Key Takeaways
1. SOC 2 penetration testing simulates cyberattacks to identify security risks, ensuring compliance with SOC 2 security principles.
2. Penetration tests for SOC 2 compliance should be done regularly and after key events like breaches or system upgrades to ensure ongoing security.
3. Struggling with SOC 2 penetration testing? IS Partners solves this with expert-led assessments and clear, actionable steps to enhance your security.
What Is SOC 2 Penetration Testing?
A SOC 2 penetration test is a data security assessment that simulates cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in your system. It is designed to help service organizations meet the security and confidentiality requirements outlined in the SOC 2 compliance framework.
These detection and monitoring procedures simulate both internal and external attacks to identify potential vulnerabilities that might go unnoticed. They involve ethical hackers or specialized security teams.
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What Are SOC 2 Penetration Testing Requirements?
SOC 2 penetration testing requirements are based on the five Trust Service Criteria (TSC) defined in the SOC 2 framework.
Below, we list some of the most prominent requirements to pass penetration testing based on the service criteria you are aiming for.
1. Security
Security is the primary goal of SOC 2 penetration testing. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities that could allow unauthorized access, misuse, data deletion, or disruption of services and preventing them from causing damage to an organization.
Penetration tests evaluate a company’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to security breaches. This includes testing:
- Firewalls
- Intrusion detection systems (IDS)
- Access controls
- Encryption methods
- Anti-virus software
2. Availability
SOC 2 compliance requires service organizations to implement controls to maintain system uptime and avoid disruptions that could impact users or customers. This ensures that services are accessible and reliable for users.
Availability tests focus on identifying vulnerabilities that could result in system downtime, such as:
- Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks
- Failures in disaster recovery processes
- Slower network performance
3. Processing Integrity
Processing integrity focuses on ensuring that systems process data accurately, completely, and quickly. SOC 2 pen testing for processing integrity evaluates whether systems are susceptible to data manipulation or corruption during processing.
This includes testing for potential vulnerabilities in:
- The flow of data through applications
- Databases
- Networks
By doing so, the tester can verify that data remains accurate and consistent throughout processing.
4. Confidentiality
The confidentiality requirement of SOC 2 compliance is concerned with protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access or disclosure.
During SOC 2 pen testing, ethical hackers simulate attacks to determine whether data—such as customer information, intellectual property, and business secrets—is protected.
They may check:
- Encryption
- Data collection processes
- Access controls
- The security of data storage and transmission
5. Privacy
This principle evaluates an organization’s ability to maintain the privacy of personal data in compliance with relevant regulations. It determines whether personally identifiable information (PII) is properly collected, stored, and shared in accordance with privacy policies like HIPAA.
Security professionals test your system’s defenses during SOC 2 penetration testing to ensure that personal data is protected from unauthorized access, theft, or breaches.
What Are the Benefits of SOC 2 Penetration Testing?
The main objective of SOC 2 penetration testing is to help organizations improve their defense against cyber threats and ensure their data is safe. In addition, it helps prepare your system for any potential problems as a result of poor security planning.
Specifically, SOC 2 penetration testing can help bring about the following:
- Early Identification of Vulnerabilities. SOC 2 pen tests simulate real-life cyber attacks to find weaknesses in systems, applications, and networks. This helps companies address vulnerabilities before internal or external attackers exploit them.
- Supports the risk management process. SOC 2 pen tests highlight areas where service companies are most vulnerable. With this information, they can prioritize their risk mitigation efforts based on the level of threat each vulnerability poses.
- Aligns system with SOC 2 requirements. Pen tests ensure that you organization’s security system is compliant with the SOC 2 standards.
- Prevents data breaches. Since SOC 2 pen testing helps identify and address security vulnerabilities, it reduces the likelihood of malicious actors accessing sensitive information. This protects both clients and service organizations from harm.
- Validates the effectiveness of current security controls. SOC 2 pen testing checks whether SOC 2-specific controls can withstand real-world attacks and work as intended.
SOC 2 penetration testing should be performed by certified professionals to ensure accuracy and precision. At IS Partners, our team of seasoned security experts brings industry-specific experience, enabling us to navigate your unique operations with confidence.
