🧾 SOC 3 (System and Organization Controls 3) is a publicly available report that provides assurance about a service organization’s internal controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy—the same Trust Services Criteria used in SOC 2.

🔍 How SOC 3 Differs from SOC 2

SOC 3 is essentially a simplified version of SOC 2 Type II, designed for broader audiences who want assurance but don’t need the nitty-gritty.

🏢 Who Uses SOC 3?

• Cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud
• SaaS platforms that want to showcase their commitment to security
• Organizations that want to build public trust without disclosing sensitive audit details

💡 Why It Matters

• Marketing tool: Demonstrates compliance and reliability to potential customers
• Transparency: Offers assurance without exposing proprietary systems
• Trust builder: Signals that your organization meets industry standards

Think of SOC 3 as the “security seal of approval” you can proudly display.