We’re excited to announce that HTCD is now SOC 2 Type 2 certified! Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification means you can trust HTCD to protect your data to the highest security and reliability standards. We successfully completed our audit and achieved this milestone without any major findings.
For those unfamiliar, a SOC 2 Type 2 audit verifies that our security processes are effectively designed and consistently applied over time. While it may sound simple, maintaining these standards requires a relentless commitment to cybersecurity across our entire organization.
How does this benefit our customers?
While this audit doesn’t change our daily operations or how you use HTCD, it verifies that our processes, security, and infrastructure robustly protect your data. Our team follows rigorous protocols, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), least-privilege access, and regular access reviews, to ensure that only authorized personnel can access critical systems. We also maintain thorough vulnerability and patch management procedures, enforce strict code reviews, and utilize automated deployment processes to minimize errors and prevent external threats. Our logging and notification systems quickly detect and alert us to suspicious activities.
Be warned, the entire process takes 4-6 months and demands the patience of a monk. However, the effort is worth it. While you may not reach nirvana, the peace of mind from a SOC 2 certification is its own reward.
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a framework for managing and protecting customer data based on five “trust service criteria”: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It is designed for technology and cloud computing organizations to ensure that they are handling data securely. SOC 2 certification is administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
What is SOC 2 Type 1 vs. SOC 2 Type 2?
Type 1: This audit evaluates the design of security processes and controls at a specific point in time. It assesses whether the systems are suitably designed to meet relevant trust service criteria.
Type 2: This audit goes a step further by evaluating the operational effectiveness of those controls over a period of time, typically ranging from six months to a year. It ensures that the controls are not only well-designed but also consistently followed.
What is the SOC 2 Certification Process? (High-Level Steps)
- Preparation: Understand SOC 2 requirements and determine the scope of the audit.
- Gap Analysis: Conduct a readiness assessment to identify any gaps in existing controls.
- Implementation: Address identified gaps by implementing the required security measures and controls.
- Documentation: Ensure that all processes and controls are well-documented.
- Internal Audit: Perform a self-assessment to verify that controls are in place and functioning.
- External Audit: Engage with a certified auditor to conduct the SOC 2 audit.
- Remediation: Address any findings or recommendations from the audit.
- Certification: Receive the SOC 2 report confirming compliance.
Who Needs SOC 2?
SOC 2 compliance is essential for any organization that handles customer data, particularly those in the technology and cloud service sectors. It is often a requirement for businesses seeking to build trust with their clients and partners by demonstrating their commitment to data security. This includes SaaS providers, data centers, and managed service providers, among others.
What’s on the horizon?
Achieving our SOC 2 Type 2 certification sets a solid foundation for pursuing additional compliance certifications. As we continue to grow, we’ll consider the specific needs of our customers.
Thank you for trusting us with your cloud security. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards to protect your information. For a detailed view of our security and compliance measures, you can refer to our SOC 2 Type 2 report.
You can request a copy of the report at contact@htcd.com.