Schedule a consultation today to discover how we can streamline your SOC 2 compliance with ease.
Does SOC 2 Require Penetration Testing?
No, SOC 2 does not explicitly require penetration testing, but it is highly recommended as part of the security practices to meet the criteria for the Security Trust Service Category.
Penetration testing helps identify vulnerabilities that could compromise data security. Including it strengthens an organization’s overall compliance efforts.
What Are the Major Types of Penetration Testing in SOC 2?
SOC 2 penetration testing types can be categorized based on the level of information available to the testers. Each type aims to address a particular kind of threat that your system may face.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of penetrating tests:
1. White Box Testing
White box penetration testing gives the tester full access to an organization’s systems, networks, and architecture. This means they have detailed information about the company’s systems, such as source code, system configurations, and network maps, to simulate an attack from an insider or a highly informed attacker.
It’s the best way to assess the effectiveness of internal controls and find out whether the system would prevent unauthorized access from within the organization.
2. Gray Box Testing
Gray box penetration testing is a middle-ground approach where the tester has partial knowledge of the system, such as access to certain network architecture diagrams or user credentials.
It simulates an attack from an individual with limited access, such as an employee or a hacker who has gained some level of access.
Gray box testing closely mimics a real-world scenario where an attacker has gained some knowledge or access to the system.
3. Black Box Testing
In black box penetration testing, the tester has no prior knowledge of the system. It simulates an external attack by a hacker with no internal access or information.
This type of testing reveals how well an organization’s defenses can withstand an external attack. It is commonly used to evaluate an organization’s external defenses, such as firewalls, web applications, and public-facing infrastructure.
For a deeper understanding of the different types of SOC 2 pen testing, read our post on black box vs. white box testing.
When Should You Perform Pen Tests for SOC 2 Compliance?
Although SOC 2 penetrating testing is not mandatory, you should consider conducting it to get closer to SOC 2 compliance. Vulnerability scanning or pen tests are vital to ensure that all potential loopholes are secured, thereby improving customer confidence.
Here is a list of when to conduct penetration testing for SOC 2 compliance:
1. To Meet Regulatory Deadlines
SOC 2 compliance often has strict timelines for audits and assessments, which means you need to perform vulnerability scans in preparation for these deadlines. Plus, regulatory bodies also expect proof of thorough penetration testing to verify the security of your systems.
Conducting pen tests well ahead of deadlines allows you to address vulnerabilities before regulators review your security measures. This ensures you meet all necessary compliance requirements.
2. After Trigger Events
Pen tests should be performed immediately after a trigger event, such as a security breach, or the discovery of a new vulnerability in commonly used software or systems.
Post-incident penetration testing helps companies understand the impact of the breach, analyze how an attacker exploited vulnerabilities, and ensure that security patches or updates have effectively mitigated the threat.
3. After Making System Upgrades, New Deployments, or Infrastructure Changes
If your company has upgraded software, switched platforms, deployed new applications, or modified network infrastructure, you need to perform a penetration test to ensure these changes haven’t created new vulnerabilities.
Doing this should be at the top of your priority list because new deployments or system upgrades can open up security gaps, and pen testing helps validate that your security posture remains strong after these changes.
4. Periodically To Find New Vulnerabilities and Maintain Your Security Posture
Even without specific events triggering testing, you should perform penetration tests on a regular basis to maintain solid internal control over your system’s security . A good practice is to conduct white pen tests once every six months or at least annually and black box tests every few months (quarterly vulnerability scans).
Regular testing helps you identify any new vulnerabilities and ensure that systems aren’t exposed to potential threats—internal or external.
How To Perform Effective SOC 2 Penetration Testing?
Performing SOC 2 penetration testing correctly is crucial, as improper testing can lead to missed vulnerabilities, leaving your organization exposed to potential threats. Without the guidance of an expert, critical flaws might be overlooked, compromising your security posture and putting sensitive data at risk.
Engaging experienced professionals ensures that your testing is comprehensive, uncovering hidden risks and helping you fortify your defenses while maintaining SOC 2 compliance.
