What is a SOC 3 report?

SOC 3 is a general-use report that summarizes a service organization’s controls relative to the Trust Services Criteria. It’s intended for broad public distribution and does not include detailed control descriptions, tests, or results.

How does SOC 3 differ from SOC 2?

SOC 2 is a restricted-use report with detailed controls, testing, and results for specified users. SOC 3 is a high-level, public-facing summary over the same criteria and typically depends on a completed SOC 2 examination.

Do we need a SOC 2 before we can issue a SOC 3?

In practice, yes. A SOC 3 generally relies on the auditor’s SOC 2 examination results. Firms complete a SOC 2 (Type 1 or Type 2) and then publish a SOC 3 summary for broad audiences.

Who should consider SOC 3?

Organizations that want a public attestation of their controls for marketing, procurement portals, or broad stakeholder assurance—without sharing the detailed SOC 2 report.

What can a SOC 3 include and where can we share it?

It includes the auditor’s opinion, management assertion, and a high-level description of the system and criteria. Because it is general-use, teams often share it on websites and with prospective customers.

How does Audora fit into SOC 3 work?

Auditors conduct and document the underlying SOC 2 examination in Audora’s system of record—evidence, procedures, review notes, and sign-offs—then produce a SOC 3 summary report for public distribution.

Frameworks Explained

SOC 3

SOC 3 is a general-use, public summary of a SOC 2 engagement over the Trust Services Criteria. It delivers a high-level assurance statement without detailed controls/testing, making it suitable for websites and marketing. It’s typically issued alongside or after SOC 2 Type II.

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This is a free auditor-curated guide. Audora's platform currently supports SOC 1, SOC 2 & SOC 2 + HIPAA end-to-end with SOC 3 coming soon. Want to see what's available today? Explore supported frameworks →

What is SOC 3’s target audience & industries?

Prospects, customers, and partners who need a public attestation summary; common for SaaS and cloud services.

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Does it apply to my organization?

You likely need a SOC 3 audit if you:

You sell SaaS/managed services/cloud and want an easy-to-share proof of security controls without exposing detailed test procedures (that’s SOC 2).
You already completed (or plan to complete) a SOC 2—ideally Type II. SOC 3 is typically issued from the same scope/period.
Your marketing, partnerships, or procurement teams want a trust signal that accelerates early-stage conversations.

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What are the benefits of conducting a SOC 3 Audit?

Shareable public report (no NDA)
Reinforces trust early in the sales cycle
Complements SOC 2 by reducing disclosure risk

What are the core SOC 3 requirements?

Underlying SOC 2 basis: Completed SOC 2 (typically Type II) over defined TSC and scope.
Auditor’s public opinion: High-level assertion of controls suitability/effectiveness without detailed tests/results.
Consistent scope/period: SOC 3 must align to the same systems, TSC, and audit period as SOC 2.
Public release readiness: Sanitized system overview suitable for general use; versioning and date clarity.
Annual refresh: Reissue after each SOC 2 cycle; retire outdated reports.

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What are the general guidelines for executing a SOC 3 report ?

Complete SOC 2 Type II for the same scope/period as the basis.
Request SOC 3 from your auditor, ensuring TSC scope matches the SOC 2.
Review language: Confirm the public summary contains no sensitive details.
Publish responsibly: Host latest SOC 3 on your site; version and date clearly.
Align marketing: Use accurate badges/claims; link to SOC 3 and provide a path to request SOC 2 under NDA.
Renew cadence: Update after each SOC 2 cycle; remove expired reports.

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What are estimated timelines to complete a SOC 3 audit?

Startup: 1–2 weeks once SOC 2 Type II is done
Small to Large Companies: Incremental to SOC 2 (usually Type II): 2–4 weeks to produce the public report

What are the typical costs?

Costs vary by size, scope, and readiness by organizations: (T1 / T2)

Startups: 1 - 25 employees, single product, 1 prod environment, 1 region, few to no vendors - (incremental): $2k–$8k
All other companies: Incremental: $5k–$15k once SOC 2 is complete.
SOC 3 is a general-use summary; most work happens in the SOC 2.
(Ranges include typical readiness + audit/assessment (and operating period where applicable). Costs are USD and combine internal enablement/consulting + external auditor/assessor/cert body where relevant).

Where to Learn More

CPA Journal: SOC Reports Overview — https://www.cpajournal.com
ISACA Journal: SOC Reports Myths & Basics — https://www.isaca.org/resources
PwC: SOC 1 vs SOC 2 vs SOC 3 Comparison — https://viewpoint.pwc.com (search “SOC 1 SOC 2 SOC 3 comparison”)