Starting with a template
Copied controls often do not match the system or the way teams work, creating evidence problems later.
SOC 2 TYPE I & TYPE II
SOC 2 Readiness Consulting
Prepare the control environment and evidence system your organization needs before an independent CPA examination.
HOW THE WORK MOVES
Move from Trust Services Criteria to controls people can operate and prove.
- 01
Define the system
Confirm services, infrastructure, people, data, vendors, commitments, and applicable Trust Services Criteria.
- 02
Map controls
Connect criteria to existing policies, technical configurations, workflows, and accountable owners.
- 03
Validate evidence
Review whether evidence is available, complete, dated, and repeatable for the intended examination period.
- 04
Close material gaps
Sequence remediation around dependencies, owner capacity, and the target Type I or Type II timing.
- 05
Recheck readiness
Test the updated control and evidence set, then document remaining issues and the examination decision.
TIMELINE
Sequenced around the actual starting point.
A Type I target and a Type II observation period create different schedules. Scope, control maturity, evidence quality, and CPA coordination determine the plan; timing is confirmed after discovery.
DELIVERABLES
Enough detail to act and defend the plan.
- System and scope decision record
- Trust Services Criteria control matrix
- Gap and evidence register
- Remediation roadmap with owners and effort
- Evidence collection calendar
- Readiness verdict and CPA handoff brief
COMMON FAILURE MODES
Where readiness work loses time.
Leaving owners implicit
A control without a responsible operator tends to fail when evidence must be produced repeatedly.
Confusing tools with readiness
Automation can collect proof, but it does not fix an unclear scope, weak control design, or inconsistent operation.
Choosing Type II timing too early
The observation period should begin only when controls are operating consistently enough to produce defensible evidence.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
What teams usually need to know.
Does Awaken Arrow perform the SOC 2 examination?
No. A SOC 2 examination is performed by an independent licensed CPA firm. We prepare the organization and coordinate a clean handoff.
What is the difference between Type I and Type II?
Type I evaluates control design at a point in time. Type II evaluates both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period.
Do we need every Trust Services Criterion?
Security is required. Availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy depend on service commitments and scope.
Can you work with our compliance platform?
Yes. We can use an existing platform where it supports the operating model, while keeping scope and control decisions independent of the tool.
Can you help remediate findings?
Yes. Remediation can include policy, control, cloud, identity, pipeline, evidence, and ownership changes.
How soon should we involve a CPA firm?
Early coordination is useful once system scope and target timing are credible, but the readiness work should not be driven only by a report date.
A USEFUL FIRST CONVERSATION
Prepare for SOC 2 with fewer surprises.
Tell us your target, current stage, and decision date. We will outline the information needed to scope a useful first phase.