Mastering SOC 2 Compliance for Cybersecurity Leaders
You’re not just managing risk - you’re leading under pressure. Boards demand compliance proof. Sales teams lose deals over audit readiness gaps. And competitors leverage SOC 2 reports as strategic assets while your team scrambles to catch up. The cost of delay isn’t just reputational - it’s directly hitting revenue, trust, and market position. Every unresolved control. Every delayed assessment. Every unanswered RFP question chips away at credibility. You know compliance isn’t optional - but turning policy into boardroom-ready confidence? That’s where leadership separates from the rest. This is no theoretical overview. Mastering SOC 2 Compliance for Cybersecurity Leaders is the exact blueprint used by CISOs, compliance officers, and security architects to transform SOC 2 from a bottleneck into a business enabler. One that turns auditors into allies, and due diligence into a competitive differentiator. Just ask Roberto M., Deputy CISO of a $450M SaaS provider: “We closed a major enterprise contract we’d been stalled on for six months - the day after we issued our Type II report. The client said, ‘This is the most complete, well-documented SOC 2 package we’ve seen.’ That deal alone covered the cost of the entire compliance initiative three times over.” This course delivers the clarity, control, and confidence to transform your SOC 2 journey from reactive scrambling to proactive leadership. You’ll go from fragmented controls and audit anxiety to a fully structured, defensible, and scalable compliance program - complete with a board-ready compliance roadmap and auditor-grade documentation framework. Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.Course Format & Delivery Details Designed for High-Performance Leaders, Zero Time Waste
This course is self-paced, with immediate online access upon enrollment. There are no fixed schedules, live sessions, or countdowns. You progress at your own speed, on your own time, from any location. Most cybersecurity leaders complete the core framework in 12–18 hours, with tangible results emerging within the first 48 hours of engagement. From control mapping to audit prep templates, you’ll apply concepts immediately to your real-world environment. Unlimited, Future-Proof Access
Your enrollment includes lifetime access to all course materials, with ongoing updates provided at no additional cost. Regulatory shifts, evolving auditor expectations, and framework refinements are reflected in real time, ensuring your knowledge remains current and authoritative. Accessible Anytime, Anywhere
The course is fully mobile-friendly and accessible 24/7 across devices. Whether you’re reviewing control criteria on a flight or refining your risk assessment during a lunch break, your progress syncs seamlessly across platforms. Instructor Support & Expert Guidance
You're not navigating this alone. Direct access to compliance architects with 15+ years of audit leadership experience provides clarity when stakes are high. Submit questions, request template reviews, and receive detailed written guidance tailored to your unique organisational context. Certificate of Completion Issued by The Art of Service
Upon finishing the program, you will earn a globally recognised Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service. This credential is trusted by compliance teams across 68 countries, frequently cited in audit documentation, executive bios, and board presentations. Transparent Pricing, No Hidden Fees
The listed price is the only price. There are no additional charges, up-sells, or recurring fees. What you see is what you get - complete access, full content, long-term value. Accepted Payment Methods
We accept Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal for secure, instant processing. Zero-Risk Enrollment: 30-Day Satisfied or Refunded Guarantee
Try the course risk-free for 30 days. If you don’t gain actionable clarity, new confidence, or immediate utility from the first module, simply contact support for a full refund. No forms, no hassle, no questions. Immediate Confirmation, Structured Onboarding
After enrollment, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Your access credentials and detailed onboarding guide will be delivered separately once the system finalises your account setup. This ensures secure provisioning and optimal learning continuity. “Will This Work for Me?” - The Real Answer
This program is built for cybersecurity leaders in regulated industries: SaaS providers, fintech platforms, healthcare software, cloud infrastructure, and data processors. Whether you're building compliance from scratch, overhauling an existing program, or preparing for Type I / Type II audits, the frameworks are role-specific and implementation-ready. You’ll find step-by-step instructions that work whether you lead a team of 3 or 300. With modular templates, jurisdiction-agnostic control logic, and audit-response workflows designed for real-world complexity, this course adapts to your scale, not the other way around. This works even if: You’ve never led a formal SOC 2 engagement. Your team has failed a readiness assessment. Your auditor has flagged deficiencies. Your board is demanding evidence. Or you’re transitioning from ISO 27001 and need to align controls efficiently. The structure eliminates guesswork. The tools are field-tested. The outcomes are repeatable. This isn’t another compliance course - it’s the leadership-level playbook your team has been missing.
