A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering SOC 2 for Project Managers in Resource Sector Operations
Build trusted compliance frameworks with confidence and clarity
$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.
Avoid last-minute scope disputes and audit rework by mastering the decision lines that matter
The situation this course is for
Project managers in large resource firms often inherit ambiguous compliance boundaries, leading to delays, repeated reviews, and reactive escalations. Clarity on ownership reduces friction and builds trust.
Who this is for
Project Manager in a global resources or industrial firm leading cross-functional initiatives with compliance dependencies
Who this is not for
This is not for junior coordinators, auditors, or consultants without project delivery responsibility
What you walk away with
- Define and lock compliance scope for SOC 2 without requiring senior approval
- Sequence control implementation around project milestones, not audit deadlines
- Document control ownership decisions with audit-ready rationale
- Anticipate and resolve cross-functional disputes before they escalate
- Deliver a complete, defensible System Description document on first submission
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding SOC 2 in Resource Sector Contexts
Grounds the framework in real-world mining and infrastructure operations, focusing on availability, security, and confidentiality principles as applied to project data flows.
12 chapters in this module
- How SOC 2 differs from ISO 27001 in operational environments
- The role of project managers in compliance boundary setting
- Key changes in the the current cycle+ SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria updates
- Mapping SOC 2 to existing internal control frameworks at BHPBilliton
- Common misalignments between audit scope and project deliverables
- Why resource firms treat data confidentiality beyond IT systems
- Integrating SOC 2 planning into capital project lifecycles
- The impact of remote site operations on control consistency
- Compliance ownership in joint venture project structures
- Defining 'system' in asset-heavy environments without cloud reliance
- SOC 2 vs SOX: where project decisions overlap and diverge
- Building credibility with internal audit teams early in project cycles
Module 2. Defining and Owning Compliance Scope
Teaches how to set and defend the boundaries of a SOC 2 review with confidence, including artefacts and stakeholder alignment needed to act without escalation.
12 chapters in this module
- When to initiate SOC 2 scope documentation in a project timeline
- Identifying all data systems in scope, even non-digital ones
- Mapping physical asset controls to security criteria
- Documenting exceptions based on operational necessity
- How to write defensible rationale for exclusion decisions
- Using project schedules to justify control timing variances
- Engaging control owners before audit notice is issued
- Handling shared responsibilities across site and central teams
- Versioning your scope document for audit readiness
- When to update scope without approval
- How peer project leads have avoided rework through early scoping
- Templates for scope sign-off from engineering and compliance leads
Module 3. Control Selection and Timing Alignment
Aligns control implementation with project milestones, not audit cycles, so you maintain ownership without reactive pressure.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying minimum viable controls for interim reviews
- Sequencing control deployment with construction stages
- Using commissioning checklists as control evidence
- When to delay a control without triggering audit findings
- Documenting compensating measures for lagging components
- Aligning control testing with HAZOP or operational readiness reviews
- Leveraging existing safety and environmental audits as evidence
- Integrating control validation into project closeout reports
- Handling control gaps in legacy systems during upgrades
- Working with third-party vendors on outsourced control activities
- Using project risk registers to justify control timing
- Templates for control status updates to compliance teams
Module 4. Cross-Functional Decision Authority
Builds judgment on when to act independently and when to align, based on precedents from similar project environments.
12 chapters in this module
- Recognizing decisions that fall within project manager authority
- Distinguishing between compliance consultation and control ownership
- Handling pushback from site operations on control changes
- When to revise control documentation without central approval
- Documenting rationale for decisions to maintain audit trail
- Using past audit findings to justify current control choices
- Balancing safety and security control requirements
- Responding to internal audit queries without deferring
- Escalation thresholds: what must go up, what can stay local
- Building trust with compliance teams through consistency
- How to reference prior projects as precedent
- Creating an internal playbook for recurring control issues
Module 5. System Description Documentation
Covers how to produce a clear, auditable, and defensible System Description that stands up to scrutiny on first submission.
12 chapters in this module
- Structuring the system description for non-technical reviewers
- Describing control environments across distributed sites
- Including physical infrastructure in system narratives
- Writing control descriptions that match operational reality
- Using diagrams that reflect actual workflows, not ideal ones
- Handling exceptions in system narratives without weakening them
- Referencing project documentation as control evidence
- Integrating change management logs into system descriptions
- Version control for system descriptions in long projects
- Common pitfalls in system descriptions that trigger follow-ups
- How to address auditor questions in the narrative
- Templates for SOC 2 system descriptions in mining projects
Module 6. Evidence Collection and Validation
Teaches how to gather and validate evidence that satisfies auditors without overburdening project teams.
