold drafted. Week 4: ISO 27001 + cloud audit designed. Week 8: Automation audit + AI audit + sector overlays operational.

What does the Building Independent SOC 2 Type II cover on before and after?

Your independent practice loses SOC 2 engagements to large CPA firms and to audit-tech-platform-vetted auditors. SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + cloud audit + automation audit + AI audit overlap strains the practice. Senior customer work goes to peers shipping the modern practice. An independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice is in operation. SOC 2 framework, ISO 27001 framework, cloud.

What happens if you do not address this?

Auditors without the modern practice lose engagements. AICPA SOC 2 framework + ISO 27001:2022 transition + EU AI Act audit demand + automation-audit platform standardisation set the new baseline.

Who it is for?

For independent SOC 2 auditors, principals at boutique audit firms, solo SOC 2 practitioners, mid-tier audit firms, fractional Chief Audit Executives, and senior auditors pivoting to independent practice.

More answers: what you get with every course, refund policy, all help answers.

Page updated 2026-10-18.

A focused course, tailored for you

Building Independent SOC 2 Type II and Automation-Audit Practice (SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + Cloud Audit + Automation Audit + AI Audit + Engagement Economics + Practice Positioning)

Build the independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice in 10 weeks. SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + cloud audit + automation audit + AI audit + engagement economics + practice positioning.

Independent SOC 2 and automation auditors compete with large CPA firms and audit-tech platforms on the same engagements. Customers ask for modern SOC 2, ISO 27001, cloud audit, automation audit, AI audit, and engagement economics. Auditors who build the modern practice take the senior customer work. Here is the 10-week build.

$199 one-time

Tailored to your situation. Access within 24 hours. 30-day money-back.

Includes a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access, generated for your specific situation.

Why this course

Independent SOC 2 and automation auditors (boutique audit firms, solo SOC 2 practitioners, mid-tier audit firms, fractional Chief Audit Executives) compete with large CPA firms (Big4 plus Top-100 CPA firms in SOC 2 like RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, Crowe, Baker Tilly, EisnerAmper, Mazars, Marcum, MossAdams, Plante Moran, CohnReznick, CliftonLarsonAllen, FORVIS, Aprio, Withum, Citrin Cooperman, Doeren Mayhew, Carr Riggs Ingram, Wipfli, BPM, Eide Bailly) and SOC 2 specialty firms (A-LIGN, Coalfire, Schellman, MOSS Adams SOC, KSI Audit, Vanta-vetted auditors, Drata-vetted auditors, Secureframe-vetted auditors) and audit-tech platforms (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Hyperproof, Thoropass, Anecdotes, Apptega, AuditBoard, in-house) on SOC 2 engagements in 2024-2026.

Customers (SaaS firms pursuing first SOC 2, mid-market firms pursuing SOC 2 Type II, public companies modernising SOC 1 + SOC 2, fintech firms under multi-framework audit, healthtech firms pursuing HITRUST + HIPAA + SOC 2, government-tech firms pursuing FedRAMP + SOC 2, AI vendors pursuing emerging AI audit frameworks) ask for modern SOC 2 (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy criteria, control mapping, evidence collection automation), ISO 27001:2022 alignment, cloud audit (AWS audit, Azure audit, Google Cloud audit, Kubernetes audit, serverless audit, container audit, IaC audit, multi-cloud audit), automation audit (Vanta + Drata + Secureframe + Hyperproof + Thoropass + Anecdotes + Apptega + AuditBoard + in-house automation-platform audit), AI audit (NIST AI RMF audit, EU AI Act conformity assessment, ISO/IEC 42001 AIMS audit, AI vendor due-diligence audit), and engagement economics that work for independent practice.

Auditors who build the modern practice take the senior customer work. Auditors who stay on classic checklist-only patterns watch the senior work shift to peers.

This course teaches the 10-week build of independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice: SOC 2 framework, ISO 27001 framework, cloud audit framework, automation audit framework, AI audit framework, engagement economics, and the client engagement model. Twelve modules with deliverables. Plus a hand-built implementation playbook for your specific practice.

What you walk away with

A documented SOC 2 framework.
An ISO 27001 framework.
A cloud audit framework.
An automation audit framework.
An AI audit framework.
An engagement economics framework.
A client engagement model.
A 10-week build plan.

