A SOC 2 Type 2 report is an authenticated report that validates a company’s security rules or controls over about 3-12 months. This Type 2 report validates the controls a company has followed and establishes the relevant controls over time.

In simpler words, a Type 2 report is, in the words of an auditor, a validation report that says that they went through the organization’s security controls from September 30 to March 30, and everything was well in place. If your audit holds the Type 2 report on system review, it is bound to look stronger and more trustworthy for prospects.

However, there are two established types of SOC 2 reports:

• SOC 2 Type 1 is used to describe a vendor’s systems and decide whether their design is suitable to meet the relevant trust principles laid out as of a specified date.

• SOC 2 Type 2 report includes the details of the operational effectiveness of those same systems over a specified period.

A Type 1 report is obtained faster than a Type 2 report which is more detailed and trusted by potential partners and vendors. They both generally prefer—and sometimes even demand—a SOC 2 Type 2 report.