Articles for European software companies: what SOC 2 is, Type 1 vs Type 2, cost, readiness, ISO 27001, GDPR, Cyber Essentials.
SOC 2 timeline explained week by week: readiness, Type 1 examination, the Type 2 observation period and report delivery. Realistic durations for European SaaS and IT companies.
Read more →Only a licensed CPA firm can issue a SOC 2 report. Here are the licence, peer review, independence and fee questions European companies should ask before choosing a SOC 2 auditor.
Read more →A practical SOC 2 evidence list by area: policies, access control, change management, logging, vendors, HR, incident response and business continuity. What counts as evidence and what does not.
Read more →SOC 2 for early-stage SaaS startups: the right moment to start, Type 1 vs Type 2 for a first report, realistic budget, what to automate and what to do by hand.
Read more →How SOC 2 compliance automation platforms (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Sprinto) help, where they fall short, what the 2026 AICPA guidance changed and how to choose one for a European company.
Read more →The structure of a SOC 2 report: auditor's opinion, management assertion, system description, tests of controls and exceptions. How customers read your report and what makes it weak.
Read more →The TSC are the foundation of every SOC 2 report. We explain what each of the five criteria means, which controls sit behind them and how to define your audit scope.
Read more →NIS2 brings cloud, managed service and many software providers under binding EU cybersecurity law. We explain scope, the ten Article 21 measures, 24/72-hour reporting, fines and how ISO 27001 and SOC 2 help.
Read more →A SOC 2 report has a shelf life. We explain what a bridge letter is, how to plan your next observation period and what to do monthly, quarterly and annually so the next audit has no surprises.
Read more →SOC 2 is an attestation report for the US market; ISO 27001 is an international certificate. We compare structure, cost and timelines and explain when to do both.
Read more →SOC 2 cost is made up of the CPA audit fee, readiness work, tooling and your team's time. We break down each line with realistic ranges for SMBs.
Read more →Cyber Essentials is the UK government-backed baseline security certification that British clients increasingly require. We explain the five controls, the difference with Plus and the process for non-UK companies.
Read more →Type 1 tests control design at a point in time; Type 2 tests whether controls operated over a period. We compare timelines, budgets and strategy.
Read more →SOC 2 is an independent auditor's report on how a company protects customer data. Here is who issues it, who needs it, and how preparation works.
Read more →SOC 2 does not equal GDPR compliance, but the two complement each other well. We explain the differences, the shared controls and a practical approach for companies serving the US and the EU.
Read more →Why US customers require SOC 2 from European SaaS and IT-service companies even when they hold ISO 27001, what is specific about the European context, and how to start.
Read more →A step-by-step SOC 2 readiness plan for SaaS and IT service companies: scoping, gap analysis, policies, controls, evidence and auditor selection, with a checklist.
Read more →Five fields — all the CPA firm needs to quote a fixed audit fee. We reply within one business day.