The 12 modules

Module 1. SOC 2 and automation audit landscape 2026

Detailed walkthrough of the SOC 2 and automation audit landscape in 2026: peer-firm positioning at Big4 + Top-100 CPA firms in SOC 2 (RSM + BDO + Grant Thornton + Crowe + Baker Tilly + EisnerAmper + Mazars + Marcum + MossAdams + Plante Moran + CohnReznick + CliftonLarsonAllen + FORVIS + Aprio + Withum + Citrin Cooperman + Doeren Mayhew + Carr Riggs Ingram + Wipfli + BPM + Eide Bailly) + SOC 2 specialty firms (A-LIGN + Coalfire + Schellman + MOSS Adams SOC + KSI Audit + Vanta-vetted auditors + Drata-vetted auditors + Secureframe-vetted auditors), audit-tech platform landscape (Vanta + Drata + Secureframe + Hyperproof + Thoropass + Anecdotes + Apptega + AuditBoard + in-house), regulatory landscape (AICPA SOC 2 framework + AICPA Trust Services Criteria + ISO 27001:2022 + NIST AI RMF + EU AI Act + ISO/IEC 42001 AIMS + FedRAMP + HITRUST + HIPAA + PCI DSS 4.0), and the strategic-level decisions facing auditors.

Module 2. SOC 2 framework

Build the SOC 2 framework: SOC 2 Type II framework (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy criteria), AICPA Trust Services Criteria framework, control-mapping framework, evidence-collection-automation framework, audit-readiness framework, SOC 2 reporting framework, SOC 3 framework, SOC for Cybersecurity framework, SOC for Supply Chain framework, and the integration with broader assurance.

Module 3. ISO 27001 framework

Build the ISO 27001:2022 framework: ISMS scope-statement framework, Annex A controls framework (93 controls in 4 themes), risk-treatment plan framework, statement-of-applicability framework, internal-audit programme framework, management-review framework, ISO 27017 cloud framework, ISO 27018 PII framework, ISO 27701 PIMS framework, and the integration with broader management systems.

Module 4. Cloud audit framework

Build the cloud audit framework: AWS audit framework, Azure audit framework, Google Cloud audit framework, Kubernetes audit framework, serverless audit framework, container audit framework, IaC audit framework, multi-cloud audit framework, cloud-IAM audit framework, cloud-network-segmentation audit framework, and the integration with broader cloud audit strategy.

Module 5. Automation audit framework

Build the automation audit framework: Vanta audit framework, Drata audit framework, Secureframe audit framework, Hyperproof audit framework, Thoropass audit framework, Anecdotes audit framework, Apptega audit framework, AuditBoard audit framework, in-house automation-platform audit framework, evidence-collection-automation framework, control-monitoring-automation framework, and the integration with broader audit operations.

Module 6. AI audit framework

Build the AI audit framework: NIST AI RMF audit framework (Govern + Map + Measure + Manage), EU AI Act conformity assessment audit framework, ISO/IEC 42001 AIMS audit framework, AI vendor due-diligence audit framework, AI system inventory audit framework, AI risk-tier audit framework, AI risk-treatment audit framework, AI explainability audit framework, AI bias audit framework, and the integration with broader AI strategy.

Module 7. Sector overlays

Build the sector overlays: SaaS overlay, fintech overlay (Fed SR 11-7, OCC AI guidance, CFPB UDAAP, NAIC Model Bulletin), healthtech overlay (HIPAA, HITRUST), government-tech overlay (FedRAMP, StateRAMP, IRAP for AU customers, IRAP-equivalent for various), AI-vendor overlay (EU AI Act, NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001), public sector overlay, and the integration with broader sector strategy.

Module 8. Engagement economics

Build the engagement economics framework: SOC 2 Type II fixed-price framework, ISO 27001 fixed-price framework, cloud audit fixed-price framework, automation audit retainer framework, AI audit fixed-price framework, engagement-bundling framework, AI-augmented audit-productivity framework, sub-contractor model, and the practice-economics framework.

Module 9. Client engagement model

Build the client engagement model: client-CISO engagement framework, client-CCO engagement framework, client-CTO engagement framework, client-CFO engagement framework, executive-business-review framework, finding-presentation framework, remediation-roadmap framework, and the integration with broader account management.

Module 10. Practice positioning

Build the practice positioning: positioning statement, demo (showing SOC 2 framework, automation audit framework, cloud audit framework, AI audit framework), ROI calculator, case studies (3 minimum), and the discovery-conversation guide.

