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Thinking about getting SOC 2 compliant but not sure where to start when it comes to controls? You’re definitely not alone.
Here’s the deal: SOC 2 compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes—it’s about building smart, effective security and privacy practices that actually fit your business.
Now, here’s something a lot of folks don’t realize upfront: the AICPA (they're the ones behind SOC 2) doesn’t give you a fixed checklist of controls. Instead, they outline what’s called the Trust Services Criteria—broad principles like Security, Availability, Confidentiality, and Privacy. It’s up to you to design the actual controls that align with these principles.
And yep, that can feel like a pretty tall order.
So if you're sitting there wondering, “What controls should we even include?”, you’re in the right place. That’s exactly why we put together this guide.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive SOC 2 controls list—over 70 controls that have been vetted and approved through real audits. These are actual controls used by companies across different industries to pass SOC 2 Type 2 audits. Think of this as your launchpad: battle-tested, auditor-friendly, and ready to be tailored to your needs.
Quick note before we jump in—not every control here will apply to your company, and that’s totally okay. What matters is starting with a strong foundation, then adjusting based on your size, risk, and maturity level.
Ready to make sense of SOC 2 controls once and for all? Let’s get into it.
Trust Service Criteria
Before you can build out your SOC 2 controls, you need to understand the foundation they’re built on: the Trust Service Criteria.
These five criteria are the core pillars of any SOC 2 audit. They define what “trust” looks like in a system—and your job is to design controls that show how your organization meets them.
Here’s how it works: the criteria are the objectives—your controls are the proof. You’ll need to map each control you implement back to one or more of these five areas. Let’s walk through what each one covers.
1. Security (Common Criteria)
This is the only required criterion—and the foundation of every SOC 2 audit.
It focuses on protecting your systems and data from unauthorized access or misuse. Your controls here might include firewalls, MFA, access management, logging, and regular vulnerability scans.
2. Availability
This one’s about system uptime and resilience.
If you want to meet this criterion, you’ll need controls like infrastructure monitoring, incident response planning, disaster recovery testing, and business continuity strategies.
3. Processing Integrity
Here, it’s all about making sure your system works as expected—processing data accurately and completely.
Controls under this bucket include validation checks, error monitoring, and clear workflows for how data is handled from start to finish.
4. Confidentiality
This is your shield for sensitive information—think customer data, IP, or internal files.
To satisfy this, you'll need controls like data classification, encryption (in transit and at rest), and access restrictions based on roles.
5. Privacy
If you collect personal data, you’ll need to show you handle it responsibly.
This includes having a clear privacy policy, collecting proper consent, and giving users control over their data. It also overlaps with compliance requirements like GDPR or CCPA.
How the AICPA Defines SOC 2 Controls
Let’s bust a common myth right away: the AICPA doesn’t give you a fixed list of SOC 2 controls. What they provide are broad, high-level criteria—outcomes your systems need to meet. But the exact controls? That’s totally up to you.
Here’s how it works. The AICPA is the governing body behind SOC 2. They created the Trust Services Criteria, which are rooted in the well-known COSO framework used to assess risk and internal controls across industries.
Think of it like this—they define the destination, but they don’t give you turn-by-turn directions.
So, instead of a universal checklist, you’re expected to create controls that fit your business’s specific model, risks, and maturity level. Each control you design should be clearly documented, testable by an auditor, and mapped directly to one or more of the Trust Service Criteria.
This approach gives you flexibility—which is great—but it can also make getting started feel pretty overwhelming.
That’s exactly why we built this guide. Up next, you’ll find a comprehensive list of over 70 SOC 2 controls—all vetted through real audits. These are practical, battle-tested examples used by companies across industries to achieve SOC 2 compliance.
Use them as your foundation. Pick what fits, customize as needed, and feel confident as you build out your SOC 2 program.
