How to Avoid Delays in Your SOC Readiness Assessments

System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports are assurance reports to demonstrate an organization’s control posture to other entities. Most organizations will begin their path to issuing a SOC report by working with an audit firm to perform a SOC readiness assessment.

The readiness assessment identifies your organization’s existing controls and highlights any gaps that could lead to issues in your SOC report. This involves auditors meeting with process and control owners, and reviewing existing policies, procedures, and other documentation. To avoid delays when planning or undergoing a readiness assessment, your organization should consider the following key factors:

Be Honest in Your Responses During the SOC Readiness Assessment

One of the most common challenges auditors face during readiness assessments is organizations overstating their preparedness, or attempting to generate controls and evidence on the spot. The auditor conducting the assessment should be seen as your trusted partner, and being transparent about your current compliance status allows your organization to gain the most value.

This ensures the auditor provides proper guidance, including templates, to help your organization move steadily toward achieving the desired control maturity. Attempting to create controls or draft policies and procedures on the fly can lead to delays in the readiness assessment, which may ultimately push back the timeline for receiving the required SOC deliverables.

Account for Planned Changes at Your Organization

Before starting a readiness assessment, it’s important to evaluate the current state of your business and any upcoming changes. Since a readiness assessment captures a snapshot in time, it may not reflect planned updates. If your organization expects significant changes to business processes, organizational structure, or technology, you might want to consider postponing the assessment. This ensures the auditor reviews your future state, offers feedback on control implications, and aligns with the intended scope of the assessment.

Failing to account for major changes – or conducting the readiness assessment before they occur – can lead to missed control gaps and even introduce new areas of scope that weren’t previously evaluated. This can result in unexpected findings, or worse, a qualified SOC report when the audit is later conducted. To avoid these outcomes, stakeholders should communicate openly with the auditor about any planned changes, ensuring potential impacts are addressed early in the process.

Consider the Availability of Items Requested by Your Auditor

Another common issue organizations face during a readiness assessment is delaying the submission of requested materials to the auditor. Timely submission is crucial because auditors rely on these documents to understand the organization’s controls and verify that actual practices align with the documentation. Promptly providing the required materials can streamline the process, minimize delays, and reduce the need for extensive meetings by addressing potential questions upfront.

The requested items also serve as a mechanism to verify that proper evidence is being maintained to demonstrate the design, implementation, and operating effectiveness of controls. Beyond identifying control gaps, the readiness assessment is an opportunity for the auditor to identify documentation gaps. For example, instances where controls may exist but lack sufficient proof to confirm they are in place and operating. It is important to try and provide requested evidence to the auditor to avoid unnecessary documentation gaps.

Finally, remember your readiness assessment auditor is a trusted partner who can help mature your organization’s controls, policies, and procedures. This collaboration offers a chance to receive expert feedback based on their industry experience. Your auditor may also provide helpful resources, including template policies and procedures, to streamline your compliance efforts.

Why Should You Partner With Wolf for Your SOC Readiness Assessment?

At Wolf, we understand that a successful SOC readiness assessment is critical to your organization’s compliance and control maturity journey. Our experienced team works collaboratively with you to identify control gaps, assess documentation, and provide actionable recommendations tailored to your unique environment.

By partnering with our team, you can build a strong foundation for your SOC report, ensuring readiness and positioning your organization for continued success. For more information, please reach out to a member of our SOC team today.