SOC 3 Reports for Public Transparency
CPA-led general-use reporting that demonstrates your security controls without the restriction of an NDA.
Public security validation without legal friction
SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports are restricted-use reports and are commonly distributed through controlled channels or confidentiality arrangements. SOC 3 is designed for general public distribution.
A SOC 3 report solves this problem. It is a public attestation report that summarizes the design and effectiveness of your security controls. It allows marketing and sales teams to put security front-and-center directly on your public website or trust portal.
Primary Benefits
- Distribute Freely: Post it directly on your website, trust center, or product pages.
- Shorten Sales Cycles: Remove the legal bottleneck of NDA reviews for early-stage prospects.
- Marketing Logo: Apply to display the official AICPA SOC logo publicly.
Why companies co-issue SOC 3
No NDA Required
Freely share your security posture with prospects, marketing leads, and the public without legal friction.
Derived from SOC 2
Leverages the identical rigor, system scope, and testing methodology of a SOC 2 examination.
Public Seal of Trust
Eligible service organizations may apply to use the AICPA SOC logo, subject to AICPA registration and usage requirements.
Optimized Sales Cycles
Allows sales teams to instantly handle first-stage security requests without waiting for NDAs to be executed.
How to get your SOC 3 report
- 01
SOC 2 Alignment
We scope your systems and perform standard SOC 2 audit procedures across the Security criteria.
- 02
Fieldwork & Testing
Our CPA firm tests your controls, collects evidence files, and validates your operating consistency.
- 03
Summary Drafting
We extract control designs and results, compiling the AICPA-standard public-use SOC 3 summary report.
- 04
Report Delivery
We deliver your public-use SOC 3 report, making you eligible to apply to display the official AICPA SOC logo.
What you receive
- Public-Use SOC 3 Attestation Report
- Eligibility to Apply for the AICPA SOC Logo
- Summarized Management Assertion Statement
- CPA-Signed Independent Auditor's Opinion
Common Obstacles
- Must Audit SOC 2 Criteria First
You cannot get a SOC 3 without completing the full testing requirements of a standard SOC 2 audit.
- Simplified Descriptions Only
If a prospect requires detailed control tests or system designs, a SOC 3 must be supplemented with a SOC 2.
Who we support
Platforms handling general customer tickets, chat records, and service requests.
Shopping cart engines, payment gateways, and shipping logistics APIs.
Co-location centers, storage systems, and virtualization services.
Related Resources
Get helpful guides and checklists to plan your SOC 3 compliance path:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between SOC 2 and SOC 3?
A SOC 2 report contains detailed descriptions of your controls, system architecture, and specific auditor test results, making it restricted-use under an NDA. A SOC 3 report covers the exact same Trust Services Criteria but summarizes the findings into a high-level public document that requires no NDA.
Do we need a separate audit to get a SOC 3?
No. A SOC 3 is derived from the same testing procedures performed during a SOC 2 audit. If you are already undergoing a SOC 2 audit, a SOC 3 report can be co-issued at the same time for a minimal additional fee.
Where can we publish our SOC 3 report?
You can publish your SOC 3 report directly on your website, email it to prospects, link to it in marketing newsletters, or distribute it on public security trust portals.
Is there a SOC 3 Type I and Type II?
While technically possible, SOC 3 reports are almost always issued as Type II reports (evaluating operational effectiveness over a period) because they are designed to communicate corporate credibility to enterprise prospects.