SOC 2 Controls List
To make things simple, we’ve grouped the controls into key themes that reflect how your business actually operates. From asset management and access control to incident response and encryption, each group focuses on a different layer of your security posture.
Let’s dive into each category and break down exactly what the controls mean, how they work, and when they apply.
Asset Management
Let’s start with the basics: asset management is all about keeping tabs on what you own, where it lives, and how it’s handled—from day one to disposal.
1. Asset disposal procedures utilized
When devices like laptops, servers, or hard drives hit the end of their lifecycle, you need a secure way to say goodbye. This control ensures there’s a formal process—like secure wiping or physical destruction—to prevent data from leaking out the door.
If you're dealing with customer data or managing hardware in-house, this one’s a must. Even if you're mostly cloud-based, you’ll still want to document how employee laptops and devices are handled.
Auditors usually want to see a written disposal policy, logs of retired equipment, and if you're using a third party for destruction, their certificates too.
2. Data retention procedures established
Here’s the deal: hanging on to data “just in case” can get risky fast. This control is about setting clear rules for how long you keep data—whether it's logs, customer info, or internal docs—and what happens when that time’s up.
If you're storing any kind of user or customer data, this applies to you. It’s also key for privacy laws like GDPR or CCPA.
Auditors will expect a formal retention policy, automated cleanup processes (where possible), and reports that show your rules are actually being followed.
3. Production inventory maintained
You can’t secure what you don’t know you have. This control is all about keeping an up-to-date inventory of everything in your production environment—servers, databases, cloud services, third-party tools, you name it.
Yes, this applies even if you’re 100% cloud-native. Just because you don’t have physical servers doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.
You’ll want to show auditors asset tracking logs, exports from tools like AWS Config or your CMDB, or screenshots from whatever asset dashboard you’re using.
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery
Things go wrong—it’s just part of doing business. These controls make sure you're prepared to recover fast and keep things running when they do.
4. Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans established
Every company needs a written plan for what to do during a crisis—whether it’s a cyberattack, power outage, or something totally unexpected. This means outlining recovery strategies, team responsibilities, and communication plans.
Auditors will want to see documented BCDR plans, contact trees, and business impact assessments. Even if you're a small team, having something on paper shows you’re thinking ahead.
5. Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans tested
A plan is only useful if you know it actually works. This control is about testing your BCDR plan through simulations or tabletop exercises.
Even basic tests (like walking through it in a team meeting) go a long way. Just make sure to document everything—test results, lessons learned, and any updates you made after.
6. Cybersecurity insurance maintained
More and more, auditors want to know if you're financially prepared for a security incident. Cyber insurance helps cover the costs when things go sideways.
If you're mid-sized, working with sensitive data, or in a regulated industry—this is a big one. Even startups can benefit from a basic policy. Just have the documents ready showing what’s covered.
Configuration Management
Consistency is king. Configuration management makes sure your systems are set up the right way—and stay that way.
7. Configuration management system established
You need a structured way to manage how your systems are configured. Whether it’s Infrastructure as Code (like Terraform), manual processes, or something in between—this ensures predictable, secure setups.
It applies to everyone with a production environment. Auditors look for config baselines, change documentation, and outputs from tools you’re using to track or enforce consistency.
Ideal visual here: Screenshot of a Terraform file, Ansible playbook, or CI/CD config dashboard.
Change Management
Most incidents trace back to changes gone wrong. Change management is how you stay in control.
8. Change management procedures enforced
You need a clear process for how changes are made—from proposal to approval to deployment. This applies to both code and infrastructure.
Even small teams can use tools like GitHub PRs, Jira tickets, or Notion pages. Auditors want to see change logs, approval steps, and peer reviews or automated checks.
9. Production deployment access restricted
Only trusted users should be able to touch production. This control makes sure access is tightly limited and well-monitored.
It’s a must-have for any live product. Even with CI/CD, you need to restrict who can trigger deployments or access live systems. Expect to show IAM policies, deployment access lists, and audit logs.
10. Development lifecycle established
You should have a consistent process for building, testing, and releasing software. Agile, DevOps, Kanban—doesn’t matter, as long as it’s clear and repeatable.
Auditors want to see how you plan work, test before release, and track what’s shipped. Think sprint boards, release notes, test cases, and documented workflows.
Ideal visual here: Diagram showing your dev process from Git to CI to staging to prod.
Cryptographic Protections
Encryption is no longer optional—it’s the default. These controls keep your data protected and your systems trustworthy.
11. Unique production database authentication enforced
Everyone accessing production databases should have their own credentials—no shared logins allowed. That way, every action can be traced back to a specific user.
This is a must for anyone handling customer data. Auditors look for IAM-based access, individual DB users, and logs showing who did what and when.
12. Encryption key access restricted
Encryption keys need to be locked down. Store them in secure systems like AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, or HashiCorp Vault—and restrict access to just a few trusted users or services.
Auditors will expect key management policies, permission settings, and audit logs showing who accessed keys.
13. Portable media encrypted
If you’re using external drives or laptops that leave your environment, they should be encrypted. This protects data if a device is lost or stolen.
Especially important for hybrid or distributed teams. If you’re all remote and cloud-based, this might be rare—but still good to document. Auditors may ask for encryption settings (e.g., BitLocker, FileVault) and screenshots showing enforcement.
14. Data encryption utilized
Data needs to be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Use standards like AES-256 for storage and TLS 1.2+ for network traffic.
This applies to every company, no matter the size. It’s one of the most basic SOC 2 requirements. Be ready with architecture diagrams, TLS configs, and logs showing encryption in action.
15. Unique account authentication enforced
Just like with databases, every person or service should have a unique login. No shared accounts—ever.
This supports accountability and tightens access control. Auditors will ask for your identity provider settings (e.g., Okta, Google Workspace), user access policies, and logs showing activity by account.
Data Classification & Handling
Not all data is created equal—and it shouldn’t all be treated the same. These controls make sure you know what kind of data you’ve got, how to handle it, and when it’s time to delete it.
16. Customer data deleted upon leaving
When a customer closes their account or churns, their data shouldn’t just hang around. This control ensures you have a clear policy—and ideally, automation—in place to delete that data after a defined retention period.
This is key for any company storing user-generated data. Even if you’re early stage, define this clearly. Auditors want to see deletion workflows, customer offboarding steps, and logs proving that data was wiped.
17. Data classification policy established
You should be tagging and labeling your data based on how sensitive it is—think public, internal, confidential, restricted. And then handling it accordingly.
This is foundational. It affects how you secure, store, and transmit data. Be ready to show your classification policy, access controls by category, and real examples of how different data types are protected.
Ideal visual here: Table mapping classification levels to controls (e.g., encryption, access, sharing rules)
Endpoint Security
Laptops and workstations are easy entry points for attackers. These controls help keep your endpoints locked down and protected.
18. Anti-malware technology utilized
All company-managed devices should have active anti-malware software. It helps catch threats early—before they spread.
If your team uses laptops or desktops, especially with access to prod or customer data, this is non-negotiable. Show auditors what tool you’re using (like CrowdStrike or Defender), proof it's deployed, and alerting dashboards or logs.
Security & Privacy Governance
Security starts at the top. These controls make sure your leadership is engaged, responsibilities are defined, and there’s structure behind your security program.
19. Board oversight briefings conducted
Your board (or exec team) should be kept in the loop on security and privacy. Regular briefings ensure leadership stays aware of current risks and your program’s progress.
If you don’t have a board yet, loop in your founders or senior leadership. Auditors want to see presentation decks, meeting notes, or communication logs.
20. Board charter documented
A board charter spells out what your board does—including how it oversees security and risk.
Not all startups will have this, but if you do have a formal board, this document is expected. Show the charter or any equivalent governance framework.
21. Board expertise developed
At least one person on your board or exec team should have real security or privacy know-how.
If you don’t have someone internal, bring in external advisors. Auditors look for bios, certifications, or documentation showing expert involvement.
22. Board meetings conducted
Security oversight shouldn’t be a one-off. Your board or leadership should meet regularly to review updates, risks, and progress.
Smaller teams can satisfy this with quarterly risk-focused leadership meetings. Just be ready with agendas, notes, or calendars.
23. Backup processes established
You need regular, reliable backups of all critical systems and data.
This applies to everyone. Cloud-native or not, you should be able to show backup schedules, tools used, and proof that your data is actually restorable.
24. System changes externally communicated
If you're rolling out major system updates—especially ones that impact customers—you need to communicate them clearly and in advance.
Even in early-stage products, release notes or incident updates help build trust. Show past communications, protocols, or email templates.
25. Management roles and responsibilities defined
Leadership should have clear ownership over areas like security, ops, and compliance.
This applies to all companies. Even in a 5-person team, someone should "own" each critical area. Auditors want org charts, job descriptions, or internal docs.
26. Organization structure documented
Your internal structure should be clearly mapped out—especially around how decisions are made.
This is about visibility. Even if your team is small, document your hierarchy and roles. Share org charts or internal wikis.
27. Roles and responsibilities specified
Everyone—not just leadership—should know their specific responsibilities, especially around security and compliance.
Auditors will expect onboarding materials, job role documentation, or a responsibility matrix covering key functions like engineering and DevOps.
28. Security policies established and reviewed
You need formal, written security policies—and they should be reviewed regularly, not just once and forgotten.
Auditors will ask for policy docs, change logs, and proof that you actually stick to your review schedule.
29. Support system available
Employees should know where to go if they have a security concern or question—Slack channels, ticketing systems, or email aliases work.
Keep it simple, but have something in place. Auditors may ask to see documentation or examples (anonymized) of past reports or escalations.
30. System changes communicated
When big changes are happening internally, relevant teams should be in the loop.
This is key for collaboration, especially in engineering and DevOps. Show change comms via internal newsletters, changelogs, or Slack threads.
Human Resources Security
People can be your strongest defense—or your weakest link. These controls ensure your team is vetted, trained, and aligned with your security goals.
31. Employee background checks performed
New hires should go through background checks to reduce risk before they join the team.
Most companies do this as standard practice. Auditors want to see HR policies, vendor agreements, or anonymized results confirming checks were done.
32. Code of Conduct acknowledged by contractors
Your contractors should formally acknowledge your Code of Conduct during onboarding—just like full-time employees.
If they access systems or data, this is especially important. Show signed forms, onboarding workflows, or HR logs.
33. Code of Conduct acknowledged by employees and enforced
All employees should sign the Code of Conduct—and you should enforce it when necessary.
This isn’t optional. Auditors expect signed copies, enforcement records (if applicable), and training logs.
34. Confidentiality Agreement acknowledged by contractors
If your contractors have access to any sensitive data, they need to sign an NDA or confidentiality agreement.
This is a basic expectation. Share copies or tracking logs from your contract management system.
35. Confidentiality Agreement acknowledged by employees
Same goes for employees—NDAs are usually included in offer letters or onboarding packets.
Make sure you can show proof of acknowledgment. Auditors may check onboarding files or HR records.
36. Performance evaluations conducted
Regular check-ins help make sure employees are doing their jobs responsibly—and following the rules.
This can be simple, but there should be something. Share templates, review schedules, or anonymized samples.
Information Assurance
You can’t fix what you don’t check. These controls help you proactively assess your security before attackers do.
37. Control self-assessments conducted
You should regularly review your own controls—at least once a year—to confirm they still work and align with your business needs.
This is useful for every team. Even a lightweight internal checklist helps. Auditors expect to see self-assessment docs, gap analysis reports, or remediation plans based on what you find.
38. Penetration testing performed
Pen tests simulate real-world attacks so you can find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do. Aim for at least one test per year.
Any company handling customer data or running production apps should do this. Be ready to share test reports, issues found, and the steps taken to fix them.
Ideal visual here: Timeline or flow showing the pen testing and remediation cycle.
Incident Response
Incidents happen. What matters is how fast and effectively you respond when they do.
39. Incident response plan tested
Having a plan is step one—testing it is step two. Simulate incidents so your team knows exactly what to do.
All companies need this. Auditors look for test schedules, debrief notes, and updates based on test results.
40. Incident response policies established
Document how your team handles incidents—from detection to resolution. Include steps for escalation and communication.
This should be in place for every organization. Share your policy, any SOPs or playbooks, and how they’re distributed internally.
41. Incident management procedures followed
During actual incidents, your team should stick to the plan—tracking every step taken.
Auditors want to see incident reports, communication logs, root cause analyses, and any fixes or lessons learned.
Mobile Device Management
With remote work becoming the norm, device security matters more than ever.
42. MDM system utilized
Use a Mobile Device Management (MDM) tool to enforce security on laptops, phones, and tablets—think screen lock, encryption, and remote wipe.
This is crucial for remote or hybrid teams. Auditors want to see your MDM policy, a list of enrolled devices, and screenshots of enforced settings.
Continuous Monitoring
The faster you detect issues, the faster you can stop them. These controls keep you alert and responsive.
43. Intrusion detection system utilized
An IDS watches for malicious activity in your systems and network.
Whether it’s GuardDuty, Azure Defender, or something else—auditors will expect config screenshots, sample alerts, and your response steps.
44. Log management utilized
Centralize and analyze logs from your services, infrastructure, and applications to catch strange behavior early.
Applies to every team. Share logging policies, examples of aggregation tools (like Datadog, Splunk), and retention settings.
45. Infrastructure performance monitored
You should track system health continuously—looking at usage, errors, latency, and uptime.
Especially critical for customer-facing platforms. Auditors will ask for your monitoring setup, alert thresholds, and response workflows.
Network Security
Think of your network as the front gate—these controls help keep it secure and under control.
46. Data transmission encrypted
Use strong encryption (like TLS 1.2+, SSH, or HTTPS) to protect data in transit.
This is a basic SOC 2 must-have. Be ready with network diagrams, SSL settings, or test results from tools like SSL Labs.
47. Network segmentation implemented
Separate your environments—like dev and prod—using VPCs, VLANs, or subnet rules.
Important for larger infrastructures or hybrid setups. Show auditors network maps, firewall configs, and access rules.
48. Network firewalls reviewed
Regularly review and update your firewall rules. Old, unused rules can introduce risk.
This applies to anyone managing cloud infra. Provide review logs, change approvals, and examples of rules that were removed.
49. Network firewalls utilized
You should actively use firewalls to control traffic flow—both in and out.
Auditors want to see configurations, traffic policies, and logs that show your firewall in action.
50. Network and system hardening standards maintained
Harden your systems by removing defaults, closing unused ports, and following best practices like CIS Benchmarks.
Applies to all environments—manual or IaC. Share config templates, automation scripts, or benchmark mappings.
Security Operations
Security is never a “set it and forget it” thing. These controls ensure you’re maintaining and improving constantly.
51. Vulnerability and system monitoring procedures established
You need a process to scan for vulnerabilities—and fix them. Tools like Nessus, Snyk, or native scanners are great here.
Every team should do this. Auditors want scan reports, patch timelines, and documentation showing resolution workflows.
Physical & Environmental Security
Even if you're in the cloud, physical protections still matter. These controls keep your environments physically secure.
52. Physical access processes established
Limit and document who gets into offices or server spaces—use badges, biometrics, or logs.
If you have an office or data room, this is required. Provide policies, badge access reports, or system screenshots.
53. Data center access reviewed
If you rely on cloud or third-party data centers, review their security certifications and reports.
Everyone using AWS, Azure, GCP, or colos should do this. Share their SOC 2 or ISO reports and your vendor security review docs.
54. Visitor procedures enforced
Anyone visiting sensitive areas should sign in, be escorted, and follow defined rules.
Relevant for any physical space. Auditors look for visitor logs, sign-in systems, or written protocols.
Project & Resource Management
These controls ensure you're clear about what your company offers—and that you’re resourced to deliver.
55. Company commitments externally communicated
Your customers should know what they can expect—via SLAs, privacy policies, or terms of service.
Applies to all service providers. Auditors want to see public-facing docs or onboarding content with these commitments.
56. External support resources available
You should provide ways for customers to get help—support teams, knowledge bases, chat widgets, etc.
This applies to SaaS companies and service providers. Show support tools, ticketing systems, or contact options.
57. Service description communicated
You should have a clear, documented breakdown of what your product does and how it works.
This is useful for both users and auditors. Share product docs, onboarding flows, or internal descriptions.
Risk Management
Risks change fast. These controls help you stay on top of them and respond effectively.
58. Risk assessment objectives specified
You should clearly define what you’re trying to achieve with your risk assessments—like reducing downtime or securing customer data.
This gives direction and purpose. Auditors will expect to see objectives in your risk policy or planning docs.
59. Risks assessments performed
Actually conduct the assessments—at least annually. Identify threats, rate their severity, and plan your response.
Auditors want risk registers, scoring models, and documented evaluations.
60. Risk management program established
Go beyond just identifying risks—track them, prioritize them, and fix them.
This is critical for SOC 2. Show your risk tracking system, regular reviews, and updates to mitigation efforts.
Security Awareness Training
Security starts with your people. These controls help make sure your team knows how to protect your company.
61. Security awareness training implemented
All employees should get trained on security basics—during onboarding and at least once a year.
Even simple e-learning counts. Auditors want course content, training logs, and completion records.
Third Party Management
Your vendors are part of your security story. These controls help you manage and monitor their impact.
62. Third-party agreements established
Have signed contracts or agreements in place with vendors—especially those handling sensitive data.
This is mandatory. Provide signed MSAs or contracts that include security clauses.
63. Vendor management program established
Go beyond contracts—periodically evaluate vendor risks.
Share vendor assessments, scorecards, and a centralized vendor tracker if you’ve got one.
Vulnerability & Patch Management
It’s not enough to build things securely—you’ve got to keep them secure too.
64. Service infrastructure maintained
Update systems, rotate secrets, and keep your infrastructure clean and current.
Applies to everyone. Auditors want maintenance logs, change reports, and update schedules.
65. Vulnerabilities scanned and remediated
Use automated tools to scan for vulnerabilities, and fix them fast—especially critical ones.
This is a core SOC 2 requirement. Show scan results, timelines, and patch records.
Technical
These controls ensure your systems are resilient, scalable, and prepared for the unexpected.
66. System capacity reviewed
Monitor how much load your systems are handling—and make sure you’re not running too hot.
Applies to all hosted services. Provide capacity dashboards or autoscaling configs.
67. Database replication utilized
Use DB replication to protect against data loss and keep things available.
This is best practice for any prod environment. Show config files or cloud console settings proving replication is live.
68. Production data backups conducted
Back up your data regularly—and test that those backups actually work.
Every company should be doing this. Auditors will ask for backup logs and restore test results.
69. Production multi-availability zones established
Running across multiple availability zones keeps your service resilient during outages.
If you're on AWS, Azure, etc.—this should be built into your design. Share architecture diagrams or infra settings.
Physical
Physical threats are real—these controls help you detect and prevent them before they cause damage.
70. Environmental monitoring devices implemented
Offices and server spaces should be monitored for fire, humidity, temp spikes, etc.
Relevant for teams managing on-prem or colocated infra. Show logs from sensors and alerts triggered.
71. Environmental security inspected
Regularly inspect your physical environment for anything risky—like blocked vents or weak locks.
Auditors want to see inspection reports, checklists, and issue logs.
Administrative
Separation is safety. These controls keep your environments logically isolated and secure.
72. Production data segmented
Make sure production data stays out of staging and dev environments—no mixing allowed.
This is essential for data integrity and testing hygiene. Auditors will ask for DB configs, VPC separation, or masking protocols.
Choosing the Right SOC 2 Controls
Here’s the truth: of the 70+ SOC 2 controls we've walked through, you’ll probably only need around 40–50 to get started—and that’s perfectly normal.
Not every control is a must-have right away. The trick is knowing which ones matter most for your business today—and which ones you can skip for now.
Let’s break it down.
Start with What Actually Protects Your Business
If you’re a SaaS company (especially in the cloud), your top priorities are probably protecting customer data and making sure your app stays up. That means focusing on controls like:
- Data protection (e.g., encryption, MFA, password policies)
- Access management (e.g., limiting prod access, reviewing user roles)
- Change management (e.g., pull requests, deployment approvals)
- Incident response (e.g., having a plan and testing it)
- Backups and availability (e.g., data replication, multi-AZ setup)
These controls aren’t just best practice—they’re what auditors expect. They also align closely with the Trust Services Criteria and help reduce real risk fast.
Skip What Doesn’t Apply (Yet)
Don’t worry about controls that clearly don’t fit your current setup. For example:
- Physical & Environmental Security: If you’re fully cloud-based and don’t run your own servers or office data centers, you can lean on your cloud provider’s SOC 2 or ISO reports. Controls like visitor logs or server room monitoring probably don’t apply to you.
- Board-Level Governance: No formal board? No problem. You can skip things like board meetings or charter documents—just make sure someone on your leadership team is responsible for security and risk.
Tailor Your Controls to Where You Are Today
A 10-person remote startup doesn’t need every control a public enterprise does. If you’re not ready for cyber insurance or complex network segmentation, that’s okay. You can always add them later as your risk grows and your systems get more complex.
That’s the beauty of SOC 2—it’s built to scale with you. The goal is to focus on controls that reflect your real-world risks right now, not someone else’s checklist.
Pro tip:
Auditors don’t expect perfection. They expect intention. If you can explain why you’ve chosen certain controls—and why you’ve left others out—that’s a sign of maturity. Even better? Document that rationale. It shows you’re thinking critically, which auditors love.
Downloadable SOC 2 Controls List
SOC 2 Controls List PDF
Prefer a polished, high-level overview of all controls? Our SOC 2 controls list PDF delivers just that—a clean, high-level reference guide for your team. It’s a clean, easy-to-navigate reference guide that you can print, annotate, or share with stakeholders.
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SOC 2 Controls List Excel/XLS Format
If you’re ready to operationalize your SOC 2 efforts, the SOC 2 controls list Excel version is your best friend for tracking implementation and assigning responsibilities.. It’s structured for day-to-day use, with editable columns that let you track implementation, assign ownership, and link evidence.
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Conclusion
So there you have it—SOC 2 isn’t just a checkbox exercise. It’s a full-on trust framework that covers everything from encryption and access to governance and response.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to roll out all 70+ controls at once. Start with the 40–50 that actually make sense for where your company is today. Prioritize what protects your core, skip what doesn’t apply (yet), and evolve as you grow.
And if you’re a B2B SaaS startup, getting SOC 2 ready doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
That’s exactly why we created ComplyJet—a compliance platform purpose-built for fast-moving SaaS teams. With pre-mapped controls, plug-and-play policy templates, and automation baked in, you can get audit-ready in just 7 days—without dragging down your dev or ops teams.
So whether you’re prepping for your first SOC 2 or fine-tuning what you already have, let this guide be your playbook—and let ComplyJet help make your compliance journey fast, smart, and way less painful
