Last week Akron IT company, PCR Business Systems received their SOC 2, Type 2 certification. You can read a more detailed description of what a SOC 2 Audit is here.
What is a SOC 2 Audit?
The SOC 2 Audit was created by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to assess the risks of outsourcing managed services to a third-party vendor (such as a managed IT services provider). As we wrote in the Wild West of IT Services, outsourcing your IT can be a risky proposition. Managed IT is an unregulated industry, and it can be difficult to know if the company you hire is following proper security guidelines in order to protect the sensitive data you are entrusting them with.
The SOC 2 Audit aims to provide assurance that the service providers you are working with meet the highest standards of excellence for operational processes, security controls, and critical data protection. Therefore, the SOC 2 report is extremely important for industries that have compliance laws they must follow. Working with a SOC 2 certified Akron IT services company will greatly reduce the chances of a breach happening, while also limiting your liability in the rare event one does.
…it can be difficult to know if the company you hire is following proper security guidelines to protect the sensitive data you are entrusting them with.
The Difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 Report
A SOC 2, Type 1 report looks at a service industry’s controls and procedures at a specific time. The service provider will provide a detailed description of their security and processes, and the auditor will check to see if the information described is accurate.
A SOC 2, Type 2 report goes one step further and monitors these controls over a minimum of six months to report on their accuracy and effectiveness. In other words, the audit assesses risks over a length of time (PCR Business Systems was audited for over one-year) and confirms whether the managed services provider is delivering what they promise.
To sum up, a Type 1 report defines the controls and procedures a MSP has in place, while a type 2 report documents the real-world operation of those controls for a minimum of six months.
The SOC 2, Type 2 Certification gives you peace of mind that PCR Business Systems has the absolute highest level of security controls in place to protect your data.
Why is it so important for your business that PCR is SOC 2, Type 2 Certified?
Data security is more important now than ever. Each day we hear about major corporations being breached. According to Risk Based Security (RSB), data breaches compromised over 37 billion records in 2020—the highest number since 2005!
You have enough to worry about when it comes to protecting your customers’ data and privacy and you cannot afford to take risks when outsourcing IT services. The SOC 2, Type 2 Certification gives you peace of mind that PCR Business Systems has the absolute highest level of security controls in place to protect your data.
In addition, many of our clients have compliance laws they must follow. As most managed IT providers play a role in storing or processing your critical data, it’s imperative that the vendors you work with are SOC 2, Type 2 certified to reduce your company’s risks and liabilities. PCR Business Systems has been audited for over a year to show our clients that we cut no corners when it comes to keeping your critical data safe!
Learn More
Don’t let your outsourced IT provider be the weak link in your data security. Only work with a proven SOC 2, Type 2 Certified MSP.
Schedule a free call with PCR, President Pat Carroll today to learn more. Even if you are not currently looking for an outsourced IT company, Pat will be happy to answer any questions you have about the SOC 2 audit process, best practices to protect your data, or any other questions you might have about how you can maximize your technology resources.
Email or call Pat directly today! 330-572-7526, ext. 1001
