A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering SOC 2 for Shopify Experts and Compliance Practitioners
Turn audit evidence workflows into a strategic asset in your current role
$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.
SOC 2 evidence work is growing beyond checklist completion, yet most practitioners remain siloed in collection, not control design.
The situation this course is for
Teams are drowning in evidence requests, but the real leverage lies in shaping what gets requested in the first place. Without a structured approach, the same artifacts are recycled, scope boundaries blur, and ownership diffuses. The result: reactive roles, even as audit complexity grows. The opportunity is to shift from fulfilling requests to defining them, within your existing role.
Who this is for
Senior compliance practitioner or technical consultant specializing in platform governance, with hands-on experience in audit workflows and control evidence. Likely advising multiple clients or internal teams on compliance readiness. Values precision, leverage, and quiet authority in their domain.
Who this is not for
Entry-level auditors, junior compliance analysts, or practitioners without direct involvement in evidence selection or control scoping. Also not for those seeking board-level positioning or title changes, this is about mandate expansion, not promotion.
What you walk away with
- Define and defend evidence scope for SOC 2 reviews independently
- Structure reusable evidence taxonomies that reduce audit cycle time
- Influence control mapping decisions based on platform architecture
- Own the boundary definition between in-scope and out-of-scope systems
- Lead SOC 2 readiness initiatives without requiring managerial approval
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria in Practice
Ground your work in the actual language of SOC 2 audits, not interpretations. This module breaks down each Trust Services Criterion with real-world examples of how they manifest in evidence requests and control design, tailored to platform-based businesses.
12 chapters in this module
- How the five SOC 2 criteria map to real control decisions
- Differentiating security from availability in platform contexts
- Processing integrity as applied to transaction systems
- Confidentiality criteria in API and data flow design
- Privacy criteria and their scope in customer data handling
- How TSC updates affect evidence collection cycles
- Control depth vs breadth in Trust Services Criteria
- The role of change management in TSC compliance
- Vendor risk as a TSC boundary decision
- Evidence sufficiency across control types
- Common misapplications of the TSC framework
- Linking TSC language to platform architecture diagrams
Module 2. Evidence Portfolio Design Principles
Move from ad-hoc collection to intentional design. Learn how to structure evidence portfolios that minimize redundancy, maximize reuse, and align with audit timelines, all while staying within your current authority.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining the minimum viable evidence set per control
- Classifying evidence by frequency and stability
- Mapping evidence types to audit review patterns
- Designing evidence taxonomies for scalability
- Balancing automation with human verification
- Versioning evidence without triggering re-review
- Evidence ownership models across teams
- Documenting evidence lineage for auditors
- Using time-bound evidence strategically
- Handling evidence expiration and refresh cycles
- Structuring evidence for multi-jurisdictional audits
- Embedding evidence design in sprint planning
Module 3. Control Scoping and Boundary Decisions
Clarify what’s in and what’s out, without overstepping. This module gives you the tools to lead boundary discussions with engineering and product teams using accepted frameworks.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining system boundaries in microservice environments
- When to include third-party integrations in scope
- Mapping control scope to data flow diagrams
- Handling shared responsibility in cloud environments
- Boundary decisions for multi-tenant platforms
- Scoping edge cases: caching layers and CDNs
- Control dependencies across service boundaries
- Documenting scope assumptions for auditors
- Handling scope changes mid-audit
- Negotiating scope with external audit firms
- Versioning scope statements across cycles
- Using diagrams to communicate scope visually
Module 4. Control Mapping from Platform Architecture
Translate technical design into control language that holds up under audit scrutiny. Learn how to build mappings that are both accurate and defensible.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping CI/CD pipelines to change control criteria
- Authentication systems and access control alignment
- Logging infrastructure as evidence of monitoring
- Incident response playbooks as control artifacts
- Mapping RBAC structures to SOC 2 requirements
- Network segmentation and security control mapping
- Backup systems and disaster recovery evidence
- API gateways and data processing integrity
- Secrets management and confidentiality controls
- Data retention policies and audit trails
- Vendor SLAs as part of availability evidence
- Mapping observability tools to monitoring controls
Module 5. Evidence Collection Workflows
Streamline how evidence is gathered, reviewed, and submitted, without relying on centralized teams. This module focuses on self-sufficient workflows.
12 chapters in this module
- Automating evidence capture from CI/CD systems
- Scheduling routine evidence generation tasks
- Using version control for audit artifact management
- Integrating evidence collection into sprint cycles
- Assigning evidence ownership at the team level
- Reviewing evidence completeness before submission
- Handling evidence version conflicts
- Using templates without losing specificity
- Tracking evidence status across teams
- Escalating missing evidence without friction
- Documenting evidence gaps transparently
- Generating time-stamped evidence snapshots
Module 6. SOC 2 Readiness Planning
Lead readiness efforts from start to finish. This module provides a structured timeline and checklist for guiding teams through audit preparation.
