What Are the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria?

SOC 2 compliance hinges on the Trust Service Criteria (TSC) five principles defining how organizations manage customer data: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. For Canadian businesses, understanding and implementing controls based on these criteria is key to earning client trust and meeting regulatory expectations.

Breaking Down the Five Criteria

Security is mandatory, protecting against unauthorized access with tools like firewalls and multi-factor authentication. Availability ensures services stay online, requiring uptime monitoring and disaster recovery. Processing Integrity guarantees accurate data handling think audit logs. Confidentiality safeguards sensitive info via encryption, while Privacy aligns with laws like PIPEDA, focusing on personal data protection.

Step 1: Assess Your Current Controls

Start with a gap analysis. Map your existing controls against the criteria relevant to your business (Security is enough for most SaaS firms). This highlights weaknesses like missing incident response plans and sets your priorities.

Step 2: Implement Quick Wins

Next, focus on practical fixes. Deploy automated monitoring for Availability or strengthen Security with two-factor authentication. Document every policy and process auditors need evidence, not promises. Phasing your efforts helps: tackle Security first, then add criteria as needed.

Aligning with Canadian Standards

In Canada, TSC implementation ties into PIPEDA and industry norms. Partnering with local cybersecurity experts ensures your controls meet both SOC 2 and regional demands. By building a robust, compliant system, you’re not just checking boxes you’re creating a competitive edge.

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