A SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) audit is a type of audit that evaluates a company's controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It is an important process for companies that handle sensitive customer data or provide services to other companies that require trust and assurance in their security controls. Here are five common mistakes to avoid before starting a SOC 2 audit: Not understanding the scope of the audit: Before starting a SOC 2 audit, it's essential to understand the scope of the audit. The audit scope should include all the systems, processes, and data that are within the scope of the SOC 2 report. If you overlook any systems or processes, you may miss critical security controls that could put your company at risk. Failing to document policies and procedures: Documentation of policies and procedures is critical for SOC 2 compliance. If you don't document your policies and procedures, you may not be able to prove that you have controls in place to protect sensitive customer data. It's important to document policies and procedures related to access controls, change management, incident response, and other critical areas. Ignoring vendor management: If your company uses third-party vendors, you need to include them in your SOC 2 audit. Failing to include vendors in your audit scope can result in incomplete security controls, which could lead to a security breach. It's important to ensure that your vendors also have adequate security controls in place to protect your customer data. Not conducting a risk assessment: Before starting a SOC 2 audit, it's essential to conduct a risk assessment to identify potential security risks. The risk assessment should identify potential threats to your systems and data and the likelihood of those threats occurring. This information is critical for developing adequate security controls to protect your customer data. Assuming compliance is a one-time event: SOC 2 compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. You need to ensure that your security controls are regularly tested and updated to reflect changes in your business environment. Failure to maintain adequate security controls can result in a security breach and non-compliance with SOC 2 regulations. In summary, avoiding these common mistakes can help your company prepare for a successful SOC 2 audit. Understanding the audit scope, documenting policies and procedures, including vendors, conducting a risk assessment, and maintaining ongoing compliance can help ensure the security of your customer data and protect your company's reputation.