Module 1: Foundations of SOC 2 and the Trust Services Criteria - Understanding the evolution and purpose of SOC 2 reports
- Key differences between SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3
- The role of the AICPA and AT-C Section 105 / 205
- Overview of the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy)
- Security as the foundational principle (common criteria CC1–CC9)
- How Availability ties to SLAs, uptime, and redundancy commitments
- Processing Integrity in data workflows and transaction accuracy
- Confidentiality obligations across data handling and encryption
- Privacy principles aligned with notice, consent, and data lifecycle
- Determining which Trust Services Criteria apply to your organisation
- Defining scope: systems, services, and report boundaries
- Understanding auditor expectations for evidence and testing
- The difference between Type I and Type II reports
- Why Type II readiness starts long before the audit period
- Regulatory overlaps: GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and SOC 2 alignment
- Building the business case for SOC 2 to internal stakeholders
- Common misconceptions that delay compliance timelines
Module 2: Organisational Readiness and Executive Alignment - Assessing current maturity: the SOC 2 Readiness Scorecard
- Mapping executive concerns to compliance outcomes
- Securing board buy-in through risk quantification
- Creating a cross-functional steering committee
- Defining roles: CISO, compliance lead, legal, IT, HR
- Establishing ownership for control implementation
- Aligning SOC 2 with broader information security strategy
- Tying compliance milestones to business KPIs
- Setting realistic timelines for Type I and Type II reports
- Managing stakeholder expectations and communication cadence
- Budget planning for audits, tools, and personnel
- Internal vs. outsourced compliance leadership
- Creating a compliance-first culture across departments
- Using SOC 2 as a tool for executive visibility
- Avoiding over-scope: what not to include in your report
- Differentiating between required and optional criteria
- Aligning with product roadmap and feature development
Module 3: Control Framework Design and Selection - Choosing between custom, inherited, and hybrid control frameworks
- Mapping AICPA common criteria to internal policies
- Control standardisation for scalability and reusability
- Integrating NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001 controls
- How to tailor controls without compromising auditability
- Documentation hierarchy: policies, procedures, records
- Control naming conventions for clarity and traceability
- Developing control objectives that auditors accept
- Control design vs. operational effectiveness
- Designing compensating controls when direct implementation isn't feasible
- Control ownership: assigning responsibility and accountability
- Automated vs. manual controls: trade-offs and best practices
- Temporal controls and exception handling
- How to handle outsourced or third-party controls
- Using control matrices for visual oversight
- Control versioning and change management
- Aligning controls with risk appetite statements
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Control Implementation - Conducting a formal SOC 2-specific risk assessment
- Using the SOC 2 Risk Heat Map to prioritise threats
- Threat modeling for cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments
- Asset classification and data flow mapping
- Identifying inherent vs. residual risk
- Mapping risks directly to applicable controls
- Risk acceptance criteria and documentation standards
- Creating a Risk Register with mitigation plans
- Handling high-risk areas: access, encryption, incident response
- Implementing preventive, detective, and corrective controls
- Rollout sequencing: phase one vs. phase two controls
- Internal testing before auditor engagement
- Documenting control implementation with evidence trails
- Using screenshots, logs, and policy excerpts effectively
- What auditors look for in control operation proof
- Avoiding common implementation pitfalls
- Using pilot teams to validate control usability
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation Strategy - Core policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Information Security Policy: structure and key clauses
- Acceptable Use Policy: employee and contractor enforcement
- Access Control Policy: role-based access and least privilege
- Change Management Policy for system updates
- Incident Response Policy: detection to resolution workflow
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
- Data Retention and Destruction Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy across data at rest and in transit
- Network Security Policy and firewall configuration rules
- Physical Security Policy for data centres and offices
- Remote Work Policy in a hybrid environment
- Policy version control and distribution logs
- Demonstrating employee awareness and acknowledgement
- Aligning policy language with auditor expectations
- Using policy appendices for technical details
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Audit-Ready Workflows - Evidence types: logs, screenshots, emails, attestations