Follow these steps to streamline the process:
1. Define the Scope of Your SOC 2 Pen Test
The first step is to define the scope of your SOC 2 pen test. What are you going to test? Here are a few questions to ask:
- Which of your company’s systems are most critical to SOC 2 TSC? Focus on systems that handle sensitive customer data, particularly those related to the focus criteria.
- What servers and infrastructure are exposed to the internet? Identify any external-facing systems that handle customer data or are crucial for SOC 2 compliance.
- How secure is your internal network? Pen tests should cover your internal network systems, critical servers, and foundational infrastructure.
- Are mobile applications part of your product suite? If your company offers mobile apps, make sure to test them for insecure data storage, weak encryption, or vulnerable 2FA authentication mechanisms. Mobile app pen testing makes sure your apps are secure.
You also need to focus on all backend administrative dashboards, internal tools, and web applications that your company uses to facilitate the operation of the user-facing SaaS applications.
2. Choose the Right Team
Who will perform SOC 2 penetration testing for you? Do you have a team that can do this? If you do, do they have the necessary expertise to perform black, white, or gray tests based on SOC 2 criteria?
SOC 2 penetration testing requires technical skills, insights into your system architecture and infrastructure, and a deep understanding of the TSC. Most companies lack the necessary SOC 2-specific expertise to perform pen testing.
For this reason, many organizations turn to IS Partners to handle their SOC 2 penetration testing.
IS Partners simplifies penetration testing with a team of certified professionals, including CSM, HCISPP, SSCP, CISA, and CRISC experts, who have decades of experience across SOC 2 audits and penetration tests. This helps them find all system vulnerabilities and ensure that penetration testing is aligned with SOC 2 compliance requirements.
IS Partners’ CISO, Mike Mariano, highlights the uniqueness of our team’s approach toward penetration testing and its thoroughness over relying on automated tools alone,
During a penetration test of a client’s internal network, our team uncovered a critical vulnerability that standard automated tools had missed. By leveraging obtained employee credentials, we enumerated network shares and conducted a targeted search within these shares. This process revealed sensitive documents, such as text files, Word, and Excel files, containing stored credentials and instructions for accessing the client’s customers’ systems.
This finding revealed a critical gap in the client’s data storage and access policies—an area automated tools often overlook. Our manual approach identified this flaw and offered clear steps to strengthen their overall security posture.
3. Remediate All the Vulnerabilities
Identifying vulnerabilities is not enough—you need a clear remediation plan that focuses on high-risk issues. Without proper follow-through, even a well-executed penetration test could leave your company exposed to potential threats.
Here are some questions to ask in this situation:
- What steps will your teams take to patch or mitigate identified security risks?
- How will you ensure that remediation is thorough?
- Will you re-test vulnerable systems after remediation to ensure the newly discovered vulnerabilities have been fully resolved?
- Do you have long-term vulnerability monitoring procedures in place?
The last question is one of the most important because remediation isn’t a one-time task. Vulnerabilities pop up repeatedly, so you need to keep an eye on your systems all the time to ensure they have the foundation to be compliant with SOC 2.
Conduct Hassle-Free SOC 2 Penetration Testing With IS Partners
SOC 2 penetrating testing helps you protect customer data and your reputation. Without it, you become vulnerable to data breaches, financial penalties, and lost customer trust—all of which can negatively impact your business. This is where we come in.
At IS Partners, we combine manual and automated SOC 2 penetration testing to help you stay on top of vulnerabilities all the time.
What Should You Do Next?
Take the three most critical steps to make the penetration testing process easier:
Schedule regular penetration tests to proactively identify and address security vulnerabilities in line with SOC 2 requirements, ensuring your systems remain protected from both internal and external threats.
Perform pen tests after key events like system upgrades, infrastructure changes, or security breaches to maintain a strong security posture and minimize risks to your sensitive data.
Partner with IS Partners to simplify your SOC 2 penetration testing with expert-led assessments, ensuring comprehensive security coverage and stress-free compliance.
Our approach to compliance ensures your systems are tested thoroughly and prepared to meet SOC standards. Looking to gain confidence in your security practices and posture and develop a roadmap to long-term protection?
Book a free 30-minute consultation call today to learn how we can identify hidden vulnerabilities and strengthen your security framework.
