Mastering SOC 2 Compliance: A Practical Guide to Audit-Proof Your Organization
You're under pressure. Contracts are stalling. Prospects want your SOC 2 report before they sign. And your legal team is asking questions you can't confidently answer. The fear isn’t just reputational-it’s financial. Missed revenue, delayed sales cycles, and lost trust. But what if you could turn compliance from a stumbling block into a strategic advantage? What if your organization didn’t just pass an audit, but built a culture of trust, resilience, and operational excellence that impresses clients, accelerates deals, and sets you apart from competitors? Mastering SOC 2 Compliance: A Practical Guide to Audit-Proof Your Organization is not another vague overview. It’s your step-by-step blueprint for transforming confusion into control, risk into credibility, and effort into ROI. This is the same system used by compliance leads at high-growth SaaS companies to go from audit anxiety to board-ready readiness in under 90 days. One compliance manager at a fast-scaling fintech startup used this methodology to pass their first SOC 2 Type II audit with zero exceptions-after two previous failed attempts. Their sales team reported a 40% reduction in procurement delays within six weeks of publishing the report. That’s not luck. That’s structure. This course cuts through regulatory noise and delivers actionable clarity. You'll build your own compliance framework from the ground up, align teams across engineering, security, and operations, and produce audit-ready documentation that actually holds up. No more guessing. No more wasted effort. You’ll finish with a clear, defensible, and sustainable compliance programme that future-proofs your business. Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.Course Format & Delivery Details Self-Paced, On-Demand Learning with Lifetime Access
This course is designed for professionals who need flexibility without sacrificing rigour. You’ll get self-paced access immediately after your materials are ready, with no fixed start dates, weekly schedules, or mandatory live sessions. Learn when it works for your calendar-during downtime, between meetings, or on your own time. Most learners complete the core framework in 20 to 30 hours and begin applying key deliverables-like policy templates, risk registers, and evidence collection plans-within the first week. Real results emerge quickly, often within 30 days, when teams adopt the modular approach laid out in the curriculum. Future-Proof Your Investment: Lifetime Access & Ongoing Updates
You’re not buying a one-time lesson. You’re gaining permanent access to a living resource. This includes all future updates to align with evolving compliance standards, auditor expectations, and industry best practices-at no additional cost. As frameworks change, your knowledge stays current. - Access your materials 24/7 from any device
- Optimised for mobile, tablet, and desktop use
- Study during commutes, flights, or short breaks
- Sync progress seamlessly between devices
Expert-Led Support & Direct Guidance
You’re not learning in isolation. The course includes clear, direct guidance from seasoned compliance architects who have led SOC 2 implementations for companies ranging from seed-stage startups to public tech firms. Concepts are explained with precision, and every step is tied to real audit requirements. If questions arise during implementation, you’ll have access to structured feedback pathways and clarification support to ensure you stay on track. This isn’t generic advice-it’s operational insight grounded in what auditors actually look for. Certificate of Completion Issued by The Art of Service
Upon finishing the course and demonstrating mastery through structured assessments, you will earn a Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service-a globally recognised provider of professional compliance and risk education. This credential validates your ability to design, implement, and maintain a SOC 2 compliant environment and can be shared on LinkedIn, included in proposals, or used internally to elevate your role. Transparent Pricing, Zero Hidden Fees
The price you see is the price you pay. There are no hidden costs, recurring charges, or upsells. You receive full access to all materials, templates, and certification upon completion. No surprises. No tricks. We accept all major payment methods including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal-securely processed with encryption-grade protection. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee: Try It Risk-Free
We know that trust must be earned. That’s why we offer a complete satisfaction guarantee. If you follow the methodology and find it doesn’t deliver clarity, confidence, and tangible progress toward audit readiness, you can request a full refund. No questions asked. Your success is the only metric that matters. What Happens After Enrollment?
