SOC 3 Certification Application: Insider Hacks & Tips

The Importance of Security Assessments for Tech Companies

For technology companies providing services, a security assessment is an inevitable step. This assessment provides the necessary validation to demonstrate the ability to securely manage client data and operate systems. Security is now a paramount concern for all stakeholders.

The financial repercussions of cyberattacks have reached unprecedented levels. Both governmental organizations, businesses, and individual consumers require confidence that new software downloads will not compromise their security.

Understanding the SOC 3 Certification

Security certifications, such as SOC 3, are rigorous and demanding. Recently, Waydev achieved SOC 3 certification, positioning itself among the first development analytics tools to earn this accreditation.

The process yielded valuable insights, prompting a desire to share this experience with others who may find the undertaking challenging.

Navigating the Certification Process

From the perspective of a non-technical founder, understanding and appreciating the value of the process presented initial difficulties. However, by focusing on business objectives, the team streamlined their approach.

This optimization enabled the attainment of SOC 3 compliance within two weeks, a significantly faster timeframe than the two months experienced by some organizations.

Beyond Compliance: Additional Benefits

The assessment wasn't merely a compliance exercise; it served as a catalyst for product improvement. It also fostered better alignment among internal teams, enhanced brand reputation, and facilitated the establishment of new partnerships.

Advice for a Smooth SOC 3 Journey

Here’s guidance on how teams can efficiently achieve SOC 3 compliance while maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing user disruption.

• Prioritize a clear understanding of the certification's value.
• Focus on business goals to streamline the process.
• Leverage the assessment as an opportunity for overall improvement.

Gaining Team Alignment is the First Step

As the founder, your role is akin to a ship's captain navigating towards SOC 3 certification, necessitating the unified effort of your entire team. This undertaking extends beyond the responsibilities of a dedicated security team, demanding active participation from development and other departments as well.

Potential internal resistance is understandable, given existing workloads focused on product development and customer support. Therefore, it’s crucial to clearly articulate the implications of this process for employees’ daily routines.

Highlighting the advantages of SOC 3 compliance is paramount. Achieving certification will enhance your brand's reputation and is likely to attract new clientele. Furthermore, employees will develop enhanced cybersecurity skills, fostering a deeper understanding of potential threats.

The certification process will initially require approximately 80-100 hours per month from your teams. This time will be allocated to activities such as increased code reviews, security training, and updates to the new hire onboarding process.

Recognizing that adding these hours to existing workloads is unrealistic, leadership must acknowledge – and communicate – a likely reduction in output velocity. The emphasis should be on maintaining work quality, even if the quantity temporarily decreases.

This trade-off should be presented as a reasonable investment in stronger security and the long-term benefits for both the company and its staff following certification approval.

Upon initiating our SOC 3 application, we promptly informed the entire organization. Throughout the implementation of internal changes, we maintained consistent communication with our teams.

Employing a structure similar to a development sprint, we established daily and weekly checklists to monitor progress towards our security objectives. Each cycle concentrated on a specific aspect of SOC 3 compliance, including internal controls, confidentiality, privacy, and availability.

By utilizing a familiar workflow, we were able to efficiently advance the certification process.

Understanding SOC 3 Compliance Areas

SOC 3 compliance centers around five key “Trust Services Criteria” (TSC). These are security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Your organization will need to demonstrate controls that meet these criteria.

The first step is to map out your current systems and processes against these TSCs. This will reveal gaps that need to be addressed. Don’t be discouraged if the list seems long – it’s a common experience.

For example, if you’re storing customer data in a cloud environment, you’ll need to demonstrate that you have controls in place to protect that data from unauthorized access. This might involve implementing encryption, access controls, and regular security audits.

Similarly, if you’re relying on third-party vendors to process data on your behalf, you’ll need to ensure that those vendors also have adequate security controls in place. This is often done through vendor risk management programs.

Once you’ve identified the gaps, you can begin to develop a remediation plan. This plan should outline the steps you’ll take to address each gap, along with a timeline for completion. It’s important to prioritize the most critical gaps first.

Remember, SOC 3 is not about achieving perfection. It’s about demonstrating that you have reasonable controls in place to protect your customers’ data. A well-documented and consistently applied control environment is more important than a perfect score.

Strengthening Your Security Posture

With teams preparing for upcoming projects, now is an opportune moment to comprehensively review your organization’s security protocols. Gathering extensive data to evaluate your current cybersecurity defenses is crucial. A thorough assessment of the security tools currently in use should also be undertaken.

Prioritize addressing identified vulnerabilities before initiating the SOC 3 certification process. Proactive remediation in these initial phases will streamline the certification journey and reduce its complexity.

Relying solely on external tools for security evaluations is insufficient. Developing or utilizing internal tools for in-depth assessments, exceeding the capabilities of standard auditing software, is highly recommended.

This internal perspective is vital for understanding each security concern within the framework of your company’s strategic objectives. It ensures the delivery of superior security, particularly concerning sensitive customer information.

Cultivating Cybersecurity Awareness

A foundational understanding of contemporary cybersecurity threats and potential future risks is essential for your team. Designate key personnel to proactively monitor evolving cybersecurity trends and strategies.

Numerous online resources and industry blogs are available to support their ongoing education and knowledge acquisition.

Integrating SOC 3 into Your Company Culture

Begin to embed SOC 3 practices into your organizational culture. Ensure all employees comprehend the importance of maintaining compliance throughout the implementation of technical testing, policy updates, and EWS (Evidence of Workload Security) verifications.

This cultural shift is paramount for sustained security and successful certification.

Strategic Alliances with Cybersecurity Solutions

Navigating the path to robust security doesn't necessitate a solitary effort; in reality, it can cultivate beneficial collaborations for your organization. During the evaluation of your business’ vulnerabilities and security deficiencies, initiate contact with entities capable of supporting your progress.

Waydev established collaborations with both a third-party compliance firm and the security specialist Vanta. Initially, the cost of partnering with Vanta, a company encountered during their Y Combinator participation, proved prohibitive. However, as is often the case with rapidly growing startups, increased revenue generated from larger clients allowed for investment in a superior security infrastructure.

Vanta was implemented to automate security and compliance oversight, and it facilitated the collection of much of the evidence required for SOC 3 compliance. Given the considerable time and resource demands of SOC 3, automation and process streamlining are invaluable. Investing in tools that integrate with your existing systems and generate task-focused dashboards for SOC 3 attainment is a prudent decision.

Achieving SOC 3 certification doesn't have to be overwhelming. With thorough preparation, a dedicated team, and strategic partnerships, you can unlock the significant advantages this certification provides for your startup.

Consider the long-term benefits and opportunities that a strong security posture will unlock for your business.