12 chapters in this module
- Assessing baseline compliance maturity
- Setting realistic audit timelines
- Identifying high-risk control areas
- Prioritizing control remediation efforts
- Building internal readiness review processes
- Conducting mock evidence reviews
- Creating control status dashboards
- Scheduling control testing windows
- Identifying key stakeholders early
- Preparing engineering teams for audit requests
- Documenting compensating controls
- Finalizing evidence packages for submission
Module 7. Working with Audit Firms
Build credibility and efficiency in external audit interactions. Learn how to anticipate requests and respond with confidence.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding auditor selection criteria
- Preparing for initial scoping calls
- Responding to RFPs for audit firms
- Negotiating audit timelines and fees
- Preparing the initial evidence packet
- Handling auditor follow-up questions
- Escalating disputes over control interpretation
- Scheduling entrance and exit meetings
- Reviewing draft reports for accuracy
- Addressing findings without overcommitting
- Maintaining relationship post-audit
- Using audit feedback to improve future cycles
Module 8. Control Testing and Validation
Ensure controls work as designed, and can prove it. This module covers testing methods used by top practitioners.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing test scripts for automated controls
- Sampling strategies for manual testing
- Timing control tests to avoid false negatives
- Documenting test results for audit review
- Retesting failed controls efficiently
- Using logs to validate control operation
- Testing access reviews and attestations
- Validating backup restoration procedures
- Simulating incident response for testing
- Testing change approval workflows
- Measuring control effectiveness over time
- Linking test results to evidence packages
Module 9. Remediation and Continuous Improvement
Turn findings into action without disruption. This module teaches how to prioritize and implement fixes that last.
12 chapters in this module
- Categorizing findings by risk and effort
- Translating findings into engineering tickets
- Assigning ownership for remediation tasks
- Tracking remediation progress transparently
- Validating fixes before audit follow-up
- Avoiding repeat findings across cycles
- Building feedback loops into development
- Updating documentation after changes
- Retiring obsolete controls gracefully
- Scaling remediation across multiple systems
- Using past findings to improve future readiness
- Measuring improvement over time
Module 10. Reporting and Communication Strategies
Communicate status and progress clearly, to auditors, engineers, and leadership, without overpromising or oversimplifying.
12 chapters in this module
- Creating status updates for audit teams
- Translating control status for non-experts
- Building executive summaries from evidence
- Reporting on remediation progress
- Communicating timeline risks proactively
- Documenting assumptions and exceptions
- Presenting findings to internal stakeholders
- Using visuals to explain control flows
- Writing clear, concise control narratives
- Aligning messaging across teams
- Handling sensitive findings discreetly
- Archiving reports for future reference
Module 11. Compliance Automation Tools and Platforms
Evaluate and implement tooling that reduces manual effort, without sacrificing control quality.
12 chapters in this module
- Assessing compliance automation vendors
- Mapping tools to SOC 2 control requirements
- Integrating automation with Jira and ticketing
- Using APIs for evidence collection
- Storing evidence securely in cloud storage
- Version control for compliance artifacts
- Automating control testing with scripts
- Alerting on control drift and gaps
- Auditing tool configurations themselves
- Balancing automation with human oversight
- Calculating ROI on compliance tooling
- Documenting tool configurations for auditors
Module 12. Sustaining Compliance Over Time
Build systems that endure beyond audit cycles. This module focuses on institutionalizing control practices.
12 chapters in this module
- Onboarding new teams into compliance workflows
- Training engineers on control responsibilities
- Updating controls for system changes
- Handling mergers and acquisitions
- Scaling compliance across growing organizations
- Maintaining documentation over time
- Conducting periodic control reviews
- Retiring systems with compliance in mind
- Transferring compliance knowledge
- Adapting to new regulatory expectations
- Using metrics to prove compliance health
- Building a culture of continuous compliance
How this maps to your situation
- Platform-based compliance practitioners
- Technical consultants managing SOC 2 for clients
- Internal compliance leads in high-growth tech
- Audit readiness coordinators without managerial titles
Before vs. after
Before
Responsible for gathering evidence, reacting to audit requests, and maintaining spreadsheets of control mappings.
After
Proactively shaping evidence scope, leading control design decisions, and defining what gets included in SOC 2 reviews, within your current role.
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 90 minutes per week over six weeks, with flexible access to all materials.
If nothing changes
Remaining in execution mode means continued reactive workload, dependency on others for scope decisions, and missed opportunities to lead compliance strategy from within your current position.
How this compares to the alternatives
Generic SOC 2 courses teach framework basics. This course teaches how to expand your influence within the control design and evidence scoping process, specifically for platform-based environments and without requiring a title change.
Frequently asked
Is this course technical or managerial?
It's technical with strategic depth. You’ll work with control mappings, evidence design, and audit workflows, not leadership theory or career advice.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will this help me pass a SOC 2 audit?
Yes, but more importantly, it will help you shape the audit’s scope and evidence requirements from the start.
$199 one-time. Approximately 90 minutes per week over six weeks, with flexible access to all materials..
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