After enrollment, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging your registration. Your access details and course materials will be sent separately once your learning environment is fully provisioned. This ensures a seamless onboarding experience with all components properly configured for maximum utility. “Will This Work For Me?” – Addressing Your Biggest Concern
We’ve worked with compliance officers, engineering managers, security leads, and startup founders-each coming in with different levels of resources, team maturity, and technical constraints. The answer is yes. This works even if: - You’re handling compliance as a side responsibility alongside your core role
- Your team lacks dedicated security staff or a full-time auditor
- You’ve failed a previous assessment or received a qualified report
- Your company is pre-revenue or operates with limited infrastructure
- You’re not a lawyer or formal auditor but need to lead this process
One CFO at a bootstrapped B2B SaaS company used this course to create an audit-ready compliance package with just two engineers and no external consultants. They passed their first SOC 2 audit and closed a key enterprise contract worth $360,000 within 45 days of certification. This system is built for realism, not ideal conditions. It scales to your organisation, not the other way around.
Module 1: Foundations of SOC 2 Compliance - Understanding SOC 2: Purpose, scope, and why it matters
- Differentiating SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 reports
- Type I vs Type II: What auditors expect in each
- The role of AICPA and the Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
- When to start your SOC 2 journey: Triggers and timing
- Benefits beyond compliance: Competitive differentiation and sales enablement
- Myths and misconceptions about SOC 2 audits
- How SOC 2 aligns with ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and other standards
- Defining your system boundary: What’s in and what’s out
- Identifying your services, systems, and data flows
- Initial stakeholder alignment: Getting buy-in from leadership
- Common failure points in early-stage compliance programmes
- Setting realistic expectations for time, cost, and resources
- Building your internal compliance team: Roles and responsibilities
- Assessing organisational readiness using a maturity model
Module 2: Mastering the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) - Overview of the five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy
- Security Principle CC6.1: Logical access controls and segmentation
- Security Principle CC6.2: Multi-factor authentication enforcement
- Security Principle CC6.3: Role-based access control design
- Security Principle CC6.4: Authorisation and provisioning processes
- Security Principle CC6.5: Remote access controls and monitoring
- Security Principle CC6.6: Account monitoring and review cycles
- Security Principle CC6.7: Password policies and credential management
- Availability Principle A1.1: System monitoring and alerting
- Availability Principle A1.2: Incident handling and outage response
- Availability Principle A1.3: Backup and restore procedures
- Availability Principle A1.4: Redundancy and failover design
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.1: Accuracy and completeness of data processing
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.2: Error detection and correction mechanisms
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.3: Input validation and transaction logging
- Confidentiality Principle C1.1: Data encryption at rest and in transit
- Confidentiality Principle C1.2: Access controls for sensitive data
- Confidentiality Principle C1.3: Secure data sharing and disclosure controls
- Privacy Principle P1.1: Personal information collection limitations
- Privacy Principle P1.2: Notice and consent mechanisms
- Privacy Principle P1.3: Data retention and disposal policies
- Privacy Principle P1.4: Subject access requests and data portability
- Privacy Principle P1.5: Third-party data processor agreements
- Mapping business functions to relevant TSC criteria
- Gap analysis: Identifying current vs required controls
Module 3: Building a Risk-Based Compliance Framework - Introduction to risk-based compliance thinking
- How to conduct a formal risk assessment for SOC 2
- Identifying inherent and residual risks across systems
- Categorising risks: Security, operational, compliance, and financial
- Establishing risk tolerance thresholds
- Selecting appropriate risk response strategies: Avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept
- Creating a risk register with ownership and timelines
- Linking risks to specific Trust Services Criteria
- Documenting risk treatment plans and control effectiveness
- Risk review cadence: Quarterly, biannual, or event-driven
- Involving technical teams in risk validation
- Presenting risk posture to executives and audit committees
- Using risk as a strategic driver, not just a compliance checkbox
- Integrating risk into change management and incident response
- Tools and templates for scalable risk management
Module 4: Designing and Implementing Controls - What makes a control “auditable” vs “performative”