- How much evidence is “enough” for each control
- Sampling strategies for auditors and readiness checks
- Documentation timelines: pre-audit vs. audit period
- Building an Evidence Tracker with due dates and owners
- Centralised vs. decentralised evidence collection
- Using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 logs effectively
- AWS, Azure, and GCP evidence: exporting CloudTrail, logs, IAM reports
- Multi-factor authentication enforcement proof
- Password policy enforcement and expiration logs
- Employee onboarding and offboarding checklists
- Penetration testing reports and vulnerability scans
- Backup verification and restoration test records
- Change approval workflows and ticketing systems
- Incident response playbooks and post-mortem reports
- Training completion records and attendance logs
- Physical access badge logs and CCTV retention
Module 7: Third-Party Risk and Vendor Management - Identifying in-scope third-party vendors
- Subservice organisations and their reporting obligations
- Collecting SOC 2 reports from vendors: what to verify
- Assessing vendor compliance gaps and mitigation steps
- Creating a Vendor Risk Assessment Template
- Vendor due diligence questionnaires (DDQs)
- Contractual clauses for data protection and audit rights
- Managing vendors without SOC 2 reports
- Using attestations and letters of compliance
- Shadow vendor risk: unsanctioned SaaS applications
- Integrating vendor risk into continuous monitoring
- Segregation of duties across vendor-managed systems
- Key vendor controls: access, change management, monitoring
- Determining shared responsibility model boundaries
- Documenting compensating controls for vendor gaps
- Vendor review frequency and re-assessment triggers
- Reporting third-party risk in executive summaries
Module 8: Audit Preparation and Readiness Assessment - Selecting the right audit firm: specialization and reputation
- RFI (Request for Information) preparation strategy
- Compiling the Auditor Request List in advance
- Running a mock audit with internal stakeholders
- Identifying high-risk controls for pre-testing
- Conducting a Readiness Assessment Workshop
- Using the Readiness Scorecard to close gaps
- Timeline for audit initiation and scoping sessions
- Preparing your team for interviews and walkthroughs
- Common auditor questions by control category
- Walkthrough documentation: process flows and narratives
- Control operation narratives that pass scrutiny
- Addressing prior year findings or readiness feedback
- Preparing the Description of the System document
- System boundaries, components, and data flows
- User entity considerations (UECs) and client guidance
- Final evidence package organisation and delivery
Module 9: Type I vs Type II Audit Execution - Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Understanding the evolution and purpose of SOC 2 reports
- Key differences between SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3
- The role of the AICPA and AT-C Section 105 / 205
- Overview of the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy)
- Security as the foundational principle (common criteria CC1–CC9)
- How Availability ties to SLAs, uptime, and redundancy commitments
- Processing Integrity in data workflows and transaction accuracy
- Confidentiality obligations across data handling and encryption
- Privacy principles aligned with notice, consent, and data lifecycle
- Determining which Trust Services Criteria apply to your organisation
- Defining scope: systems, services, and report boundaries
- Understanding auditor expectations for evidence and testing
- The difference between Type I and Type II reports
- Why Type II readiness starts long before the audit period
- Regulatory overlaps: GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and SOC 2 alignment
- Building the business case for SOC 2 to internal stakeholders
- Common misconceptions that delay compliance timelines
Module 2: Organisational Readiness and Executive Alignment - Assessing current maturity: the SOC 2 Readiness Scorecard
- Mapping executive concerns to compliance outcomes
- Securing board buy-in through risk quantification
- Creating a cross-functional steering committee
- Defining roles: CISO, compliance lead, legal, IT, HR
- Establishing ownership for control implementation
- Aligning SOC 2 with broader information security strategy
- Tying compliance milestones to business KPIs
- Setting realistic timelines for Type I and Type II reports
- Managing stakeholder expectations and communication cadence
- Budget planning for audits, tools, and personnel
- Internal vs. outsourced compliance leadership
- Creating a compliance-first culture across departments
- Using SOC 2 as a tool for executive visibility
- Avoiding over-scope: what not to include in your report
- Differentiating between required and optional criteria
- Aligning with product roadmap and feature development
Module 3: Control Framework Design and Selection - Choosing between custom, inherited, and hybrid control frameworks
- Mapping AICPA common criteria to internal policies
- Control standardisation for scalability and reusability
- Integrating NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001 controls
