standards

SOC 2 Certification – Data Security & Trust Services Consultancy

Build customer trust and demonstrate operational excellence with SOC 2

SOC 2 provides assurance to clients, regulators, and stakeholders that your systems meet rigorous standards for security, availability, and privacy. It’s designed for service providers who store or process customer data, especially in SaaS, cloud, and tech-driven sectors.

Unlike prescriptive frameworks, SOC 2 is built around flexible controls aligned with five Trust Services Criteria. AvISO helps you align operations with these criteria and prepares you for audit success, whether you're pursuing Type I or Type II assurance. Our structured consultancy and ISOvA platform streamline every step, from control design to evidence submission.

What our clients say

"AvISO helped us navigate SOC 2 from zero to audit in under four months. They provided clear structure, aligned our cloud environment with expectations, and ISOvA kept everyone accountable and audit-ready. Our auditor said the control set was one of the most clearly presented they’d seen."

CISO, UK-based SaaS provider

ISO 27001

Support with SOC2 and ISO 27001 Audits

Aerocloud

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How AvISO supports SOC 2 compliance

We provide end-to-end consultancy support for SOC 2 readiness and audit preparation. Our approach balances control maturity with day-to-day practicality:

SOC 2 readiness assessments to understand current maturity and risk
Scoping of Trust Services Criteria relevant to your services and commitments
Gap analysis and mapping of controls to audit expectations
Documentation of policies, procedures, and security practices
Training for key teams on audit roles and responsibilities
Full support through Type I and Type II engagements with CPA firms

We tailor the programme to suit your systems, data sensitivity, and customer expectations.

Key challenges — and how AvISO solves them

Limited audit experience or compliance team bandwidth
We guide lean organisations through every step, providing templates, support, and technical clarity.
Unclear control ownership or documentation gaps
ISOvA creates visibility and accountability across security, ops, and compliance roles.
Fear of failing the audit or wasting resources
We align you to what auditors really look for, reducing surprises and rework.
Overcomplex or bloated control frameworks
We simplify implementation with a practical control set tailored to your operations and risk profile.

SOC 2 doesn’t have to slow you down. With AvISO, compliance becomes part of your operational maturity, not a bolt-on exercise.

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Start your ISO SOC 2 journey with AvISO

We make SOC 2 certification clear, achievable, and valuable for your organisation. With expert support and digital tools, you’ll be audit-ready, operationally mature, and positioned for growth.

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SOC 2 consultancy services

We support both new SOC 2 programmes and upgrades from Type I to Type II reports. Our services include:

Security and operational controls development

Creation of a practical, audit-aligned control framework
Mapping of existing procedures to Trust Services Criteria
Development of policies for access, change, incident, and vendor management
Technical and administrative control validation
Tailored risk assessments aligned with SOC 2 expectations

Documentation, training, and evidence readiness

Documented policies and procedures with ISOvA-based version control
Role-based training for engineering, support, legal, and compliance teams
Control performance tracking and evidence gathering schedules
Audit preparation walkthroughs and evidence packs

Audit support and remediation

Liaison with CPA firms and audit readiness checks
Gap closure and corrective action planning
Audit simulations and post-audit updates
Long-term SOC 2 programme support for continuous assurance

We help you avoid common pitfalls and focus resources on what matters most — delivering secure, reliable services with confidence.

SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria tailored to your business

Not all organisations need to cover all five Trust Services Criteria. We help define a clear scope based on your services, risks, and customer commitments:

Security
Required in all SOC 2 reports, this covers access control, firewalls, threat monitoring, and physical protections.
Availability
Ensures systems are available and resilient as promised. Includes disaster recovery, backup, and monitoring.
Processing integrity
Focuses on accurate, complete, and timely system processing. Relevant for data pipelines, transactional platforms, and financial services.
Confidentiality
Applies where sensitive business or customer data must be kept private, including intellectual property or contract data.
Privacy
Addresses personal data handling in line with privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA. Often overlaps with ISO 27701 or internal privacy programmes.

We help you select and apply only the relevant criteria — reducing burden and increasing clarity for both internal teams and external auditors.