- Differentiating preventative, detective, and corrective controls
- Designing technical controls: Firewalls, IDS/IPS, EDR, SIEM
- Designing administrative controls: Policies, training, attestations
- Designing physical controls: Data centres, badging, environmental
- Aligning control design with cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Control mapping: Connecting each control to a TSC criterion
- Defining control owners and accountability
- Implementing controls without over-engineering
- Using automation to reduce manual control burden
- Documenting control design in audit-ready formats
- Version control for policies and procedures
- Control testing frequency and thresholds
- Creating control narratives: What auditors want to see
- Common control failures and how to avoid them
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation - Why documentation is 50% of your audit success
- Essential policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Acceptable Use Policy: Scope, enforcement, and review
- Access Control Policy: Roles, permissions, and revocation
- Information Security Policy: Strategic direction and governance
- Change Management Policy: Review, approval, and backout plans
- Incident Response Policy: Detection, escalation, and reporting
- Breach Notification Policy: Legal and regulatory timelines
- Data Classification Policy: Labelling and handling rules
- Encryption Policy: Standards, key management, and enforcement
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy: Due diligence and monitoring
- Privacy Policy: Transparency and data subject rights
- Remote Work Policy: Security implications and configuration
- How to write policies that are clear, enforceable, and audit-ready
- Template library: Editable, customisable, and field-tested
- Version control and change tracking in documentation
- Internal policy distribution and attestation mechanisms
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Management - What counts as valid evidence in a SOC 2 audit
- Logs, screenshots, system reports, and configuration files
- Automated vs manual evidence collection
- Retention periods for evidence: 6, 12, or 24 months
- Centralised evidence storage: Secure and access-controlled
- Organising evidence by control and criterion
- Using evidence matrices to track completeness
- Sampling requirements: How many records auditors review
- Handling missing or incomplete evidence
- Time-stamping and integrity verification of evidence
- Cloud log exports: AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, GCP Audit Logs
- Directory service logs: Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace
- SIEM reports: Splunk, Datadog, Sumo Logic
- Snapshot vs continuous monitoring evidence
- Tools for streamlining evidence collection
Module 7: Internal Audit and Testing Procedures - Why internal testing prevents audit failures
- Conducting a mock SOC 2 audit: Step-by-step process
- Selecting controls for sample testing
- Designing test scripts and walkthroughs
- Performing control tests: Observation, inspection, inquiry
- Documenting test results with proper audit trails
- Identifying control deficiencies and exceptions
- Root cause analysis of control failures
- Remediation planning with timelines and owners
- Re-testing resolved issues
- Producing an internal audit report
- Presenting findings to management
- Benchmarking against auditor expectations
- Improving test efficiency with checklists and tools
- Building a culture of continuous internal validation
Module 8: Working with Auditors and Third Parties - Selecting the right audit firm: Size, expertise, cost
- Request for proposal (RFP) for SOC 2 audit services
- Understanding audit fees and engagement letters
- Preparing for the readiness assessment meeting
- Scheduling scoping calls and walkthroughs
- Managing auditor requests efficiently
- Coordinating cross-functional teams during audit fieldwork
- Handling auditor inquiries and clarification requests
- Negotiating findings: When to accept vs challenge
- Responding to deficiencies and management letters
- Attending the closeout meeting with confidence
- Obtaining your final SOC 2 report
- Understanding unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinions
- Sharing results responsibly with clients and prospects
- Maintaining auditor independence and communication boundaries
Module 9: Vendor Risk and Third-Party Management - Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Understanding SOC 2: Purpose, scope, and why it matters
- Differentiating SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 reports
- Type I vs Type II: What auditors expect in each
- The role of AICPA and the Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
- When to start your SOC 2 journey: Triggers and timing
- Benefits beyond compliance: Competitive differentiation and sales enablement
- Myths and misconceptions about SOC 2 audits
- How SOC 2 aligns with ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, and other standards
- Defining your system boundary: What’s in and what’s out
- Identifying your services, systems, and data flows
- Initial stakeholder alignment: Getting buy-in from leadership
