A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering SOC 2 for Project Managers in Industrial Operations
Build audit-ready controls with confidence in complex technical environments
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Most technical project managers get pulled into compliance work unprepared, left to interpret SOC 2 requirements without a clear roadmap or peer-reviewed control patterns.
The situation this course is for
Without a structured approach, project leaders rely on fragmented advice, last-minute templates, or over-simplified checklists that fail during actual audits. The result? Repeated walkthroughs, deferred sign-offs, and lost credibility when regulatory or M&A timelines are tight.
Who this is for
Mid-to-senior project managers in industrial or capital-intensive sectors who are increasingly asked to deliver on compliance-critical projects , especially SOC 2 , without formal governance training.
Who this is not for
Those seeking a high-level overview of compliance frameworks or generic project management certification. This is for practitioners who must deliver audit-ready artefacts, not delegates.
What you walk away with
- Design SOC 2 controls that reflect real engineering constraints and project timelines
- Produce audit-ready documentation that passes first-time review
- Lead the control mapping process without deferring to external consultants
- Anticipate auditor questions with documented rationale and evidence paths
- Become the default escalation point for compliance-critical project decisions
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. SOC 2 Fundamentals for Technical Project Leads
Understand the five trust service criteria in context of industrial operations, not generic IT. Focus on where project timelines, equipment reliability, and control design intersect.
12 chapters in this module
- What SOC 2 really means for project managers
- Trust Service Criteria explained with plant examples
- Common misconceptions in manufacturing environments
- How auditors evaluate operational controls
- Aligning project milestones with control testing
- Mapping compliance to capital project lifecycles
- Key roles in SOC 2 implementation
- Internal vs external audit expectations
- Documentation standards for engineering teams
- Control owner accountability models
- Integrating SOC 2 into existing workflows
- Real-world case from steel production
Module 2. Control Design for Reliable Systems
Learn to draft controls that are both auditor-compliant and operationally feasible, using templates validated in heavy industrial settings.
12 chapters in this module
- Writing testable control statements
- Linking equipment reliability logs to control evidence
- Preventing over-scope in access reviews
- Risk-based sampling for maintenance records
- Designing controls for 24/7 operations
- Control frequency and shift handovers
- Automated vs manual controls in plant settings
- Dependencies between safety and compliance
- Version control for SOPs and logs
- Handling contractor access in compliance scope
- Control rationalization methods
- Peer-review checklist for control drafts
Module 3. Project Integration and Timeline Planning
Embed SOC 2 requirements into project charters and Gantt charts without slowing delivery.
12 chapters in this module
- SOC 2 gates in project lifecycle
- Compliance milestones in capital projects
- Stakeholder alignment on control timing
- Budgeting for evidence collection
- Integrating with SAP project modules
- Tracking control readiness in Jira
- Managing consultant dependencies
- Internal audit coordination timing
- Documenting control testing windows
- Handling project delays and control deadlines
- Reporting SOC 2 progress to leadership
- Post-project compliance handover
Module 4. Evidence Collection in Industrial Environments
Identify and preserve the right data , from maintenance logs to access badges , that auditors accept without question.
12 chapters in this module
- Audit-trail sources in plant systems
- Validating automated monitoring data
- Badge access logs as control evidence
- Maintenance ticket workflows
- Digital vs paper logs: audit preference
- Timestamp accuracy across systems
- Data retention policies for compliance
- Sampling methods for shift logs
- Documenting manual override processes
- Recording environmental monitoring
- Chain of custody for compliance data
- Preparing data packs for auditor review
Module 5. Control Testing and Deficiency Management
Run internal control tests that mirror external audits, flagging gaps early.
12 chapters in this module
- Planning control testing cycles
- Assigning test responsibility to teams
- Sample size and frequency guidelines
- Documenting test results comprehensively
- Handling failed control tests
- Remediation tracking system
- Prioritizing high-risk deficiencies
- Temporary compensating controls
- Escalation paths for unresolved gaps
- Management review of test outcomes
- Audit communication protocols
- Lessons from failed SOC 2 attempts
Module 6. Vendor Management and Third-Party Risk
Extend SOC 2 rigor to suppliers and contractors without overburdening procurement.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining vendor compliance scope
- Reviewing subcontractor SOC 2 reports
- Managing non-compliant legacy vendors
- Onboarding new suppliers with controls
- Contractual clauses for compliance
- Third-party audit coordination
- Assessing cloud service providers
- IT service vendors and access reviews
- Maintenance contractors and data exposure
- Vendor risk scoring models
- Documentation of due diligence
- Renewal cycle compliance checks
Module 7. Documentation Architecture for Audits
Build a living compliance library that survives auditor changes and internal turnover.
