SOC 2 is the go-to security and compliance framework for SaaS platforms, cloud-native vendors, healthtech providers, and any service company handling customer data. It’s often a prerequisite for doing business with enterprises, winning deals, or passing vendor risk assessments.
As cybersecurity expectations rise, SOC 2 shifts the conversation from trust claims to verifiable proof. It requires companies to document, enforce, and validate controls that protect systems and data — not just once, but continuously. Whether you're entering new markets or scaling customer trust, SOC 2 shows you take security seriously — and can back it up.
Transforming SOC 2 Criteria into Tangible Assurance
SOC 2 revolves around five core pillars — the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) — that define what it means to run a secure and trustworthy digital service. These aren’t just best practices; they’re the foundation of how your organization earns and maintains customer trust.
SOC 2 Comliance Requirements
Penetration testing brings these criteria to life by showing how your controls perform under realistic attack scenarios, offering tangible evidence that they are both present and effective — especially critical for SOC 2 Type II, where auditors assess how well controls function over time.
To meet expectations from auditors, enterprise buyers, and procurement teams, it’s not enough to have documented policies — you need proof your controls work as intended when it matters most
It helps demonstrate to auditors, enterprise clients, and partners that your systems can withstand threats, protect sensitive data, and continue operating securely — not just in theory, but in practice.
Is Penetration Testing Specifically Required by SOC2?
While SOC 2 doesn’t mandate penetration testing to achieve compliance, it explicitly calls for independent evaluations and technical assessments to identify vulnerabilities and verify the effectiveness of internal controls.
Penetration testing is recognized as a key method for fulfilling these expectations — especially under the following criteria:
CC3.2 – Risk Assessment
SOC 2 requires organizations to identify their critical information assets (e.g., systems, data flows, third-party services), assess their value, and analyze vulnerabilities and threats — both internal and external. This includes threats from vendors, partners, and customers.
Penetration testing helps uncover and validate those vulnerabilities across environments and integrations.
CC4.1 – Monitoring Activities
Organizations must perform ongoing and/or separate evaluations to confirm that security controls are implemented and functioning. SOC 2 specifically cites penetration testing as an example of such an evaluation, alongside audits and external certifications like ISO 27001.
CC7.1 – System Operations
Stay audit-ready with continuous control testing, evidence updates, and expert guidance through system changes, risk reviews, and Type II audit cycles.
In practice, most auditors and enterprise buyers expect to see real evidence that your security program is working under pressure. Penetration testing provides exactly that — helping you move from documented intent to demonstrated assurance.
How Penetration Testing Supports Broader SOC 2 Requirements
Beyond the core security checks, penetration testing helps validate operational resilience, data protection, and even privacy-by-design. These extended test outcomes reinforce your alignment with criteria across all five Trust Service Categories — strengthening both your technical assurance and audit readiness.
Trust Service Criteria
What Penetration Testing Validates
- Broken authentication and weak session management
- Insecure direct object references (IDOR) and access control flaws
- Privilege escalation and lateral movement risks
- Misconfigured firewalls, open ports, or vulnerable services
- Logging, monitoring, and alerting mechanisms (through exploit simulation)
- Denial-of-service vectors (e.g., rate limiting bypass)
- Resource exhaustion attacks (e.g., CPU/memory abuse)
- Network or application-layer misconfigurations that reduce uptime or resilience
- Logic manipulation and input tampering
- Insecure APIs that allow injection or data corruption
- Bypasses of validation or business rules that impact processing accuracy
- Exposure of sensitive data via insecure endpoints or APIs
- Lack of access segregation or over-privileged accounts
- Misconfigured S3 buckets, cloud storage, or internal portals
- Encryption gaps or improper key handling
- Insecure collection and storage of personal data
- Data leakage through logs, debug endpoints, or browser storage
- Inadequate protection of PII/PHI in transit and at rest
- Lack of safeguards against unauthorized access to personal data
How Often Should You Perform Penetration Testing?
SOC 2 doesn't mandate a fixed schedule for penetration testing — but it expects organizations to test proactively, regularly, and in response to risk. Auditors look for evidence that technical evaluations are conducted often enough to remain effective, especially as your systems evolve.
Auditors suggest testing should be performed:
Annually for core applications and infrastructure
After significant changes to code, systems, or environments
When onboarding new third-party components or services
Following incidents or in response to new threats and vulnerabilities
At higher frequency for internet-facing or business-critical systems
At Sekurno, we tailor your penetration testing schedule to match your SOC 2 control maturity, risk profile, and audit expectations — ensuring you maintain trust, reduce exposure, and stay ready for review.
What Sekurno Tests — Aligned with SOC 2 Requirements
Penetration Testing That Builds Trust
Methodology Built for SOC 2 Resilience
Our approach combines real-world threat simulation with ISO 27001-aligned testing practices — designed to identify vulnerabilities, validate control effectiveness, and produce audit-ready evidence.
Evidence That Proves, Not Just Reports
Our deliverables are designed to support audits, inform remediation, and build trust with clients and stakeholders — not just document issues.
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Compliance Testing Solutions Beyond SOC 2
Our penetration testing services are designed to make your systems truly secure — not just technically compliant. By focusing on real-world threats and infrastructure risks, we help you meet and exceed the expectations of critical frameworks like GDPR, EU MDR, FDA, HIPAA, and SOC 2. Whether you're preparing for regulatory submissions, client due diligence, or certification audits, we ensure your cybersecurity posture delivers lasting protection and regulatory confidence.
EU MDR/IVDR
FDA
HIPAA