- Common failure points in early-stage compliance programmes
- Setting realistic expectations for time, cost, and resources
- Building your internal compliance team: Roles and responsibilities
- Assessing organisational readiness using a maturity model
Module 2: Mastering the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) - Overview of the five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy
- Security Principle CC6.1: Logical access controls and segmentation
- Security Principle CC6.2: Multi-factor authentication enforcement
- Security Principle CC6.3: Role-based access control design
- Security Principle CC6.4: Authorisation and provisioning processes
- Security Principle CC6.5: Remote access controls and monitoring
- Security Principle CC6.6: Account monitoring and review cycles
- Security Principle CC6.7: Password policies and credential management
- Availability Principle A1.1: System monitoring and alerting
- Availability Principle A1.2: Incident handling and outage response
- Availability Principle A1.3: Backup and restore procedures
- Availability Principle A1.4: Redundancy and failover design
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.1: Accuracy and completeness of data processing
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.2: Error detection and correction mechanisms
- Processing Integrity Principle PI1.3: Input validation and transaction logging
- Confidentiality Principle C1.1: Data encryption at rest and in transit
- Confidentiality Principle C1.2: Access controls for sensitive data
- Confidentiality Principle C1.3: Secure data sharing and disclosure controls
- Privacy Principle P1.1: Personal information collection limitations
- Privacy Principle P1.2: Notice and consent mechanisms
- Privacy Principle P1.3: Data retention and disposal policies
- Privacy Principle P1.4: Subject access requests and data portability
- Privacy Principle P1.5: Third-party data processor agreements
- Mapping business functions to relevant TSC criteria
- Gap analysis: Identifying current vs required controls
Module 3: Building a Risk-Based Compliance Framework - Introduction to risk-based compliance thinking
- How to conduct a formal risk assessment for SOC 2
- Identifying inherent and residual risks across systems
- Categorising risks: Security, operational, compliance, and financial
- Establishing risk tolerance thresholds
- Selecting appropriate risk response strategies: Avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept
- Creating a risk register with ownership and timelines
- Linking risks to specific Trust Services Criteria
- Documenting risk treatment plans and control effectiveness
- Risk review cadence: Quarterly, biannual, or event-driven
- Involving technical teams in risk validation
- Presenting risk posture to executives and audit committees
- Using risk as a strategic driver, not just a compliance checkbox
- Integrating risk into change management and incident response
- Tools and templates for scalable risk management
Module 4: Designing and Implementing Controls - What makes a control “auditable” vs “performative”
- Differentiating preventative, detective, and corrective controls
- Designing technical controls: Firewalls, IDS/IPS, EDR, SIEM
- Designing administrative controls: Policies, training, attestations
- Designing physical controls: Data centres, badging, environmental
- Aligning control design with cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Control mapping: Connecting each control to a TSC criterion
- Defining control owners and accountability
- Implementing controls without over-engineering
- Using automation to reduce manual control burden
- Documenting control design in audit-ready formats
- Version control for policies and procedures
- Control testing frequency and thresholds
- Creating control narratives: What auditors want to see
- Common control failures and how to avoid them
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation - Why documentation is 50% of your audit success
- Essential policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Acceptable Use Policy: Scope, enforcement, and review
- Access Control Policy: Roles, permissions, and revocation
- Information Security Policy: Strategic direction and governance
- Change Management Policy: Review, approval, and backout plans
- Incident Response Policy: Detection, escalation, and reporting
- Breach Notification Policy: Legal and regulatory timelines
- Data Classification Policy: Labelling and handling rules
- Encryption Policy: Standards, key management, and enforcement
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy: Due diligence and monitoring
- Privacy Policy: Transparency and data subject rights
- Remote Work Policy: Security implications and configuration
- How to write policies that are clear, enforceable, and audit-ready
- Template library: Editable, customisable, and field-tested
- Version control and change tracking in documentation
- Internal policy distribution and attestation mechanisms
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Management - What counts as valid evidence in a SOC 2 audit
- Logs, screenshots, system reports, and configuration files