Module 11. Vendor partnerships

Build the vendor partnerships: Vanta partner framework, Drata partner framework, Secureframe partner framework, Hyperproof partner framework, Thoropass partner framework, Anecdotes partner framework, Apptega partner framework, AuditBoard partner framework, AICPA framework, and the integration with broader partner strategy.

Module 12. Your 10-week build plan

Week-by-week plan with weekly deliverables. Weeks 1-2: SOC 2 and automation audit landscape + SOC 2 framework. Weeks 3-4: ISO 27001 framework + cloud audit framework. Weeks 5-6: automation audit framework + AI audit framework. Weeks 7-8: sector overlays + engagement economics. Weeks 9-10: client engagement model + practice positioning + vendor partnerships. Deliverable: independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice.

How this addresses your situation

Specific modules that map to what you said you are dealing with.

Module 1 covers the landscape.

Module 2 produces SOC 2.

Module 3 covers ISO 27001.

Module 4 covers cloud audit.

Module 5 covers automation audit.

Module 6 covers AI audit.

Module 7 covers sector overlays.

Module 8 covers engagement economics.

Module 9 covers client engagement.

Module 10 covers practice positioning.

Module 11 covers vendor partnerships.

Module 12 covers the 10-week build plan.

What you get with this course

The 12-module course delivered as text plus downloadable templates.
Templates and worked examples for SOC 2 framework, ISO 27001 framework, cloud audit framework, automation audit framework, AI audit framework, sector overlays, engagement economics framework, client engagement model, practice positioning, vendor partnerships.
A hand-built implementation playbook generated for your specific practice.
Three worked examples of independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practices at peer firms.
Scripted talking points for the client CISO engagement.

What you will have in hand by Day 1, Week 1, Month 1

Day 1: SOC 2 framework scaffold drafted.

Week 4: ISO 27001 + cloud audit designed.

Week 8: Automation audit + AI audit + sector overlays operational.

Week 10: Practice in operation.

Before and after

Before

After

An independent SOC 2 Type II and automation-audit practice is in operation. SOC 2 framework, ISO 27001 framework, cloud audit framework, automation audit framework, AI audit framework, sector overlays, engagement economics framework, client engagement model, practice positioning, vendor partnerships are all designed.

What happens if you do not address this

Auditors without the modern practice lose engagements. AICPA SOC 2 framework + ISO 27001:2022 transition + EU AI Act audit demand + automation-audit platform standardisation set the new baseline.

Who it is for

Who this is NOT for. Pure financial-audit practitioners without SOC 2 scope. Auditors at firms with no SOC 2 business. Pure consulting roles without audit DNA.

How it arrives

Text-based course via LMS, plus downloadable templates and worked examples and the hand-built implementation playbook.

Time investment. Roughly 18 hours of reading and 60 to 120 hours of auditor effort across the 10-week build.

Why $199 is the right number

External SOC 2 practice consultants (Big4 SOC 2 practices, specialist firms like A-LIGN, Coalfire, Schellman, MOSS Adams SOC, KSI Audit, RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, Crowe, Baker Tilly, EisnerAmper, Mazars, Marcum, MossAdams, Plante Moran, CohnReznick, CliftonLarsonAllen, FORVIS, Aprio, Withum, Citrin Cooperman, Doeren Mayhew, Carr Riggs Ingram, Wipfli, BPM, Eide Bailly) charge $50K-$200K per SOC 2 Type II audit. $199 buys the focused playbook plus the implementation document for your specific practice.

FAQ

Will this replace hiring a SOC 2 specialist?

Partially. It teaches the modern practice. You may still want specialist input for complex multi-framework engagements.

What if my clients are primarily SaaS startups (not mid-market)?

Modules 8 and 10 cover SaaS-startup-anchored patterns.

Does this cover HITRUST CSF Common Security Framework specifically?

Module 7 covers HITRUST-anchored patterns.

What about AI audit for emerging AI vendors specifically?

Module 6 covers AI audit in depth.

What is in the implementation playbook for me specifically?

SOC 2 framework tailored to your specific client mix; automation audit framework matched to your client tech stack; a 10-week build plan.

30-day money-back guarantee. If after a week of working through the materials this is not what you needed, reply to the receipt email and a full refund is processed. No questions, no forms.

Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.