GRCI

What Is SOC 2 Training?

SOC 2 training is professional development in the AICPA SOC 2 framework for data security, availability, and privacy assurance. It covers the five Trust Services Criteria — Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy — along with control design, evidence collection, and Type I and Type II audit readiness for technology service organisations.

Enterprise clients now routinely require SOC 2 reports before awarding contracts to software vendors, cloud providers, and technology service companies. SOC 2 is the AICPA standard built specifically for data security — and it has become the de facto compliance credential for SaaS and cloud businesses serving US and global enterprise markets.

This CPD-certified course equips compliance professionals and technology teams with the practical knowledge to scope their SOC 2 examination, design Trust Services Criteria-aligned controls, collect audit evidence, and prepare for SOC 2 Type I or Type II examinations with a US CPA firm.

SOC 2 Course Curriculum

The SOC 2 curriculum takes you from Trust Services Criteria principles to a complete audit-ready posture:

Framework Overview

SOC 2 vs SOC 1 vs ISAE 3000: purpose, scope, and when to use each
Type I vs Type II: when to pursue each report
The five Trust Services Criteria and their categories
UK and European market requirements: who asks for SOC 2 and why

Trust Services Criteria in Depth

Security (CC series): logical and physical access, encryption, monitoring
Availability: system performance, recovery time objectives, uptime
Processing Integrity: completeness, accuracy, timeliness
Confidentiality & Privacy: data classification, retention, and personal data handling

Control Framework Design

Mapping Trust Services Criteria to existing controls
Identifying control gaps: internal assessment methodology
Control design principles for SOC 2 compliance
Sub-service organisation and complementary user entity controls

Audit Preparation

Readiness assessment: scoring your current SOC 2 posture
Evidence collection: what auditors test and how to prepare
Auditor selection: evaluating CPA firms
Managing the audit timeline: Type I in 4 weeks, Type II over 6–12 months

UK Regulatory Integration

SOC 2 and GDPR: overlaps and differences
SOC 2 and ISO 27001: leveraging existing ISMS evidence
SOC 2 and DORA: operational resilience evidence reuse
SOC 2 vs ISAE 3000: choosing the right standard for European clients

Module

What You Will Learn

Module 1: SOC 2 Foundations

Understand SOC 2 purpose, scope, and the AICPA Trust Services Criteria framework. Covers SOC 2 vs SOC 1 vs ISAE 3000 — what to use and when. Includes UK and European market requirements for SOC 2 reports.

Module 2: The Five Trust Services Criteria

Master all five TSC: Security (CC series — mandatory), Availability (A), Processing Integrity (PI), Confidentiality (C), and Privacy (P). Understand which criteria apply to your organisation and how to scope them.

Module 3: Security Control Design

Design controls satisfying Trust Services Criteria requirements — access controls, encryption, change management, vendor management, and incident response aligned to AICPA requirements.

Module 4: Evidence Collection & Testing

Understand what auditors look for in a SOC 2 examination — evidence standards, control testing approaches, population definition, and deviation management.

Module 5: SOC 2 Audit Readiness

Prepare for a SOC 2 Type I or Type II audit — gap assessment, remediation planning, auditor selection, scope agreement, and managing the audit timeline.

Module 6: SOC 2 and UK Regulatory Alignment

Align SOC 2 compliance with GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and ISO 27001. Understand how SOC 2 evidence supports broader GRC compliance programmes for UK technology organisations.

Why Choose GRC Index for SOC 2 Training?

GRC Index provides dedicated SOC 2 training alongside separate ISAE 3000 training — recognising that UK technology organisations often need to understand the relationship between both standards when serving US (SOC 2) and European (ISAE 3000) clients. Our SOC 2 training maps controls directly to the GRC Index Data Security assessment domain — meaning evidence your team builds for a SOC 2 audit simultaneously improves your independently assessed GRC Score.

Advantage

Detail

UK Regulatory Integration

Covers GDPR, NIS2, and DORA alignment with SOC 2 — practical for UK-based technology companies

SOC 2 vs ISAE 3000 Clarity

Explains when to use SOC 2 vs ISAE 3000 — unique dual-standard perspective in the UK market

Practical Audit Readiness

Focus on what auditors test — not just what the standard says

GRC Score Connection

SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria controls map directly to GRC Index Data Security domain

CPD-Certified — 12 Hours

Recognised for ISACA CISA/CISM, ISC2, IIA professional body CPD

Professional Role

Why This Course Matters

SaaS Companies & Software Vendors

Enterprise clients require SOC 2 reports for vendor onboarding — this training prepares your team for the full audit readiness cycle

Cloud Service Providers

Cloud infrastructure and platform providers subject to SOC 2 requirements from enterprise clients in financial services, healthcare, and government

Information Security Managers & CISOs

Lead SOC 2 control design and audit preparation — coordinate evidence collection and manage auditor relationships

Compliance & Risk Officers

Integrate SOC 2 compliance into broader GRC programmes — understand interaction with ISO 27001, GDPR, and NIS2

IT Governance Teams

Understand Trust Services Criteria controls for IT general controls, change management, and access governance

Startup Founders & CTOs

Understand SOC 2 requirements for early-stage companies pursuing enterprise clients — scope, cost, and timeline planning

Frequently Asked Questions: SOC 2 Training

What is SOC 2 training?

SOC 2 training is professional development in the AICPA SOC 2 framework for data security and availability assurance. It covers the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy), control design, evidence collection, and readiness for SOC 2 Type I and Type II reports.

What are the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria?

The five SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria are: (1) Security — protection against unauthorised access (mandatory); (2) Availability — system availability per commitments; (3) Processing Integrity — complete and accurate processing; (4) Confidentiality — protection of confidential information; (5) Privacy — personal information handled per commitments. Security is mandatory; the others are optional based on scope.

What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

A SOC 2 Type I report confirms controls are suitably designed at a point in time. A SOC 2 Type II report confirms controls operated effectively over a defined period (minimum 6 months). Enterprise clients and investors typically require Type II. GRC Index training covers both in detail.

Who needs SOC 2 training in the UK?

SOC 2 training is essential for compliance and security teams at SaaS companies, cloud providers, and technology service organisations whose enterprise clients require SOC 2 reports. It is also valuable for IT security managers, CISOs, compliance officers, and GRC professionals managing data security assurance programmes.

What is the difference between SOC 2 and ISAE 3000?

SOC 2 uses the AICPA Trust Services Criteria framework and is the US standard. ISAE 3000 is the international IAASB general assurance standard and is used for similar purposes in European and UK markets. GRC Index offers dedicated training for both. UK technology companies serving both US and European clients may need to understand both frameworks.

How long does it take to get SOC 2 certified?

SOC 2 involves an external examination rather than a personal exam. A SOC 2 Type I can typically be completed in 4–8 weeks once controls are in place. A Type II requires minimum 6 months' observation. GRC Index training prepares your team to begin the readiness process immediately.

SOC 2 Training

What Is SOC 2 Training?

SOC 2 Course Curriculum

Framework Overview

Trust Services Criteria in Depth

Control Framework Design

Audit Preparation

UK Regulatory Integration

What You Will Learn: SOC 2 Modules

Why Choose GRC Index for SOC 2 Training?

Who Should Take SOC 2 Training?

Frequently Asked Questions: SOC 2 Training

What is SOC 2 training?

What are the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria?

What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Who needs SOC 2 training in the UK?

What is the difference between SOC 2 and ISAE 3000?

How long does it take to get SOC 2 certified?

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