12 chapters in this module
- Identifying evidence sources already generated in project workflows
- Using inspection logs as control validation
- Linking safety audits to SOC 2 security criteria
- Documenting control consistency across shifts and sites
- Sampling strategies for large-scale operations
- When observation can substitute for written records
- Using photos and drone logs as compliance evidence
- Validating evidence collection with compliance teams early
- Handling gaps in historical records for legacy systems
- Creating evidence trails for automated control exceptions
- Templates for monthly control evidence summaries
- How to demonstrate consistency without duplicating work
Module 7. Stakeholder Communication and Alignment
Equips project managers to lead compliance conversations with confidence across technical, operational, and compliance teams.
12 chapters in this module
- Framing compliance as project enablement, not overhead
- Communicating control requirements to non-compliance teams
- Running alignment sessions with site managers
- Creating shared ownership of control outcomes
- Handling resistance based on operational constraints
- Translating auditor language into project terms
- Using milestones to show compliance progress
- Presenting control status in project reports
- Managing expectations during audit cycles
- Building credibility through proactive updates
- Using peer examples to build buy-in
- Templates for compliance update emails to stakeholders
Module 8. Handling Auditor Requests and Findings
Prepares project managers to respond to audit inquiries and findings without deferral or escalation.
12 chapters in this module
- Reading and interpreting auditor requests accurately
- Identifying which findings require project action
- Responding to control gaps with operational context
- Providing evidence that addresses root cause
- Negotiating findings based on risk and impact
- Using project timelines to justify remediation schedules
- Documenting management responses with authority
- When to accept a finding vs. challenge it
- Building a history of resolved findings for future audits
- Communicating audit outcomes to site teams
- Using findings to improve future project planning
- Templates for auditor response documentation
Module 9. Sustaining Controls Beyond Initial Audit
Ensures controls remain effective and owned after the audit cycle ends.
12 chapters in this module
- Integrating controls into standard operating procedures
- Assigning long-term ownership of recurring controls
- Updating controls during system changes
- Using project closeout to lock in control practices
- Training new staff on established control frameworks
- Auditing controls during operational reviews
- Updating documentation after site modifications
- Managing control consistency across shifts
- Using lessons from audits to refine future projects
- Creating handover packages for ongoing compliance
- Templates for control transition checklists
- How to avoid 'audit fatigue' in long-term operations
Module 10. Leveraging Compliance for Project Advantage
Shows how strong compliance ownership enhances project credibility and influence.
12 chapters in this module
- Using compliance milestones to demonstrate project rigor
- Positioning compliance as a competitive advantage
- Sharing compliance wins with leadership teams
- Using SOC 2 readiness in vendor and partner discussions
- Highlighting compliance in project recognition forums
- Building reputation as a trusted compliance owner
- Using compliance documentation in safety certifications
- Aligning with ESG reporting through control consistency
- Demonstrating governance maturity in joint ventures
- Creating reusable artefacts for future projects
- Templates for compliance highlights in project reports
- How to showcase control leadership in performance reviews
Module 11. Integrating SOC 2 with Other Frameworks
Teaches how to align SOC 2 with ISO 27001, NIST CSF, and internal standards without duplication.
12 chapters in this module
- Mapping SOC 2 controls to ISO 27001 domains
- Using NIST CSF categories to strengthen narratives
- Aligning with BHPBilliton's internal control frameworks
- Avoiding redundant evidence collection
- Using common control statements across audits
- Streamlining documentation for multiple compliance needs
- When to use SOC 2 as the primary framework
- Handling conflicting requirements from different standards
- Building a unified control environment across standards
- Templates for cross-framework control mapping
- How to present integrated compliance to auditors
- Lessons from multi-standard projects in mining
Module 12. Building a Personal Playbook for Compliance Leadership
Helps project managers create a reusable, documented approach to compliance ownership.
12 chapters in this module
- Documenting decisions that set precedent
- Creating templates for recurring compliance tasks
- Building a library of approved rationale statements
- Capturing stakeholder alignment moments
- Versioning your compliance playbook over time
- Using past projects as references for new initiatives
- Sharing playbooks across project teams
- Updating playbooks after audits and changes
- Protecting playbooks during team transitions
- Using playbooks to train new project leads
- Templates for personal compliance leadership journals
- How to evolve your playbook with industry changes
How this maps to your situation
- Early project phase: defining compliance scope
- Mid-project: aligning control timing with milestones
- Pre-audit: finalizing system descriptions and evidence
- Post-audit: sustaining and evolving controls
Before vs. after
Before
Compliance decisions require approval, scope changes trigger escalations, and auditor follow-ups delay project timelines.
After
You define and own compliance scope, respond to auditors independently, and deliver audit-ready documentation on schedule.
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 project work.
If nothing changes
Without clarity on decision ownership, project managers face repeated escalations, audit delays, and diminished influence on compliance outcomes.
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic compliance courses, this program is tailored to project managers in resource operations, focusing on real-world decisions, not theoretical frameworks.
Frequently asked
Who is this course designed for?
Project managers in mining, resources, and industrial sectors who own or influence SOC 2 compliance scope and control decisions.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Will I receive templates and examples?
Yes, every module includes downloadable templates and real-world examples from similar projects.
$199 one-time. Approximately 3 hours per module, designed to be completed alongside active project work..
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