What is the difference between a SOC 2 report from Individual CPAs and CPA firms?
In general, the primary difference between the SOC 2 report done by an individual CPA and the CPA firm is in the degree, reputation, and, in some respects, the power supporting the audit procedures.
Both will spend time assessing the same controls to ensure that an organization has the required security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. However, there are certain differences that may influence your decision in one or another way.
Signature
A SOC-2 report that has been prepared by a CPA firm will be signed by the firm, while that which has been prepared by a specific CPA will be signed by that CPA. While this may not sound tremendously significant, it does shape the perception of the report – particularly with more significant clients or stakeholders who care about the credibility of the auditing entity.
Reputation
Reputation is where the distinction becomes more significant. CPA firms, especially the well-established ones, carry a level of prestige and recognition that individual CPAs may need to gain. This reputation often translates into a higher level of trust, which can be crucial in industries where compliance and security are paramount. Due to this added reputation, CPA firms typically command higher fees than individual CPAs.
Despite the difference in reputation, it’s important to note that none of Sprinto’s customers have ever reported issues with their SOC 2 reports being rejected simply because an individual CPA signed them.
This suggests that while reputation matters, the quality of the audit and the accuracy of the report is what is more vital.
At the end of the day, your choice between a CPA firm and an individual CPA might come down to budget, client expectations, and how much value you place on the name behind the signature. Either way, rest assured that the audit will be thorough and your SOC 2 report will meet the necessary standards.
Note: With Sprinto, you can forget about all the manual effort that usually comes with security audits. It organizes everything for you—monitoring logs, documentation, system snapshots—so you’re fully prepared when it’s time to meet your auditors.
You’ll confidently walk into that evidence review, stay in control throughout the process, and complete your due diligence without frustrating back-and-forth.
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