- Automated vs manual evidence collection
- Retention periods for evidence: 6, 12, or 24 months
- Centralised evidence storage: Secure and access-controlled
- Organising evidence by control and criterion
- Using evidence matrices to track completeness
- Sampling requirements: How many records auditors review
- Handling missing or incomplete evidence
- Time-stamping and integrity verification of evidence
- Cloud log exports: AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, GCP Audit Logs
- Directory service logs: Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace
- SIEM reports: Splunk, Datadog, Sumo Logic
- Snapshot vs continuous monitoring evidence
- Tools for streamlining evidence collection
Module 7: Internal Audit and Testing Procedures - Why internal testing prevents audit failures
- Conducting a mock SOC 2 audit: Step-by-step process
- Selecting controls for sample testing
- Designing test scripts and walkthroughs
- Performing control tests: Observation, inspection, inquiry
- Documenting test results with proper audit trails
- Identifying control deficiencies and exceptions
- Root cause analysis of control failures
- Remediation planning with timelines and owners
- Re-testing resolved issues
- Producing an internal audit report
- Presenting findings to management
- Benchmarking against auditor expectations
- Improving test efficiency with checklists and tools
- Building a culture of continuous internal validation
Module 8: Working with Auditors and Third Parties - Selecting the right audit firm: Size, expertise, cost
- Request for proposal (RFP) for SOC 2 audit services
- Understanding audit fees and engagement letters
- Preparing for the readiness assessment meeting
- Scheduling scoping calls and walkthroughs
- Managing auditor requests efficiently
- Coordinating cross-functional teams during audit fieldwork
- Handling auditor inquiries and clarification requests
- Negotiating findings: When to accept vs challenge
- Responding to deficiencies and management letters
- Attending the closeout meeting with confidence
- Obtaining your final SOC 2 report
- Understanding unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinions
- Sharing results responsibly with clients and prospects
- Maintaining auditor independence and communication boundaries
Module 9: Vendor Risk and Third-Party Management - Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Introduction to risk-based compliance thinking
- How to conduct a formal risk assessment for SOC 2
- Identifying inherent and residual risks across systems
- Categorising risks: Security, operational, compliance, and financial
- Establishing risk tolerance thresholds
- Selecting appropriate risk response strategies: Avoid, mitigate, transfer, accept
- Creating a risk register with ownership and timelines
- Linking risks to specific Trust Services Criteria
- Documenting risk treatment plans and control effectiveness
- Risk review cadence: Quarterly, biannual, or event-driven
- Involving technical teams in risk validation
- Presenting risk posture to executives and audit committees
- Using risk as a strategic driver, not just a compliance checkbox
- Integrating risk into change management and incident response
- Tools and templates for scalable risk management
Module 4: Designing and Implementing Controls - What makes a control “auditable” vs “performative”
- Differentiating preventative, detective, and corrective controls
- Designing technical controls: Firewalls, IDS/IPS, EDR, SIEM
- Designing administrative controls: Policies, training, attestations
- Designing physical controls: Data centres, badging, environmental
- Aligning control design with cloud architecture (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Control mapping: Connecting each control to a TSC criterion
- Defining control owners and accountability
- Implementing controls without over-engineering
- Using automation to reduce manual control burden
- Documenting control design in audit-ready formats
- Version control for policies and procedures
- Control testing frequency and thresholds
- Creating control narratives: What auditors want to see
- Common control failures and how to avoid them
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation - Why documentation is 50% of your audit success
- Essential policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Acceptable Use Policy: Scope, enforcement, and review
- Access Control Policy: Roles, permissions, and revocation
- Information Security Policy: Strategic direction and governance
- Change Management Policy: Review, approval, and backout plans
- Incident Response Policy: Detection, escalation, and reporting
- Breach Notification Policy: Legal and regulatory timelines
- Data Classification Policy: Labelling and handling rules
- Encryption Policy: Standards, key management, and enforcement
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy: Due diligence and monitoring
- Privacy Policy: Transparency and data subject rights
- Remote Work Policy: Security implications and configuration
- How to write policies that are clear, enforceable, and audit-ready
- Template library: Editable, customisable, and field-tested
