Can a company be SOC 2 certified by a body that is not an AICPA member?

SOC 2 attestation engagements must be conducted by licensed CPA firms authorized to perform attestation engagements; however, the requirement is licensure as a CPA firm, not AICPA membership specifically. While many CPA firms choose to be AICPA members, membership itself is not the determining factor. What matters is that the firm holds the appropriate CPA licensure and is qualified to perform attestation engagements under the AICPA's attestation standards.

Does SOC 2 have an official or exclusive compliance vendor?

No, SOC 2 does not have an official or exclusive compliance vendor. Instead, the AICPA provides the Trust Services Criteria framework, which independent and qualified assessors or audit firms can utilize to assess an organization’s compliance.

Where can I report a company that claims exclusive rights to AICPA attestation?

If you encounter a company falsely claiming exclusive rights to AICPA attestation or SOC 2 audits, you should report them directly to the AICPA via their official website or via their customer service channels.

Is SOC 2 a certification or an attestation?

SOC 2 is an attestation report, not a certification. A qualified CPA firm examines a service organization’s controls against the relevant Trust Services Criteria and issues a report with its opinion. There is no central SOC 2 certifying body that grants a simple pass/fail certificate.

Vishal V, Author at Sprinto

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