Stop doing SOC 2 the old way

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SOC 2 has never been more important—or more misunderstood. It’s the gold standard for demonstrating your commitment to security, but too many companies still treat it as a one-time audit exercise instead of an ongoing business process. The result? Wasted effort, outdated controls, and reports that create more questions than they answer.

If you’re still doing SOC 2 the old way, you’re missing key opportunities to reduce risk, build trust, and scale efficiently.

How SOC 2 used to work

Historically, SOC 2 was a manual, checklist-driven engagement. Companies would scramble to prepare documentation, implement controls at the last minute, and then hand it all off to a third-party auditor who’d spend months testing and writing a report.

This process was typically reactive rather than strategic.

Static snapshots, not continuous assurance. A Type 1 report looked at control design at a single point in time. A Type 2 report added operating effectiveness but only covered a defined review period—commonly six or 12 months. Once the report was issued, teams often went back to focusing on feature growth or customer onboarding, not ongoing compliance.

Siloed evidence and fragmented tooling. Gathering evidence meant corralling screenshots, spreadsheets, and emails from HR, engineering, and operations teams. The result was time-consuming and inconsistent, with high risk of missing information or version errors during auditor testing.

Minimal reuse across frameworks. Completing SOC 2 did little to prepare you for ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Each initiative started from scratch, even though underlying controls—access management, change control, employee onboarding—were similar across standards.

Limited auditor visibility early on. Auditors often weren't involved until late in the process, leading to surprise issues, timeline delays, or miscommunications around scope and control interpretations.

Why it mattered: This approach made it harder to keep pace with customer expectations, especially as vendor risk assessments became a standard part of procurement processes. SOC 2 wasn’t just about checking a box—it became a gating factor for revenue.

Common challenges companies still face

Despite technological advances and updated guidance from the AICPA, many of these legacy practices persist. And they continue to create avoidable risk, inefficiency, and cost.

Poorly defined scope. Many organizations struggle to accurately describe the boundaries of their systems and which Trust Services Criteria (TSC) apply. This leads to inconsistencies in the system description, mismapped controls, or missed requirements—especially around availability and confidentiality.

Late or insufficient evidence. For Type 2 engagements, controls have to be tested for effectiveness during the review period. Yet teams often provide evidence only at the end of the period—or from outside of it altogether—triggering auditor concerns about coverage, timing, or completeness.

Weak vendor oversight. Third-party risk management remains a pain point. Many companies collect basic SOC reports from critical vendors but don’t monitor changes, test compensating controls, or document oversight activities. That creates real exposure—and often reflects poorly in the SOC 2 report.

Conflicts of interest with bundled audit models. Some platforms offer audit tooling “plus auditing,” but the AICPA has raised red flags around independence risks when affiliated firms perform the audit. If tool providers also employ or contract your auditors, you may inadvertently invite self-review threats.

Dataset fatigue. Repeating the same evidence pulls for different audits wastes time—and increases the risk of missing subtle differences in requirements. It also forces staff to prioritize compliance tasks over core responsibilities.

SOC 2 should be a strength, not a stumbling block. If the process drains your resources every year, the problem isn’t SOC 2—it’s your approach.

What SOC 2 looks like in 2026

By 2026, modern SOC 2 practices will be defined by automation, integration, and independence. The smartest companies won’t treat the audit like an event—they’ll build scalable compliance programs designed to grow with their business.

Here’s what that future looks like:

Always audit‑ready. Evidence doesn’t get pulled from inboxes the day before the auditor calls—it’s collected automatically from systems that are already enforcing controls. Identity providers, source code platforms, cloud infrastructure: everything feeds into a single source of truth.

Integrated compliance across frameworks. SOC 2 isn’t an isolated initiative. Forward-looking organizations map controls across ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and others to remove duplication and streamline testing. A change in one control’s effectiveness updates impact everywhere.

Scalable vendor monitoring. Instead of annual spreadsheets, companies rely on continuous visibility. Vendor risks are managed through structured assessments, contract reviews, and real-time data feeds—integrated into the SOC 2 system description and control environment.

Separation of platform and audit firm. As peer review and ethics guidance tighten, organizations demand that their auditors remain independent from their compliance software. “Trust but verify” means selecting CPA firms that are peer-reviewed, licensed, and unaffiliated with your day-to-day tooling.

Transparent reporting and sharing. Modern Trust Centers allow you to securely share artifacts—your SOC 2 report, bridge letters, summaries—directly with prospects. That accelerates vendor reviews and builds trust without waiting for NDAs.

Why it matters: The companies that build for continuous assurance will close deals faster, pass risk assessments more smoothly, and reduce audit timelines by half or more. That’s not theory—it’s happening now among top-performing teams.

How Thoropass modernizes SOC 2

Thoropass delivers SOC 2 the way it should be: accurate, efficient, and ready when your customers ask. We streamline every stage of the process—from control design to evidence collection to auditor coordination—without compromising independence.

Smart integrations automate evidence collection. Thoropass connects to your systems through 100+ integrations, pulling real-time evidence from cloud infrastructure, identity providers, HRIS tools, and more. That means fewer screenshots and fewer manual reminders.

Controls mapped once, reused everywhere. No more starting from scratch. With structured control mapping, your access controls don’t have to be tested five times across five frameworks. You define once, test once, and share results securely and consistently.

Auditor oversight without internal conflict. Thoropass combines platform functionality with an AICPA peer-reviewed CPA firm that operates independently. We never let auditors grade their own work. That keeps your assessments defensible and your stakeholders confident.

Trust Center simplifies sharing. Once your report is ready, publish it securely in your Trust Center. Include bridge letters, policies, or FAQs—all tailored to meet customer requirements and accelerate procurement cycles.

Audit readiness at every stage. Whether you’re pursuing SOC 2 for the first time or renewing your Type 2 as your environment scales, Thoropass gives you a consistent approach. No more resets, no more “hurry up and wait,” no more audit fire drills.

Compliance shouldn’t slow you down. With Thoropass, SOC 2 becomes a streamlined, repeatable process—not a yearly scramble. You stay proactive, your audits stay clean, and your customers stay confident.

Schedule a discovery session today to see how ready SOC 2 can feel.