The MSP guide to building a SOC 2 Type II practice

 

TL;DR

 

SOC 2 Type II is one of the most requested compliance certifications in the US market and increasingly demanded globally. MSPs that can deliver SOC 2 programs have access to a high-value, recurring revenue opportunity.

What is SOC 2 Type II?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a compliance framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It is designed for technology and cloud service providers handling customer data to demonstrate that they have adequate controls around security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

SOC 2 Type II is a report covering a period of time (typically 6–12 months), demonstrating that controls were not just in place but operating effectively over that period. This is more rigorous — and more valued — than a Type I report, which is a point-in-time assessment.

Why SOC 2 Type II is a high-value MSP service

SOC 2 Type II is in high demand from:

• SaaS and technology companies that need it to win enterprise contracts
• Financial services clients that require it from their software vendors
• Healthcare technology firms subject to HIPAA and related requirements
• Any B2B company with enterprise clients that require vendor security assurance

For managed service providers (MSPs), SOC 2 engagements offer a compelling commercial model: significant upfront project work followed by ongoing readiness monitoring and annual renewals.

How to structure a SOC 2 Type II engagement

A typical SOC 2 engagement follows these phases:

1. Readiness assessment — evaluate current controls against the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria that apply to the client's organization
2. Gap remediation — implement missing or insufficient controls
3. Evidence collection — gather and organize evidence of controls operating over the observation period
4. Audit preparation — work with the client's external auditor to prepare for the Type II assessment
5. Ongoing monitoring — maintain controls and evidence collection between audit cycles

How 6clicks supports SOC 2 delivery for MSPs

6clicks includes ready-to-use SOC 2 content in its pre-built framework library. MSPs can run readiness assessments, manage a SOC 2-aligned risk register, automate control tests, collect and organize evidence, and generate reports — all within the platform.

The Hub & Spoke model allows partners to manage SOC 2 engagements for multiple clients simultaneously, with each client's evidence and controls held in a separate environment.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

Ready to build a SOC 2 practice? Become a 6clicks partner and start delivering high-value compliance services.