- Version control and change tracking in documentation
- Internal policy distribution and attestation mechanisms
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Management - What counts as valid evidence in a SOC 2 audit
- Logs, screenshots, system reports, and configuration files
- Automated vs manual evidence collection
- Retention periods for evidence: 6, 12, or 24 months
- Centralised evidence storage: Secure and access-controlled
- Organising evidence by control and criterion
- Using evidence matrices to track completeness
- Sampling requirements: How many records auditors review
- Handling missing or incomplete evidence
- Time-stamping and integrity verification of evidence
- Cloud log exports: AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, GCP Audit Logs
- Directory service logs: Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace
- SIEM reports: Splunk, Datadog, Sumo Logic
- Snapshot vs continuous monitoring evidence
- Tools for streamlining evidence collection
Module 7: Internal Audit and Testing Procedures - Why internal testing prevents audit failures
- Conducting a mock SOC 2 audit: Step-by-step process
- Selecting controls for sample testing
- Designing test scripts and walkthroughs
- Performing control tests: Observation, inspection, inquiry
- Documenting test results with proper audit trails
- Identifying control deficiencies and exceptions
- Root cause analysis of control failures
- Remediation planning with timelines and owners
- Re-testing resolved issues
- Producing an internal audit report
- Presenting findings to management
- Benchmarking against auditor expectations
- Improving test efficiency with checklists and tools
- Building a culture of continuous internal validation
Module 8: Working with Auditors and Third Parties - Selecting the right audit firm: Size, expertise, cost
- Request for proposal (RFP) for SOC 2 audit services
- Understanding audit fees and engagement letters
- Preparing for the readiness assessment meeting
- Scheduling scoping calls and walkthroughs
- Managing auditor requests efficiently
- Coordinating cross-functional teams during audit fieldwork
- Handling auditor inquiries and clarification requests
- Negotiating findings: When to accept vs challenge
- Responding to deficiencies and management letters
- Attending the closeout meeting with confidence
- Obtaining your final SOC 2 report
- Understanding unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinions
- Sharing results responsibly with clients and prospects
- Maintaining auditor independence and communication boundaries
Module 9: Vendor Risk and Third-Party Management - Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Why documentation is 50% of your audit success
- Essential policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Acceptable Use Policy: Scope, enforcement, and review
- Access Control Policy: Roles, permissions, and revocation
- Information Security Policy: Strategic direction and governance
- Change Management Policy: Review, approval, and backout plans
- Incident Response Policy: Detection, escalation, and reporting
- Breach Notification Policy: Legal and regulatory timelines
- Data Classification Policy: Labelling and handling rules
- Encryption Policy: Standards, key management, and enforcement
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy: Due diligence and monitoring
- Privacy Policy: Transparency and data subject rights
- Remote Work Policy: Security implications and configuration
- How to write policies that are clear, enforceable, and audit-ready
- Template library: Editable, customisable, and field-tested
- Version control and change tracking in documentation
- Internal policy distribution and attestation mechanisms
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Management - What counts as valid evidence in a SOC 2 audit
- Logs, screenshots, system reports, and configuration files
- Automated vs manual evidence collection
- Retention periods for evidence: 6, 12, or 24 months
- Centralised evidence storage: Secure and access-controlled
- Organising evidence by control and criterion
- Using evidence matrices to track completeness
- Sampling requirements: How many records auditors review
- Handling missing or incomplete evidence
- Time-stamping and integrity verification of evidence
- Cloud log exports: AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, GCP Audit Logs
- Directory service logs: Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace
- SIEM reports: Splunk, Datadog, Sumo Logic
- Snapshot vs continuous monitoring evidence
- Tools for streamlining evidence collection
Module 7: Internal Audit and Testing Procedures - Why internal testing prevents audit failures
- Conducting a mock SOC 2 audit: Step-by-step process
- Selecting controls for sample testing
- Designing test scripts and walkthroughs
- Performing control tests: Observation, inspection, inquiry
- Documenting test results with proper audit trails
- Identifying control deficiencies and exceptions
- Root cause analysis of control failures
- Remediation planning with timelines and owners
- Re-testing resolved issues
- Producing an internal audit report
- Presenting findings to management
