SOC 2 Readiness Control
Backup & Recovery
Backups for critical data with defined retention, encryption, and tested recovery procedures.
Why auditors care
Restorable and tested backups
Demonstrate clear ownership, evidence, and cadence to show this control operates consistently.
What to implement
- •Assign an owner and set a review cadence.
- •Document the policy, procedure, and escalation path.
- •Track exceptions with remediation dates.
Evidence auditors expect
- •Dated records of reviews or approvals.
- •Screenshots/exports showing configurations and coverage.
- •Tickets proving remediation or follow-up.
Common mistakes
- •Unowned control with no cadence.
- •Evidence not tied to who/when/what changed.
- •No process for exceptions or emergency changes.
FAQ
Evidence
Backup configs, retention schedules, and recent restore test results with timestamps.
Mistakes
Unverified restores, missing encryption, or unclear RPO/RTO ownership.