SOC 2 compliance is often treated like a gold star in cybersecurity—but it’s not a substitute for real defense. While the framework is valuable for proving you’ve implemented controls, it doesn’t guarantee your environment is hardened against today’s threats.

If you’re using your SOC 2 audit report as your only proof of security, you may be more vulnerable than you think. Keep reading to discover how a well-rounded cybersecurity strategy can further protect your business.

What Is SOC 2 Compliance & What Does It Miss?

SOC 2 is a widely adopted data security compliance framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It focuses on how service providers manage customer data based on these five Trust Services Criteria:

• Security
• Availability
• Processing Integrity
• Confidentiality
• Privacy

There are also two types of reports: Type 1 and Type 2. Here is a bit more information about both:

• SOC 2 Type 1: Snapshot of controls at a point in time
• SOC 2 Type 2: Evaluation of control effectiveness over a period (usually 3–12 months)

While the SOC 2 audit is thorough—evaluating logs, access controls, monitoring, and written policies—it’s still a paperwork-based process. Auditors validate that controls exist and are documented. They don’t simulate real-world threats, test for vulnerabilities, or verify whether those controls actually work under pressure.

SOC 2 & Pentesting

While penetration testing isn’t explicitly required by SOC 2, it’s strongly recommended and often expected during audits—especially for organizations that handle sensitive customer data or operate in high-risk industries like finance, healthcare, and SaaS.

By scheduling a penetration test annually—or more frequently for dynamic environments—you show that your organization takes a continuous, measurable approach to security. Many auditors view this as a best practice, and in some cases, request the final pentest report as supporting evidence.

SOC 2-Compliant Companies That Still Got Breached

Several high-profile companies have passed SOC 2 Type 2 audits… and still suffered devastating breaches. Here are some notable examples:

• Okta (2022): Despite being SOC 2 certified, Okta experienced a breach from the Lapsus$ group that compromised support engineer credentials.
• LastPass (2022–2023): Password manager LastPass, also SOC 2 compliant, faced a long-lasting breach involving cloud storage and backup data.
• Cloud provider incidents: Many infrastructure and SaaS providers who pass compliance audits still face critical misconfigurations or social engineering breaches.

Why? Because compliance doesn’t simulate adversaries.

Compliance Audits vs. Penetration Testing Services

Here’s how a SOC 2 audit compares to a penetration test and why you need both to build true resilience.

Compliance proves you’ve done the work on paper. Pentesting proves it works in practice.

What SOC 2 Misses & Attackers Exploit

SOC 2 is a baseline. But attackers don’t follow frameworks. Here’s what attackers actually do:

• Phish employees
• Brute-force login portals
• Exploit forgotten dev environments
• Abuse excessive permissions
• Move laterally inside flat networks

Your cybersecurity strategy must be threat-driven, not checklist-driven. That’s where ongoing risk assessments and penetration testing services come in.

How to Build a Real Cybersecurity Strategy

If you’re serious about protecting your environment, you need to think beyond SOC 2 compliance. Here’s what that looks like:

1. Regular Penetration Testing
   • Simulates real-world adversaries
   • Tests internal, external, and cloud environments
   • Identifies exploitable weaknesses—not just theoretical ones
2. Social Engineering Simulations
   • Email phishing
   • Vishing (phone scams)
   • Physical security assessments
   • Uncover human vulnerabilities not found in audits
3. Incident Response Planning
   • Test your team’s ability to detect and contain an attack
   • Include red team/purple team exercises
   • Update plans regularly as your business grows
4. Zero Trust Architecture
   • Assume breach
   • Enforce least privilege
   • Monitor everything continuously
5. Vendor Risk Management
   • Your third parties need strong data security compliance too
   • Require evidence of security testing—not just SOC reports

SOC 2 Is the Start—Not the Finish Line

Getting your SOC 2 Type 2 report is a big achievement. It builds trust with customers and satisfies business requirements.

But it’s not a complete security program.

SOC 2 compliance is like locking your doors. It’s a smart start. But real protection comes from checking the windows, installing motion sensors, and simulating a break-in to see what holds up.

How Red Sentry Helps With SOC 2 Compliance

At Red Sentry, we support companies at every stage of the SOC 2 journey. Whether you're preparing for your first audit or working toward recertification, we help you align your security posture with auditor expectations.

Here’s how:

1. Targeted penetration testing: We provide pentesting that maps directly to SOC 2 control areas. Our tests are scoped to reflect your current tech stack and risk profile, making them highly relevant for audit prep.
2. Detailed, audit-ready reporting: Our deliverables include everything you need to show auditors, such as detailed findings and remediation steps. We’ve worked with companies whose auditors specifically asked for penetration test results—and our reports passed without issue.
3. Ongoing compliance support: SOC 2 isn’t a one-and-done process. Red Sentry can work with your team to establish regular pentesting cadences and track security maturity over time.

Don’t Stop at the Report

SOC 2 helps you prove your controls exist.

Red Sentry helps you prove they work.

Our offensive security team goes beyond the checklist with real-world penetration testing services and red team simulations that show you how attackers would actually breach your defenses.

Want to know what a real attacker could do in your environment? Let’s find out together. Reach out to our team today to find out more about our pentesting services.

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