- How to tailor controls without compromising auditability
- Documentation hierarchy: policies, procedures, records
- Control naming conventions for clarity and traceability
- Developing control objectives that auditors accept
- Control design vs. operational effectiveness
- Designing compensating controls when direct implementation isn't feasible
- Control ownership: assigning responsibility and accountability
- Automated vs. manual controls: trade-offs and best practices
- Temporal controls and exception handling
- How to handle outsourced or third-party controls
- Using control matrices for visual oversight
- Control versioning and change management
- Aligning controls with risk appetite statements
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Control Implementation - Conducting a formal SOC 2-specific risk assessment
- Using the SOC 2 Risk Heat Map to prioritise threats
- Threat modeling for cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments
- Asset classification and data flow mapping
- Identifying inherent vs. residual risk
- Mapping risks directly to applicable controls
- Risk acceptance criteria and documentation standards
- Creating a Risk Register with mitigation plans
- Handling high-risk areas: access, encryption, incident response
- Implementing preventive, detective, and corrective controls
- Rollout sequencing: phase one vs. phase two controls
- Internal testing before auditor engagement
- Documenting control implementation with evidence trails
- Using screenshots, logs, and policy excerpts effectively
- What auditors look for in control operation proof
- Avoiding common implementation pitfalls
- Using pilot teams to validate control usability
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation Strategy - Core policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Information Security Policy: structure and key clauses
- Acceptable Use Policy: employee and contractor enforcement
- Access Control Policy: role-based access and least privilege
- Change Management Policy for system updates
- Incident Response Policy: detection to resolution workflow
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
- Data Retention and Destruction Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy across data at rest and in transit
- Network Security Policy and firewall configuration rules
- Physical Security Policy for data centres and offices
- Remote Work Policy in a hybrid environment
- Policy version control and distribution logs
- Demonstrating employee awareness and acknowledgement
- Aligning policy language with auditor expectations
- Using policy appendices for technical details
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Audit-Ready Workflows - Evidence types: logs, screenshots, emails, attestations
- How much evidence is “enough” for each control
- Sampling strategies for auditors and readiness checks
- Documentation timelines: pre-audit vs. audit period
- Building an Evidence Tracker with due dates and owners
- Centralised vs. decentralised evidence collection
- Using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 logs effectively
- AWS, Azure, and GCP evidence: exporting CloudTrail, logs, IAM reports
- Multi-factor authentication enforcement proof
- Password policy enforcement and expiration logs
- Employee onboarding and offboarding checklists
- Penetration testing reports and vulnerability scans
- Backup verification and restoration test records
- Change approval workflows and ticketing systems
- Incident response playbooks and post-mortem reports
- Training completion records and attendance logs
- Physical access badge logs and CCTV retention
Module 7: Third-Party Risk and Vendor Management - Identifying in-scope third-party vendors
- Subservice organisations and their reporting obligations
- Collecting SOC 2 reports from vendors: what to verify
- Assessing vendor compliance gaps and mitigation steps
- Creating a Vendor Risk Assessment Template
- Vendor due diligence questionnaires (DDQs)
- Contractual clauses for data protection and audit rights
- Managing vendors without SOC 2 reports
- Using attestations and letters of compliance
- Shadow vendor risk: unsanctioned SaaS applications
- Integrating vendor risk into continuous monitoring
- Segregation of duties across vendor-managed systems
- Key vendor controls: access, change management, monitoring
- Determining shared responsibility model boundaries
- Documenting compensating controls for vendor gaps
- Vendor review frequency and re-assessment triggers
- Reporting third-party risk in executive summaries
Module 8: Audit Preparation and Readiness Assessment - Selecting the right audit firm: specialization and reputation
- RFI (Request for Information) preparation strategy
- Compiling the Auditor Request List in advance
- Running a mock audit with internal stakeholders
- Identifying high-risk controls for pre-testing
- Conducting a Readiness Assessment Workshop
- Using the Readiness Scorecard to close gaps
- Timeline for audit initiation and scoping sessions
- Preparing your team for interviews and walkthroughs
- Common auditor questions by control category
- Walkthrough documentation: process flows and narratives
- Control operation narratives that pass scrutiny
- Addressing prior year findings or readiness feedback
