If you are reading this, you are looking for details on what a SOC 3 Report is. The System and Organization Controls (SOC) for Service Organizations Reporting framework has established different compliance reports for various reasons.
The framework, established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) was designed to help organizations over how they are protecting their cybersecurity and financial integrity of their business. A SOC 3 Report has a similar purpose to that of a SOC 2 Report, where controls are mapped to the Trust Services Criteria and applicable Trust Services Categories. However, its purpose is intended for public viewing versus the SOC 2 which is restricted to user entities. Since the SOC 3 Report is public, its purpose is general use and is less detailed and broader compared to a SOC 2 Report.
SOC 3: The Public Face of Your Security Audit
SOC 3 Reports aren’t required. Some organizations choose to use them as a tool to demonstrate system operations to prospective clients where confidentiality requirements prevent sharing more detailed reports. In these instances, the SOC 3 is useful to help share some of the internal controls publicly, which isn’t possible with the SOC 2.
That is basically it. The key difference is the purpose. SOC 3 reports are designed for general public use. You can post them on your website, include them in marketing materials, or hand them out at conferences without any NDAs or restrictions.
If you have a process to distribute your SOC 2, and sharing a Report and obtaining confidentiality with readers of the Report is not an issue for your company, you likely don’t need the SOC 3.
The SOC 3 is done during the SOC 2 examination and a service auditor will work with your teams to generate a Report. Unlike SOC 2 reports, which are thick, detailed documents full of control descriptions and test results, a SOC 3 is typically just a few pages. It includes the auditor’s opinion, management’s assertion about their controls, and a basic system description. No proprietary details, no specific control listings, no test procedures.
Why Would You Want Both Reports?
During the same SOC 2 examination process, your auditor can issue both reports with minimal additional work. They’re doing the same testing (The Trust Service Categories tested in a SOC 2 examination, still apply. While applying the same criteria, and reaching the same conclusions. The SOC 3 is just a different way of presenting those findings, and again, it’s because the purpose of the Report is different.
Why would you want both Reports? Well, in some instances, this dual approach solves a real business problem. Your SOC 2 report is perfect for enterprise prospects who need to dig into the technical details during their vendor security reviews. But its design is to answer the question, “what about everyone else?”
Say you’re at a trade show and a potential customer asks about your security practices. You’re not going to hand over your 50-page SOC 2 report on the spot to folks you just met. This is where the SOC 3 comes in. Providing them with a clean, precise professional SOC 3? That’s exactly what they need to see. Your sales team can reference it in initial conversations. Your marketing team can feature it prominently on the website. Your customer success team can share it with existing clients who are fielding questions from their own stakeholders.
What SOC 3 Won’t Do for You
There’s no such thing as a standalone SOC 3 audit. You can only get a SOC 3 if you’re doing a SOC 2 examination. The SOC 3 is always Type 2 (covering a period of time, not just a point in time) and always builds on the foundation of a full SOC 2 assessment.
It doesn’t replace a SOC 2 Report. A SOC 3 report won’t satisfy serious security due diligence processes. If an enterprise prospect’s security team is conducting a formal vendor risk assessment, they’ll still request a full SOC 2 report.
The Trust Services Categories still apply. As alluded above, it isn’t an easier audit. The SOC 3 is about format because the purpose is different. Just like the SOC 2, your SOC 3 can address one or more of the five trust services categories. The SOC 3 will confirm which categories are addressed and that you have controls that met the criteria, it just doesn’t add the details on what specific controls are implemented (that is what the SOC 2 shows).
Having the SOC 3 will let the general public know you have effective security measures, but readers of the Report won’t learn what those measures are or how they were tested until later on in the process when their interests are more aligned and you are further into the prospective client onboarding phase. In short, a SOC 3 is assurance without the details.
When SOC 3 Makes the Most Business Sense
Not every company needs a SOC 3, but it’s particularly valuable if you’re:
Building trust with non-technical stakeholders.
Executive buyers, procurement teams, and board members often want security assurance without technical complexity. A SOC 3 gives them exactly that.
Competing in crowded markets.
When every vendor claims to be secure, independent validation stands out. A SOC 3 lets you back up your security claims with third-party evidence.
Serving regulated industries.
Some sectors have compliance requirements that a public SOC 3 can help satisfy, even if the detailed SOC 2 is what really matters for due diligence.
Targeting mid-market customers.
Enterprise prospects will always want the full SOC 2, smaller companies often find a SOC 3 provides sufficient assurance for their needs to proceed with further operational considerations when vetting a product.
How to Obtain a SOC 3 Report
A SOC 3 Report, can be obtained by hiring a third-party independent auditor from an accredited firm to perform an audit of your controls.
While your audit may vary based on your control environment and audit scope, the SOC 3 audit process will follow the SOC 2 engagement process. Working with your auditor discuss early on if you think you have the need for a SOC 3 Report. Your auditor will be able to assist you with understanding and providing the SOC 3 Report and generally you can receive the two compliance reports, one for restricted users (SOC 2), and one for public usage (SOC 3), at the same time.
At Sage Audits, We Work With You
We know audits can be overwhelming. Our goal is to make the process smoother, more understandable, and less stressful. We stand beside you with practical guidance—not just paperwork.
Whether it’s your first SOC 2 or a renewal, we’re here to help you get through it confidently and with real value. – Jordan Novak, Managing Partner