Integrated SOC 2 systems for efficient compliance

SOC 2 shares goals and principles with many ISO and operational standards. Integration strengthens control coverage, reduces duplication, and supports long-term governance. We commonly align SOC 2 with:

ISO 27001 – Information security management
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 share many foundational controls. Integration reduces effort on risk assessment, incident response, and access management. ISOvA enables both to be tracked in a unified dashboard.
ISO 27701 – Privacy information management
For organisations handling personal data, SOC 2 Privacy criteria align naturally with ISO 27701. This allows for a single set of procedures to satisfy both privacy and security requirements.
ISO 22301 – Business continuity management
Availability and incident response controls under SOC 2 often overlap with ISO 22301. A unified approach ensures continuity, disaster recovery, and resilience reporting are consistent and credible.
ISO 9001 – Quality management
Integration ensures processes supporting SOC 2 criteria — especially around processing integrity — are embedded in broader quality assurance and service delivery practices.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework
We align control design and implementation with recognised frameworks such as NIST CSF, helping strengthen overall maturity and demonstrate best-practice alignment.
Cyber Essentials Plus
Especially for UK-based providers, mapping to Cyber Essentials Plus can support government tendering, SME requirements, and baseline technical protections alongside SOC 2 security.

AvISO’s integration approach means your SOC 2 programme adds value beyond the audit. We build systems that mature with your business.

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ISOvA for digital SOC 2 readiness

ISOvA simplifies SOC 2 implementation with a Microsoft 365-based platform that centralises all compliance documentation, tasks, and evidence in one place:

Free access to ISOvA Toolbox for your first SOC 2 project
Centralised control tracking, ownership, and status updates
Built-in review cycles and policy scheduling
Live dashboards for control effectiveness and audit progress
Linked evidence repositories and version-controlled documents

ISOvA makes SOC 2 readiness visible, efficient, and audit-friendly — without disrupting your daily operations.

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Why choose AvISO for SOC 2?

Trusted by technology firms, SaaS startups, and regulated service providers
Proven methodology tailored to both Type I and Type II reports
Experience working with a range of AICPA-accredited audit firms
Clear, plain-English approach to control documentation and audit prep
Technology-backed consultancy for scalable compliance growth

Whether you're preparing for your first SOC 2 audit or maturing your control environment, we’ll help you meet expectations, reduce risk, and stand out in competitive markets.

Talk to us about ISO SOC 2 certification

Let’s explore how we can help your team — from gap analysis to digital integration.
Kent: 01892 800476 | London: 02037 458 476 | info@avisoconsultancy.co.uk

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ISO SOC 2 FAQs

Most frequently asked questions

What is SOC 2, and who needs it?

SOC 2 is a voluntary reporting framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It’s relevant for service providers that manage customer data, including SaaS platforms, IT services, and cloud infrastructure.

What’s the difference between Type I and Type II?

Type I assesses the design of your controls at a point in time. Type II evaluates how effectively those controls operated over a monitoring period (usually 3 to 12 months).

Is SOC 2 legally required?

No — but many customers demand it as part of supplier onboarding, especially in technology and finance sectors.

What controls are needed for SOC 2?

Controls vary based on your scope and systems, but commonly include access management, change control, data backup, logging, vendor risk management, and security incident response.

How long does SOC 2 take?

Type I typically takes 2–3 months with support. Type II takes longer to monitor control effectiveness — usually 6–12 months in total.

How does SOC 2 compare to ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is a certifiable information security standard, while SOC 2 is a report based on audit of defined controls. ISO 27001 covers broader organisational governance, while SOC 2 focuses on controls tied to customer trust.

Do we need specialist software for SOC 2?

Not necessarily. ISOvA provides everything needed for policy management, evidence tracking, control scheduling, and audit documentation.

Will AvISO help during the audit?

Yes — we assist with audit walkthroughs, control demonstrations, evidence packaging, and auditor responses.

Can SOC 2 be combined with ISO 27001 or Cyber Essentials?

Absolutely. We help design integrated systems that satisfy multiple frameworks with minimal duplication.

What if our systems change after certification?

We support ongoing SOC 2 maintenance, updates, and recertification preparation to ensure your report remains valid and valuable.

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