SOC 2 Compliance for Google Cloud (GCP)
Google Cloud's 'Secure by Design' infrastructure simplifies many SOC 2 requirements. By using Cloud Identity and VPC Service Controls, you can create a high-assurance compliance boundary.
Core Google Cloud (GCP) Controls
Identity & Access Management (IAM)
Use Google Groups for permission management, enforce MFA via Cloud Identity, and use Service Accounts with limited scopes for GKE and Compute Engine.
Logging & Error Reporting (Operations Suite)
Enable Audit Logs for all administrative and data access events. Export logs to a locked Cloud Storage bucket or BigQuery for long-term retention and analysis.
Data Protection (Cloud KMS)
Enable Customer-Managed Encryption Keys (CMEK) for sensitive buckets and databases. Use Secret Manager to handle application credentials securely.
VPC Service Controls
Define a service perimeter to mitigate data exfiltration risks from services like Cloud Storage and BigQuery, satisfying the SOC 2 "Network Security" criteria.
Auditor-Vetted Best Practices
Use Google Cloud Folders and Projects to create strict environment isolation.
Implement Security Command Center to monitor for misconfigurations and threats in real-time.
Use Binary Authorization to ensure only trusted container images are deployed to GKE.
Leverage Config Controller to manage GCP resources using GitOps and Anthos Config Management.
Infrastructure-as-Code is Key
The fastest way to achieve SOC 2 on Google Cloud (GCP) is to define your entire environment in code. This provides an immutable audit trail that auditors love.
View IaC ChecklistKevin A
Principal Security & GRC Engineer
Kevin is a security engineer turned GRC specialist. He focuses on mapping cloud-native infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP) to modern compliance frameworks, ensuring that security controls are both robust and auditor-ready without slowing down development cycles.
SOC 2 and Google Cloud (GCP) FAQs
How does Google Cloud (GCP) support SOC 2 compliance?
Google Cloud (GCP) provides native security controls (IAM, logging, encryption) that map to SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria. Proper configuration and evidence collection from Google Cloud (GCP) can satisfy a significant portion of technical control requirements.
What SOC 2 controls map to Google Cloud (GCP)?
Common mappings include: access control (IAM/users and roles), change management (audit logs and deployment pipelines), logical access (MFA and least privilege), and monitoring (logging and alerting). See our implementation guide above for platform-specific control mapping.
How do we collect evidence from Google Cloud (GCP) for our audit?
Evidence from Google Cloud (GCP) typically includes: configuration exports, access review reports, audit/activity logs, and encryption settings. Compliance automation tools can pull evidence continuously; otherwise, export and store evidence per your auditor's requirements.
Does Google Cloud (GCP) integrate with compliance automation (Vanta, Drata)?
Most major cloud and SaaS platforms, including Google Cloud (GCP), offer integrations or APIs used by compliance automation tools. Check your automation provider's integration list and enable the Google Cloud (GCP) connector for continuous evidence collection.
About RiscLens
Our mission is to provide transparency and clarity to early-stage technology companies navigating the complexities of SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) compliance.
Who we serve
Built specifically for early-stage and growing technology companies—SaaS, fintech, and healthcare tech—preparing for their first SOC 2 audit or responding to enterprise customer requirements.
What we provide
Clarity before commitment. We help teams understand realistic cost ranges, timeline expectations, and common gaps before they engage auditors or expensive compliance vendors.
Our Boundaries
We do not provide legal advice, audit services, or certifications. Our assessments support internal planning—they are not a substitute for professional compliance guidance.
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a voluntary compliance standard for service organizations, developed by the AICPA, which specifies how organizations should manage customer data based on the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
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