SOC 2 Service: Comparing Type I & II - The "Key" to Million-Dollar Contracts

marcom-vn
Dec 23, 2025
3 min read

In an era of increasingly complex cybersecurity risks, having a strong technological system is no longer enough; businesses require objective evidence of their security capabilities.

In Vietnam, according to reports from the Authority of Information Security (AIS), the number of cyberattacks on critical systems has increased by more than 60% over the past year.

The shortage of high-quality security personnel leaves enterprises vulnerable to data breaches, causing average damages of billions of VND per incident.

1. What is SOC 2 and Its Importance?

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a service organization control report established by the AICPA, focusing on data management based on criteria for security, availability, and privacy.

It is vital because it serves as the "common language" of trust between service providers and global enterprise clients. Without SOC 2, a business is nearly excluded from international technology supply chains.

2. Who Needs SOC 2 Compliance?

Not just SMEs, SOC 2 is mandatory for any organization storing sensitive data on the Cloud:

SaaS/PaaS Enterprises: Providers of online ERP, CRM, and HRM solutions.
Fintech & Digital Banking: Organizations processing financial transactions that require absolute data integrity.
Online Healthcare (E-health): Platforms managing sensitive medical records.
E-commerce: Protecting payment information and customer profiles.
Outsourcing/BPO Units: Companies providing services to foreign partners in the US, Europe, and Japan.

3. Trust Services Criteria (TSCs) of SOC 2

SOC 2 evaluates systems based on 5 TSC pillars:

Security: Firewalls, intrusion detection, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Availability: Systems ready for operation according to SLAs and Disaster Recovery (DR) capabilities.
Processing Integrity: Data is processed accurately, completely, and with proper authorization.
Confidentiality: Access control and encryption of secret data.
Privacy: Compliance with the collection and processing of personal information according to law.

*SOC's trusted service principles 2. Source: Fortinet*

SOC 2 Type 2 vs Type 1: Key Differences and Making the Right Choice
This is the core section to help businesses orient their compliance strategy.

Criteria	SOC 2 Type I (Design)	SOC 2 Type II (Operational)
Assessment Scope	Evaluates the suitability of system design at a specific point in time.	Evaluates actual operational effectiveness over a period of time (3 - 12 months).
Audit Duration	Very fast, usually only 1 - 2 weeks.	Lasts at least 6 months to collect operational evidence.
Reliability	Proves the business has processes and policies "on paper."	Proves the business actually "complies" with policies continuously.
Cost	Lower, suitable for the initial preparation phase.	Higher due to the need for rigorous monitoring and evaluation by auditors.
Value to Partners	Suitable for signing short-term contracts or proving initial capability.	A mandatory requirement for Fortune 500 corporations and major international projects.
Core Benefit	Shortens the time to receive the first report.	Minimizes incident risks through sustainable operational discipline.

5. Process to Achieve SOC 2 Certification

The professional roadmap includes: Gap Analysis (Finding vulnerabilities) -> Remediation (Fixing & building policies) -> Monitoring (Operating & collecting evidence) -> Final Audit (Official audit).

6. SOC 2 Costs: Influencing Factors and Estimation

Costs are impacted by the number of TSCs, infrastructure scale, and system readiness. Utilizing Managed Services (Outsourcing) helps businesses reduce investment costs by up to 60% compared to self-operating an internal SOC team.

7. Benefits of Achieving SOC 2 Certification

Lợi ích của việc đạt chứng nhận SOC 2 — *Benefits of achieving SOC 2 certification*

Closing Large Contracts: Shortens the security appraisal time from partners.
Reducing Breach Risk by 90%: Building multi-layered defense barriers according to international standards.
Optimizing Operations: Minimizing human errors and system incidents.

8. SOC 2 vs. Other Standards (ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR)

SOC 2 is flexible and focuses on the actual effectiveness of specific service controls, whereas ISO 27001 focuses on a general management framework. SOC 2 is often considered the "gold standard" for the North American market, equivalent in value to ISO in Europe.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it necessary to do Type I before Type II? Not mandatory, but highly recommended to minimize the risk of failure during a Type II audit.
What is the average roadmap? SOC 2 is a strategic investment for any tech business wanting to affirm its position. You should start by reviewing current infrastructure to determine the most suitable path.

10. Compliance Support Solutions from IPSIP Vietnam

To meet the stringent requirements of SOC 2 Type II, businesses need a 24/7 operations team. IPSIP Vietnam accompanies you through the following services:

SOC 24/7 & NOC 24/7: Maintaining security and availability, providing full log evidence for Type II audits.
IT Support/IT Helpdesk: Standardizing operational processes and professional technical support.
Cybersecurity & Cloud: Periodic vulnerability assessment and securing cloud infrastructure, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations.

Contact IPSIP Vietnam