12 chapters in this module
- SOC 2 document hierarchy
- Naming conventions for evidence
- Folder structure in SharePoint or Teams
- Version control for compliance docs
- Maintaining up-to-date SoA
- Control mapping spreadsheet design
- Indexing for auditor navigation
- Internal audit trail for updates
- Role-based access to docs
- Review and sign-off workflows
- Automated reminders for updates
- Archiving outdated versions
Module 8. Auditor Interaction and Review Cycles
Turn auditor reviews from stressful events into structured handoffs with predictable outcomes.
12 chapters in this module
- Selecting the right audit firm
- Pre-engagement planning calls
- Scheduling walkthroughs efficiently
- Preparing teams for auditor Q&A
- Common auditor requests in manufacturing
- Responding to findings with evidence
- Negotiating control interpretations
- Avoiding scope creep during review
- Handling follow-up questions
- Closing audit cycles formally
- Building rapport with audit leads
- Post-audit improvement planning
Module 9. M&A Due Diligence and Integration
Lead compliance assessments during acquisitions and asset integrations.
12 chapters in this module
- SOC 2 in pre-acquisition checklists
- Assessing target maturity levels
- Gap analysis methodology
- Integration timeline for controls
- Harmonizing control frameworks
- Data migration and compliance
- Cultural alignment on compliance norms
- Documenting inherited risks
- Post-close audit planning
- Reporting to integration leadership
- Vendor compliance in M&A
- Lessons from steel industry deals
Module 10. Executive Communication and Visibility
Translate technical compliance work into leadership-level insights.
12 chapters in this module
- Reporting on SOC 2 progress
- Dashboard design for executives
- Risk heat maps for leadership
- Budget justification narratives
- Tying compliance to ESG metrics
- Communicating with CFO and COO
- Crisis communication preparation
- Board-level summary decks
- Media response protocols
- Internal stakeholder messaging
- Celebrating compliance milestones
- Linking SOC 2 to operational excellence
Module 11. Regulator-Facing Reviews and Escalations
Handle regulatory inquiries with confidence and documented rigor.
12 chapters in this module
- Common regulatory triggers
- Preparing for on-site inspections
- Documenting responses to inquiries
- Chain of command for escalations
- Legal team coordination
- Time-bound response workflows
- Handling document requests
- Cross-border compliance issues
- Incident reporting protocols
- Post-review action plans
- Regulator relationship management
- Lessons from Canadian industrial cases
Module 12. Sustaining Compliance Beyond Certification
Turn SOC 2 from a one-time effort into a repeatable practice across projects.
12 chapters in this module
- Ongoing monitoring systems
- Annual review planning
- Control refresh cycles
- Training new team members
- Knowledge transfer frameworks
- Lessons learned repositories
- Benchmarking against peers
- Continuous improvement loops
- Audit readiness as default state
- Scaling across multiple sites
- Cost optimization strategies
- Innovation within compliance constraints
How this maps to your situation
- When starting a new capital project with compliance needs
- During M&A due diligence involving industrial assets
- Preparing for annual SOC 2 audit
- Leading third-party vendor compliance reviews
Before vs. after
Before
Compliance work feels reactive, dependent on consultants, and disconnected from project timelines.
After
You lead SOC 2 efforts with confidence, integrate controls proactively, and become a go-to advisor on audit-ready delivery.
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active projects.
If nothing changes
Without structured SOC 2 knowledge, project managers risk delays, audit findings, and missed opportunities to lead high-impact compliance work in industrial settings.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic SOC 2 courses aimed at IT teams, this program is tailored for project managers in industrial operations , focused on real-world evidence, equipment reliability, and capital project integration.
Frequently asked
Do I need prior compliance experience?
No. This course is designed for project managers and engineers who are being asked to deliver on SOC 2 requirements without formal training.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Can I apply this to non-SOC 2 audits?
Yes. The control design and evidence methods transfer to ISO 27001, CSA Star, and other frameworks.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active projects..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours