SOC 2 Type I vs Type II.
Type I assesses security controls at a single moment — a snapshot. Type II evaluates controls over a period (typically 3–12 months) to verify they operate consistently. Most companies start with Type I and progress to Type II.
The practical difference: a Type I report says "on December 15th, these controls existed and were designed appropriately." A Type II report says "from January through June, these controls operated continuously and effectively." Type II is what enterprise buyers actually want. Type I is most useful as a milestone — proof that you have the controls in place — on the path toward a Type II observation window. Plan for roughly 6 months between Type I completion and Type II report issuance, with continuous evidence collection throughout.
Connected concepts.
SOC 2
Service Organization Control 2A security framework developed by the AICPA that defines how service organizations should handle customer data based on five trust service criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Most enterprise buyers require vendors to be SOC 2 compliant.
ISO 27001:2022
International information security standardThe 2022 revision of ISO’s information security management system (ISMS) standard. Widely used outside North America and increasingly required by European and Asian enterprise buyers. Includes 93 controls across 4 themes.
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