- Preparing the Description of the System document
- System boundaries, components, and data flows
- User entity considerations (UECs) and client guidance
- Final evidence package organisation and delivery
Module 9: Type I vs Type II Audit Execution - Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Choosing between custom, inherited, and hybrid control frameworks
- Mapping AICPA common criteria to internal policies
- Control standardisation for scalability and reusability
- Integrating NIST 800-53, CIS Controls, or ISO 27001 controls
- How to tailor controls without compromising auditability
- Documentation hierarchy: policies, procedures, records
- Control naming conventions for clarity and traceability
- Developing control objectives that auditors accept
- Control design vs. operational effectiveness
- Designing compensating controls when direct implementation isn't feasible
- Control ownership: assigning responsibility and accountability
- Automated vs. manual controls: trade-offs and best practices
- Temporal controls and exception handling
- How to handle outsourced or third-party controls
- Using control matrices for visual oversight
- Control versioning and change management
- Aligning controls with risk appetite statements
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Control Implementation - Conducting a formal SOC 2-specific risk assessment
- Using the SOC 2 Risk Heat Map to prioritise threats
- Threat modeling for cloud, SaaS, and hybrid environments
- Asset classification and data flow mapping
- Identifying inherent vs. residual risk
- Mapping risks directly to applicable controls
- Risk acceptance criteria and documentation standards
- Creating a Risk Register with mitigation plans
- Handling high-risk areas: access, encryption, incident response
- Implementing preventive, detective, and corrective controls
- Rollout sequencing: phase one vs. phase two controls
- Internal testing before auditor engagement
- Documenting control implementation with evidence trails
- Using screenshots, logs, and policy excerpts effectively
- What auditors look for in control operation proof
- Avoiding common implementation pitfalls
- Using pilot teams to validate control usability
Module 5: Policy Development and Documentation Strategy - Core policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Information Security Policy: structure and key clauses
- Acceptable Use Policy: employee and contractor enforcement
- Access Control Policy: role-based access and least privilege
- Change Management Policy for system updates
- Incident Response Policy: detection to resolution workflow
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
- Data Retention and Destruction Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy across data at rest and in transit
- Network Security Policy and firewall configuration rules
- Physical Security Policy for data centres and offices
- Remote Work Policy in a hybrid environment
- Policy version control and distribution logs
- Demonstrating employee awareness and acknowledgement
- Aligning policy language with auditor expectations
- Using policy appendices for technical details
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Audit-Ready Workflows - Evidence types: logs, screenshots, emails, attestations
- How much evidence is “enough” for each control
- Sampling strategies for auditors and readiness checks
- Documentation timelines: pre-audit vs. audit period
- Building an Evidence Tracker with due dates and owners
- Centralised vs. decentralised evidence collection
- Using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 logs effectively
- AWS, Azure, and GCP evidence: exporting CloudTrail, logs, IAM reports
- Multi-factor authentication enforcement proof
- Password policy enforcement and expiration logs
- Employee onboarding and offboarding checklists
- Penetration testing reports and vulnerability scans
- Backup verification and restoration test records
- Change approval workflows and ticketing systems
- Incident response playbooks and post-mortem reports
- Training completion records and attendance logs
- Physical access badge logs and CCTV retention
Module 7: Third-Party Risk and Vendor Management - Identifying in-scope third-party vendors
- Subservice organisations and their reporting obligations
- Collecting SOC 2 reports from vendors: what to verify
- Assessing vendor compliance gaps and mitigation steps
- Creating a Vendor Risk Assessment Template
- Vendor due diligence questionnaires (DDQs)
- Contractual clauses for data protection and audit rights
- Managing vendors without SOC 2 reports
- Using attestations and letters of compliance
- Shadow vendor risk: unsanctioned SaaS applications
- Integrating vendor risk into continuous monitoring
- Segregation of duties across vendor-managed systems
- Key vendor controls: access, change management, monitoring
- Determining shared responsibility model boundaries
- Documenting compensating controls for vendor gaps
- Vendor review frequency and re-assessment triggers
- Reporting third-party risk in executive summaries
Module 8: Audit Preparation and Readiness Assessment - Selecting the right audit firm: specialization and reputation
