What do we need, and how should we approach it?
Readiness, Type 1 versus Type 2, scope, timelines, budgets, combining frameworks, sequencing work, annual renewals.
A category-by-category SOC 2 budget in USD, covering audit fees, readiness, platforms, penetration testing, consultants, internal assessments and operational costs. Learn what is required, what is optional, and what a quote can leave out.
By Paul WenhamSOC 2 is a risk report, not a certificate. Understand how enterprise customers use it, why having a report is only base camp, and how to turn your audit into a trust asset for growing revenue.
By Paul WenhamHow long a SOC 2 Type 2 observation period should be, how to work backwards from a customer deadline, when auditors test, why reports run late and how much buffer to build in.
By Paul WenhamWhat readiness should cover, when to involve your auditor, which gaps matter most, and how readiness, Type 1 and Type 2 can work as one continuous engagement. A practical guide to preparing for a report your customers can rely on.
By Paul WenhamWhat Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity and Privacy each cover, how often they're included, and how to decide which belong in your SOC 2 report.
By Paul WenhamWhich SOC 2 report should come first? Six client cases, practical decision tables and an illustrative 18-month cost comparison explain when to start with Type 1 and when to go straight to Type 2.
By Paul WenhamNeither is better for everyone. The right choice depends on your customers, how you run security and where you are headed. For AI-native and AI-centric companies, SOC 2's flexible criteria usually make it the stronger starting point.
By Paul WenhamISO 42001 isn't yet an enterprise requirement. What it covers, how it compares with SOC 2 and AIUC-1, and when it's worth it for an AI company.
By Paul WenhamSOC 2 for AI-native companies: simpler stacks, agents running the program in your own tools, concise policies, and a report that covers AI in production.
By Paul WenhamA category-by-category SOC 2 budget in USD, covering audit fees, readiness, platforms, penetration testing, consultants, internal assessments and operational costs. Learn what is required, what is optional, and what a quote can leave out.
By Paul WenhamSOC 2 is a risk report, not a certificate. Understand how enterprise customers use it, why having a report is only base camp, and how to turn your audit into a trust asset for growing revenue.
By Paul WenhamHow long a SOC 2 Type 2 observation period should be, how to work backwards from a customer deadline, when auditors test, why reports run late and how much buffer to build in.
By Paul WenhamWhat readiness should cover, when to involve your auditor, which gaps matter most, and how readiness, Type 1 and Type 2 can work as one continuous engagement. A practical guide to preparing for a report your customers can rely on.
By Paul WenhamWhat Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity and Privacy each cover, how often they're included, and how to decide which belong in your SOC 2 report.
By Paul WenhamWhich SOC 2 report should come first? Six client cases, practical decision tables and an illustrative 18-month cost comparison explain when to start with Type 1 and when to go straight to Type 2.
By Paul WenhamHow agentic compliance can reduce the need for a compliance platform, where platforms still add out-of-the-box value, and the question that matters: where do humans and AI do their teamwork?
By Paul WenhamThere's a basic psychology behind why most people don't like audits. Fix this, and people are surprisingly happy to do them again.
By Paul WenhamNeither is better for everyone. The right choice depends on your customers, how you run security and where you are headed. For AI-native and AI-centric companies, SOC 2's flexible criteria usually make it the stronger starting point.
By Paul WenhamDiscuss your circumstances with a Throughline senior practitioner. A complimentary workshop to work through your goals, the decisions ahead and a practical path forward.