- Benchmarking against auditor expectations
- Improving test efficiency with checklists and tools
- Building a culture of continuous internal validation
Module 8: Working with Auditors and Third Parties - Selecting the right audit firm: Size, expertise, cost
- Request for proposal (RFP) for SOC 2 audit services
- Understanding audit fees and engagement letters
- Preparing for the readiness assessment meeting
- Scheduling scoping calls and walkthroughs
- Managing auditor requests efficiently
- Coordinating cross-functional teams during audit fieldwork
- Handling auditor inquiries and clarification requests
- Negotiating findings: When to accept vs challenge
- Responding to deficiencies and management letters
- Attending the closeout meeting with confidence
- Obtaining your final SOC 2 report
- Understanding unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinions
- Sharing results responsibly with clients and prospects
- Maintaining auditor independence and communication boundaries
Module 9: Vendor Risk and Third-Party Management - Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Why internal testing prevents audit failures
- Conducting a mock SOC 2 audit: Step-by-step process
- Selecting controls for sample testing
- Designing test scripts and walkthroughs
- Performing control tests: Observation, inspection, inquiry
- Documenting test results with proper audit trails
- Identifying control deficiencies and exceptions
- Root cause analysis of control failures
- Remediation planning with timelines and owners
- Re-testing resolved issues
- Producing an internal audit report
- Presenting findings to management
- Benchmarking against auditor expectations
- Improving test efficiency with checklists and tools
- Building a culture of continuous internal validation
Module 8: Working with Auditors and Third Parties - Selecting the right audit firm: Size, expertise, cost
- Request for proposal (RFP) for SOC 2 audit services
- Understanding audit fees and engagement letters
- Preparing for the readiness assessment meeting
- Scheduling scoping calls and walkthroughs
- Managing auditor requests efficiently
- Coordinating cross-functional teams during audit fieldwork
- Handling auditor inquiries and clarification requests
- Negotiating findings: When to accept vs challenge
- Responding to deficiencies and management letters
- Attending the closeout meeting with confidence
- Obtaining your final SOC 2 report
- Understanding unqualified, qualified, or adverse opinions
- Sharing results responsibly with clients and prospects
- Maintaining auditor independence and communication boundaries
Module 9: Vendor Risk and Third-Party Management - Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Why third parties are high-risk for SOC 2
- Identifying critical vendors and subprocessors
- Conducting vendor risk assessments
- Using questionnaires: CAIQ, SIG, custom templates
- Evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports and attestations
- Addressing gaps where vendors lack compliance
- Implementing compensating controls for third-party risks
- Drafting contract clauses for compliance obligations
- Monitoring vendors continuously, not just at onboarding
- Maintaining a vendor risk register with status tracking
- Reporting vendor risks in your SOC 2 narrative
- Managing shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Documenting vendor oversight in audit evidence
- Automating vendor review cycles and renewals
- Integrating vendor risk into board-level reporting
Module 10: Continuous Compliance and Maintenance - Why compliance is a programme, not a project
- Establishing a compliance calendar: Quarterly and annual tasks
- Automating control monitoring with tools and alerts
- Ongoing employee training and security awareness
- Regular policy reviews and updates
- Change management: Impact on existing controls
- Incident response integration with compliance
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, rebranding
- Scaling controls as your company grows
- Managing multiple SOC 2 reports for different services
- Preparing for recurring Type II audits
- Updating scope and system descriptions over time
- Incorporating new TSC criteria as business evolves
- Using dashboards to visualise compliance health
- Reporting compliance status to executives and boards
Module 11: Certification and Post-Course Advancement - Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates
- Final checklist for audit readiness
- Submitting your completion assessment
- Verification process for Certificate of Completion
- Receiving your official certificate from The Art of Service
- Digital badge for LinkedIn and professional profiles
- How to list your certification on resumes and proposals
- Using your credential to lead compliance in future roles
- Accessing post-course resources and updates
- Joining a community of compliance professionals
- Advanced paths: CISSP, CISA, CISM, ISO Lead Auditor
- Transitioning from practitioner to compliance leader
- Building a personal brand in information security
- Speaking at conferences and contributing to industry forums
- Mentoring others using your SOC 2 expertise
- Lifetime access to revised methodologies and templates