- RFI (Request for Information) preparation strategy
- Compiling the Auditor Request List in advance
- Running a mock audit with internal stakeholders
- Identifying high-risk controls for pre-testing
- Conducting a Readiness Assessment Workshop
- Using the Readiness Scorecard to close gaps
- Timeline for audit initiation and scoping sessions
- Preparing your team for interviews and walkthroughs
- Common auditor questions by control category
- Walkthrough documentation: process flows and narratives
- Control operation narratives that pass scrutiny
- Addressing prior year findings or readiness feedback
- Preparing the Description of the System document
- System boundaries, components, and data flows
- User entity considerations (UECs) and client guidance
- Final evidence package organisation and delivery
Module 9: Type I vs Type II Audit Execution - Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Core policies required for SOC 2 compliance
- Information Security Policy: structure and key clauses
- Acceptable Use Policy: employee and contractor enforcement
- Access Control Policy: role-based access and least privilege
- Change Management Policy for system updates
- Incident Response Policy: detection to resolution workflow
- Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Planning
- Data Retention and Destruction Policy
- Vendor Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy across data at rest and in transit
- Network Security Policy and firewall configuration rules
- Physical Security Policy for data centres and offices
- Remote Work Policy in a hybrid environment
- Policy version control and distribution logs
- Demonstrating employee awareness and acknowledgement
- Aligning policy language with auditor expectations
- Using policy appendices for technical details
Module 6: Evidence Collection and Audit-Ready Workflows - Evidence types: logs, screenshots, emails, attestations
- How much evidence is “enough” for each control
- Sampling strategies for auditors and readiness checks
- Documentation timelines: pre-audit vs. audit period
- Building an Evidence Tracker with due dates and owners
- Centralised vs. decentralised evidence collection
- Using Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 logs effectively
- AWS, Azure, and GCP evidence: exporting CloudTrail, logs, IAM reports
- Multi-factor authentication enforcement proof
- Password policy enforcement and expiration logs
- Employee onboarding and offboarding checklists
- Penetration testing reports and vulnerability scans
- Backup verification and restoration test records
- Change approval workflows and ticketing systems
- Incident response playbooks and post-mortem reports
- Training completion records and attendance logs
- Physical access badge logs and CCTV retention
Module 7: Third-Party Risk and Vendor Management - Identifying in-scope third-party vendors
- Subservice organisations and their reporting obligations
- Collecting SOC 2 reports from vendors: what to verify
- Assessing vendor compliance gaps and mitigation steps
- Creating a Vendor Risk Assessment Template
- Vendor due diligence questionnaires (DDQs)
- Contractual clauses for data protection and audit rights
- Managing vendors without SOC 2 reports
- Using attestations and letters of compliance
- Shadow vendor risk: unsanctioned SaaS applications
- Integrating vendor risk into continuous monitoring
- Segregation of duties across vendor-managed systems
- Key vendor controls: access, change management, monitoring
- Determining shared responsibility model boundaries
- Documenting compensating controls for vendor gaps
- Vendor review frequency and re-assessment triggers
- Reporting third-party risk in executive summaries
Module 8: Audit Preparation and Readiness Assessment - Selecting the right audit firm: specialization and reputation
- RFI (Request for Information) preparation strategy
- Compiling the Auditor Request List in advance
- Running a mock audit with internal stakeholders
- Identifying high-risk controls for pre-testing
- Conducting a Readiness Assessment Workshop
- Using the Readiness Scorecard to close gaps
- Timeline for audit initiation and scoping sessions
- Preparing your team for interviews and walkthroughs
- Common auditor questions by control category
- Walkthrough documentation: process flows and narratives
- Control operation narratives that pass scrutiny
- Addressing prior year findings or readiness feedback
- Preparing the Description of the System document
- System boundaries, components, and data flows
- User entity considerations (UECs) and client guidance
- Final evidence package organisation and delivery
Module 9: Type I vs Type II Audit Execution - Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Identifying in-scope third-party vendors
- Subservice organisations and their reporting obligations
- Collecting SOC 2 reports from vendors: what to verify
- Assessing vendor compliance gaps and mitigation steps
- Creating a Vendor Risk Assessment Template
- Vendor due diligence questionnaires (DDQs)
- Contractual clauses for data protection and audit rights
- Managing vendors without SOC 2 reports
- Using attestations and letters of compliance
- Shadow vendor risk: unsanctioned SaaS applications
- Integrating vendor risk into continuous monitoring
