SOC 2 Audit Readiness Checklist: Preparing Your Microsoft 365 Environment with the Canadian Cyber ISMS Solution

A practical, step-by-step guide to becoming audit-ready without spreadsheets or panic.

SOC 2 audits rarely fail because organizations don’t care about security.
They fail because the basics aren’t organized.

  • Scope is unclear
  • Evidence is scattered
  • Ownership is missing
  • Remediation tasks fall through the cracks

For organizations running on Microsoft 365, this creates an obvious question: Why prepare for SOC 2 outside the platform where your controls already live?

That’s exactly why Canadian Cyber built its ISMS SharePoint Solution a control-driven ISMS platform that runs inside Microsoft 365 and supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, and more from a single system.

In this blog: You’ll get a SOC 2 audit readiness checklist and see how each step is handled cleanly using our ISMS solution inside Microsoft 365.

Quick Snapshot

SOC 2 readiness need How the ISMS Solution helps
Clear scope Templates + a dedicated SOC 2 documentation space
Control ownership Control-linked owners, roles, and accountability
Evidence over time Evidence tasks + SharePoint libraries + Power Automate reminders
Remediation tracking Action items linked to controls, tracked with Teams collaboration

Why SOC 2 Preparation Breaks Down

SOC 2 is not just about tools. It’s about scope, consistency, evidence, and accountability.
Most organizations struggle when SOC 2 work is spread across Teams, SharePoint sites, emails, and spreadsheets.

Simple truth: SOC 2 works best when it’s run as a system, not as a one-time project.
The Canadian Cyber ISMS Solution is designed to give you that system inside Microsoft 365.

Why Microsoft 365 Is the Right Place for SOC 2

SOC 2 does not require a separate compliance platform. It requires identity management, logging, secure storage, and workflow accountability. Microsoft 365 already provides these capabilities.

The ISMS Solution organizes Microsoft 365 into a SOC 2-ready structure mapped to Trust Services Criteria without introducing third-party SaaS risk.

SOC 2 Audit Readiness Checklist (Using the ISMS Solution)

Use the checklist below to self-assess readiness. If each step is implemented inside your ISMS site, you are well-positioned for a SOC 2 audit.

✅ Step 1: Define SOC 2 Scope & Trust Services Criteria

SOC 2 requires a clear system description, defined boundaries, and selected Trust Services Criteria (Security is required).

Handled in the ISMS Solution by:

  • Central SOC 2 documentation space
  • Structured scope and system description templates
  • Control mapping aligned to Trust Services Criteria

Outcome: Scope is documented, in-scope systems are clear, and audit planning is smooth.

✅ Step 2: Assign Control Ownership

SOC 2 expects clear accountability. Every control should have a named owner.

Handled in the ISMS Solution by:

  • Control-linked ownership fields
  • Role-based responsibility tracking
  • Visibility across teams and leadership

Prevents the #1 audit problem: “We thought someone else handled that.”

✅ Step 3: Configure Access Controls in Azure AD (Entra ID)

SOC 2 requires logical access controls, joiner/mover/leaver processes, and periodic access reviews.

Supported through:

  • Azure AD / Entra ID access governance alignment
  • MFA and conditional access enforcement
  • Access review evidence captured and filed in SharePoint

Outcome: Access controls are enforced, reviews are documented, and evidence is easy to produce.

✅ Step 4: Collect SOC 2 Evidence Automatically in SharePoint

Auditors want proof that controls operate consistently over time not just a description of intent.

Handled in the ISMS Solution by:

  • Control-mapped Evidence Libraries
  • Evidence Tasks with defined frequency (monthly/quarterly/annual)
  • Power Automate reminders sent to the assigned owner

Result: Evidence is collected continuously, stored correctly, and ready when the auditor asks.

✅ Step 5: Track Gaps and Remediation in Microsoft Teams

SOC 2 expects gaps to be identified, remediated, and tracked. “We’ll fix it later” does not pass audits.

Handled in the ISMS Solution by:

  • Action Items register linked to controls and risks
  • Teams-based collaboration and notifications
  • Status tracking, ownership, and deadlines

Outcome: Findings don’t disappear, remediation is visible, and progress is measurable.

✅ Step 6: Maintain Continuous SOC 2 Readiness

SOC 2 is ongoing. Auditors expect controls to operate year-round with consistent evidence and governance oversight.

Handled in the ISMS Solution by:

  • Always-on evidence workflows
  • Centralized audit history and traceability
  • Management review support (metrics, actions, decisions)

Bottom line: SOC 2 stops being a fire drill. Readiness becomes business-as-usual.

A Fictional Example: From SOC 2 Stress to SOC 2 Control

(This example is fictional but reflects real-world patterns.)

A SaaS company prepared for SOC 2 using spreadsheets and shared folders. Before audit:

  • Evidence was incomplete
  • Ownership was unclear
  • Teams worked in silos

After deploying the Canadian Cyber ISMS Solution, scope was documented clearly, evidence flowed into SharePoint,
and remediation was tracked in Teams.

Preparation became predictable.

Why Organizations Choose the Canadian Cyber ISMS Solution for SOC 2

  • It lives inside Microsoft 365
  • No third-party SaaS risk
  • SOC 2 and ISO 27001 can coexist in one system
  • Evidence collection is automated
  • Audits become structured and calm

SOC 2 becomes defensible not stressful.

How Canadian Cyber Supports SOC 2 Success

We don’t just deploy the ISMS solution. We guide it.

🔹 ISMS Solution Deployment

  • SOC 2-aligned SharePoint structure
  • Evidence automation configured
  • Secure Microsoft 365 setup

🔹 Optional vCISO Support

  • SOC 2 ownership
  • Risk and control guidance
  • Executive reporting

🔹 Audit & Surveillance Support

  • Readiness validation
  • No-surprise audits
  • Ongoing confidence between periods

SOC 2 Works Best as a System

When SOC 2 lives in emails and spreadsheets, it’s fragile. When it lives inside your ISMS site, it becomes operational.

Simple checklist: If each step above is active in your ISMS solution you’re ready.

Ready to Prepare for SOC 2 Inside Microsoft 365?

Let us show you how SOC 2 can run smoothly inside SharePoint without chaos, duplication, or guesswork.

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