Yes, there are a number of SOC reporting standards, but the 3 main standards are SOC 1, SOC 2 and SOC 3.  

SOC 1 is applicable to service organisations that are involved in services or functions related to financial reporting (e.g., payroll service providers).  In almost every case, SOC 1 audits are initiated by a client company’s financial audits.  So, unless a client of your organisation has requested a SOC 1 report, you most likely do not need one.  Like SOC 2 reports, a SOC 1 report is intended only to be shared with particular interested parties and should not be published publicly.  

SOC 3 deals with a similar subject matter to SOC 2 (i.e., information security) however, unlike SOC 1 and 2, a SOC 3 report can be provided to anyone and even published on your organisation’s website.  It is, in essence, a ‘slimmed down’ version of a SOC 2 report, without the confidential information (the description of your organisation’s system, tests of controls and the results of those tests) that makes a SOC 2 report too sensitive to be shared publicly.

From beginning to end URM made achieving PCI compliance incredibly easy & worked with us to educate us on the requirements. They were always available for a call whenever we needed to discuss queries along the way & were always flexible to our internal deadlines. We would highly recommend URM from a consultancy & auditing perspective.
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Preparing for a Successful SOC 2 Audit

Published on
17 Oct
2025

URM’s blog offers key advice on what to expect from your SOC 2 audit in practice, the types of evidence you will need to provide, how best to prepare, and more.

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Information Security
Published on
29/8/2025
SOC 2 Explained

URM’s blog answers key questions about SOC 2, including what it is & who it applies to, why it is beneficial, how SOC 2 reports are structured & more.

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It’s one thing having the required technical knowledge, it’s another thing for a consultant to apply that knowledge to the context of our organisation. To use a sporting analogy, we view cyber and information security as a marathon not a sprint. I am not a believer in doing everything all at once. Our approach has been risk based and incremental, remediating our biggest risks first before moving on. I believe this approach is far more sustainable and effective. And URM’s consultants fully understand this and are very pragmatic and tailored in their guidance and advice. They know we are not implementing ISO 27001 purely for the certificate, but more as a framework for continual improvement, and at a pace where new systems and processes can be fully understood and absorbed by our team and be business as usual.
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