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SOC 2 Examinations & Compliance

Amtivo delivers SOC 2 examinations that stand up to customer scrutiny. We have a CPA-led team, prioritise clear communication at every step, and present findings presented in plain language, so you always know where you stand.

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Working With Amtivo

If you store, process, or transmit information on behalf of clients, a SOC 2 report should be on your organization’s radar. It’s probably already on your clients. 

Amtivo provides international attestation services in cybersecurity and compliance, supporting clients with trusted and practical assurance solutions.

For SOC 2 examination services, our methodology combines the use of your compliance automation tool with a clear, collaborative assessment process grounded in three foundational pillars:

  • Quality
  • Innovation
  • Training in and rigour of traditional audit methodology

This approach is designed to reduce unnecessary complexity and audit friction. Our goal is to present findings in a clear and meaningful way, making it easier for clients to understand what is required to meet the expectations of SOC 2 examinations.

Speak to our CPA-led team to get ahead.

What is BRCGS Food Safety

What Is SOC 2?

System and Organisation Controls 2 (SOC 2) is an independent, third-party examination that measures how well your organisation meets defined criteria for data security and operational processes.

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the compliance framework evaluates how service organisations manage customer data in real-world environments. As such, it’s widely requested during procurement and due diligence procedures. The resulting report demonstrates to clients, prospects, and other stakeholders that you have robust controls in place to protect sensitive information and operate to recognised standards.

A SOC 2 report is the product of the examination, conducted in accordance with the AICPA’s attestation standards. Your controls are evaluated against the Trust Services Criteria, and only a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm can perform the examination and issue the report.

That formal footing is what gives a SOC 2 report its weight and builds trust with clients and their compliance teams, as well as the focus on operational effectiveness rather than theoretical compliance.

amtivo offers soc 2

Reasons Organisations Pursue SOC 2

For most organisations, the interest in SOC 2 starts with requests from clients. The scenario resonates with many: a security questionnaire lands, a procurement team asks for a report, and a deal gets stuck in due diligence if you’re not prepared with the right information.

Choosing to get a SOC 2 report helps you get ahead of those moments with the following benefits:

Build trust with clients and partners

An independent CPA attestation, not a self-declaration, in a format enterprise security teams already know.

48% of breaches now involve a third party (Verizon 2026 DBIR)
Strengthen risk management

Find weaknesses in your systems and operations before attackers or outages do, and show clients you’re actively managing risk.

$11.5M average cost of a US data breach (IBM 2026)
Meet contractual requirements

Many clients require a SOC 2 report in procurement or due diligence. Without one, you face lengthy security questionnaires on every deal, or can’t compete at all.

Stand out from competitors

When prospects are comparing vendors, a SOC 2 report can be the deciding factor and an advantage over competitors without one.

SOC 2 is more than a compliance exercise; it is a commercial asset.

To get ahead of your next customer request, book a call with our team.

 

SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2

There are two types of SOC 2 reports, each answering different questions:

  • A SOC 2 Type 1 evaluates whether the right controls are designed and in place within an organisation.
  • A SOC 2 Type 2 evaluates whether those controls operate effectively over a defined period.
  SOC 2 Type 1  SOC 2 Type 2 
Overview  An examination of whether your controls are suitably designed and implemented.  An examination of whether your controls are suitably designed, implemented, and operating effectively. 
Timeframe covered  The point in time of the report.  A period of time, typically 3-12 months. 
Output  An attestation report with the CPA firm’s opinion.  An attestation report with the CPA firm’s opinion. 
Typical used by  Organisations that need to demonstrate progress quickly.  Organisations whose clients require evidence of controls operating over time. 

Businesses don’t need both reports, but many choose to complete a Type 1 first to demonstrate progress while their initial Type 2 observation period runs. Because a Type 1 examines controls at a point in time, it’s the fastest route to a report. Once your controls are designed and implemented, the examination itself, planning, walkthroughs, testing of design, and reporting, could be completed within weeks. Type 2, on the other hand, examines controls operating over a defined observation period, usually 3-12 months.

How a Readiness Assessment can help

You can choose an optional Readiness Assessment before your examination, which will look at where your controls stand today and identify any gaps in your control environment. The review will deliver useful findings, giving organisations the opportunity to discover and remediate any gaps before a SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2examination.

Whether you are exploring a Readiness Assessment or planning your annual Type 2 examination, our team can help you on your journey. No jargon, no surprises. Book a call today.

The Five Trust Services Categories

Every SOC 2 examination is based on defined criteria within the AICPA’s Trust Services Categories (TSC), defining what gets examined (which control areas are in scope). The report type, Type 1 or Type 2, defines how they’re examined (designed and implemented at a point in time, versus operating effectively over a period of time).

SOC 2 sets out the requirements for a company’s security posture based on criteria within the five Trust Services Categories (TSC). SOC 2 examinations allow organisations to design and implement controls which best fit their environment to align with each criteria within the in-scope TSCs, which you will be assessed against in the examination by an independent auditor.

The categories are:

  • Security (required in all SOC 2 reports): Also referred to as the Common Criteria, this is the foundation of all reports. It focuses on protecting your systems and information from unauthorised access, misuse, disclosure, or damage.
  • Availability: This category is about maintaining accessible and operational systems when you and your clients need them.
  • Processing integrity: Ensures systems process data completely, accurately, and on time.
  • Confidentiality: Focused on protecting information designated as confidential, like trade secrets and proprietary data.
  • Privacy: Governs how personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of.

Out of the five Trust Services Categories, Security is required in every report; the other four are optional. Organisations select the in-scope categories based on what clients actually need or would like to see. For example, a cloud platform might choose to add Availability to the scope of their report, while a fintech company dealing with processing transactions may prioritise Processing Integrity.

Our CPA-Led Examination Team

Ryan T Collier, MBA, CPA, CISA, CITP

Co-Founder and Partner

Ryan Collier specialises in SOC examinations, with extensive experience across SOC 1 and SOC 2 reporting, technology risk, internal controls, and assurance, including more than 15 years with Big Four and national accounting firms.

He has led assurance quality at scale: building systems of quality management, establishing SOC methodologies, and overseeing technical and engagement quality reviews, while using technology to make engagements more efficient, transparent, and collaborative. Clients can expect experienced leadership, responsive service, and confidence in a high-quality independent examination.

Ryan is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Florida.

Leigh Allen, CPA, CISA

Co-Founder and Partner

Leigh Allen specialises in compliance and SOC examinations, with over 10 years in assurance and consulting and a track record of managing teams from start-up to enterprise across a wide range of industries.

She has led hundreds of engagements, working directly with C-suite executives on risk assessment, security awareness, and scoping the compliance frameworks best suited to their businesses—with a consultative, client-first approach that keeps every engagement collaborative from kick-off to final report.

Leigh is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Georgia.

SOC 2 FAQs

“Amtivo” is the brand name under which Amtivo Assurance, LLC and Amtivo Cyber (USA), LLC and its subsidiaries (“Amtivo Cyber”) provide professional services. Amtivo Assurance, LLC and Amtivo Cyber operate as separate legal entities in an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards.

Amtivo Assurance, LLC is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients. Amtivo Cyber provides non-attest cyber security and compliance professional services to its clients. Amtivo Cyber is not a licensed CPA firm. The entities falling under the Amtivo brand are independently owned and are not liable for the services provided by any other entity providing services under the Amtivo brand. Our use of the terms “our” and “we” and “us” and terms of similar import, denote the alternative practice structure conducted by Amtivo Assurance, LLC and Amtivo Cyber.