SOC 2 Evidence
Build a SOC 2 Evidence Vault
A simple structure for storing audit evidence—so reviewers can find, verify, and accept it fast.
Access & identity
- •Access reviews with approvals and timestamps
- •MFA scope and enforcement proof
- •Joiner/mover/leaver records and tickets
Change management
- •Change tickets with approvals, testing, and rollback plan
- •Emergency change log with after-action notes
- •Release pipeline evidence (build logs)
Logging & monitoring
- •Alert policies and runbooks
- •Sample alert with response evidence
- •Log retention settings and integrity controls
Incident response
- •IR playbook and roles
- •Tabletop results and follow-up tasks
- •Post-incident report (de-identified)
Vendor risk
- •Vendor inventory with tiers
- •Evidence for critical vendors (questionnaire, SOC 2/ISO, pen test summary)
- •Contract clauses: breach notice, subprocessor approval
Business continuity
- •Backup/restore test results
- •RPO/RTO targets vs. actuals
- •Dependency map for critical services
How to structure your vault
- •Use consistent folders by control area (access, change, incident, vendor, BCP) with clear owners.
- •Store one “golden” artifact per control with timestamps—reduce duplicates.
- •Label files with date + system + control (e.g.,
2026-01_access-review_appX.pdf). - •Track expirations: reviews, tests, tabletop dates—set reminders before they lapse.
- •Limit editor access; keep view-only for most users to preserve evidence integrity.
Keep it fresh
- •Schedule quarterly evidence reviews per control owner.
- •Update artifacts after every incident, major release, or vendor change.
- •Archive superseded evidence; avoid mixing old and new in the same folder.
What auditors look for
- •Recency and completeness (who, what, when, approval, system of record).
- •Consistency across systems—evidence matches the policy/control description.
- •Integrity: minimal redaction, clear source, tamper-safe storage.
A clean evidence vault speeds audits and reduces back-and-forth. Map owners, keep recency, and store one trusted artifact per control.
Get your readiness score