- Segregation of duties across vendor-managed systems
- Key vendor controls: access, change management, monitoring
- Determining shared responsibility model boundaries
- Documenting compensating controls for vendor gaps
- Vendor review frequency and re-assessment triggers
- Reporting third-party risk in executive summaries
Module 8: Audit Preparation and Readiness Assessment - Selecting the right audit firm: specialization and reputation
- RFI (Request for Information) preparation strategy
- Compiling the Auditor Request List in advance
- Running a mock audit with internal stakeholders
- Identifying high-risk controls for pre-testing
- Conducting a Readiness Assessment Workshop
- Using the Readiness Scorecard to close gaps
- Timeline for audit initiation and scoping sessions
- Preparing your team for interviews and walkthroughs
- Common auditor questions by control category
- Walkthrough documentation: process flows and narratives
- Control operation narratives that pass scrutiny
- Addressing prior year findings or readiness feedback
- Preparing the Description of the System document
- System boundaries, components, and data flows
- User entity considerations (UECs) and client guidance
- Final evidence package organisation and delivery
Module 9: Type I vs Type II Audit Execution - Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Key differences in preparation and deliverables
- Type I focus: design adequacy and control objectives
- Type II focus: operational effectiveness over time
- Determining the optimal length for Type II period
- Starting evidence collection before the audit window
- Monitoring control consistency throughout the reporting period
- Handling control changes mid-audit period
- Managing staff turnover during Type II audits
- Tracking exception rates and incident occurrences
- Proactive communication with auditors
- Scheduling interim check-ins and progress reviews
- Addressing auditor inquiries promptly and thoroughly
- Preparing for fieldwork: conference rooms, access, materials
- Conducting auditor walkthroughs with confidence
- Responding to findings: corrective action plans (CAPs)
- Negotiating control variances and report language
- Final review and sign-off process
Module 10: Report Review, Communication, and Business Leverage - Understanding the auditor’s opinion and report structure
- Reviewing the final SOC 2 report line by line
- Identifying any qualifications or exceptions
- Preparing internal debriefs with leadership teams
- Creating a compliance press release (when appropriate)
- Distributing reports securely to clients and prospects
- Integrating SOC 2 status into RFP and due diligence packages
- Updating sales collateral and website trust badges
- Training customer success and account managers on report usage
- Leveraging SOC 2 in competitive displacement strategies
- Measuring business impact: deal velocity, win rates, pricing power
- Responding to vendor questionnaires with precision
- Using the report to reduce downstream audit fatigue
- Handling data subject access requests under Privacy criteria
- Conducting an annual compliance retrospective
- Celebrating team success and recognising contributors
- Positioning SOC 2 as a product differentiator
Module 11: Continuous Monitoring and Ongoing Compliance - Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance
Module 12: Certification, Career Advancement, and Next Steps - Finalising course requirements for certification
- Submitting your Compliance Roadmap for review
- Receiving your Certificate of Completion from The Art of Service
- Adding certification to LinkedIn, résumé, and professional bios
- Using the credential in job applications and promotions
- Accessing alumni resources and community forums
- Continuing education pathways in compliance and audit
- Advanced certifications: CISA, CRISC, CISSP alignment
- Transitioning to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR with SOC 2 as a foundation
- Leading multi-framework compliance programmes
- Becoming an internal compliance trainer
- Presenting your programme at industry events
- Contributing to internal audit automation initiatives
- Using your success to drive broader security transformation
- Establishing a personal brand as a compliance leader
- Mentoring junior staff in compliance disciplines
- Next steps: preparing for ISO 27701, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP
- Establishing a continuous compliance programme
- Automated control monitoring with SIEM and GRC tools
- Control health dashboards for executive reporting
- Monthly control validation checklists
- Quarterly internal audits and gap assessments
- Annual risk assessment refresh process
- Policy review and update cycles
- Staying ahead of AICPA guidance changes
- Tracking control drift and configuration drift
- Employee retraining and annual attestation campaigns
- Handling organisational changes: M&A, restructuring, new products
- Updating the Description of the System document
- Managing scope expansion for new services
- Integrating DevOps and CI/CD pipelines into compliance
- Infrastructure-as-code and SOC 2 accountability
- Cloud configuration monitoring with CSPM tools
- Creating a Centre of Excellence for compliance