A pene-what now? Just when you think you’ve got SOC 2 compliance figured out, something new creeps in – penetration testing (aka “pen testing” for the tech-savvy). In the fight against cyber threats and data security, pen tests are one of the most powerful tools you can use to validate the strength of your security program.
What is SOC 2 Penetration Testing?
Protecting your company against cyber threats can often feel like an endless game of defense. Penetrating testing flips the script, putting the ball back in your court and allowing you to take back control over your security posture.
In the context of SOC 2 compliance, the goal is to demonstrate that your organization has effectively implemented the necessary controls to meet the AICPA’s Trust Service Principles. These include security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. While companies can choose which criteria apply to their operations, the Security principle is mandatory for all SOC 2 reports – and that’s where penetration testing becomes especially useful.
This naturally raises the question:
Does SOC 2 Require Penetration Testing?
One of the most common challenges with SOC 2 compliance is that due to its flexibility, it’s not always entirely clear whether or not a particular practice is required or not. For instance, is penetration testing required to achieve SOC 2 compliance?
Strictly speaking, you’re off the hook regarding pen testing and SOC 2, as it’s not explicitly required for SOC 2 compliance. There’s no formal rule from the AICPA stating that a pen test must be performed to achieve compliance. However, 90% of the time, auditors won’t accept not having a pen test completed and so, with that being said, it is mandatory.
In practice, penetration testing has become a widely accepted standard. Auditors often expect to see it as strong, tangible evidence that your security controls are doing what they’re supposed to – mitigating real risks and protecting sensitive data. Without it, demonstrating the effectiveness of your controls can be challenging and may raise concerns during the audit process.
Meeting SOC 2 Penetration Testing Requirements: Auditor Expectations
To meet auditor expectations, your penetration testing efforts should be thorough, timely, and aligned with your SOC 2 scope. Typically, auditors look for the following:
- A recent (typically annual) pen test
- Clear documentation outlining the test’s scope and methodology
- A report of identified vulnerabilities and their potential impact
- Evidence of remediation and, where applicable, retesting
Why Penetration Testing Matters for SOC 2
No matter the scope of your SOC 2 audit, it’s essential that your security controls can hold up under pressure. But how can you be confident they’ll work when it counts if they’ve never been tested?
That’s the purpose of a penetration test: a simulated cyberattack designed to mimic the tactics of real-world hackers. It evaluates your organization’s ability to detect, prevent, and respond to threats, serving as the ultimate security drill to determine whether your defenses are truly up to the task.
Ultimately, pen testing isn’t just about satisfying your SOC 2 auditor’s expectations – it’s about gaining confidence in your systems, surfacing critical weaknesses, and continuously improving your security and GRC strategy.
How Does Pen Testing Work?
On a technical level, pen testing is a widely used cybersecurity practice often referred to as ‘ethical hacking.’ It allows your organization to identify and address weaknesses before an actual attacker can exploit them.
Pen testers use the same tools, tactics, and procedures that cybercriminals would, simulating real attacks on your systems. This helps you understand which vulnerabilities could be exploited – and how. The results reveal where you’re vulnerable and the potential impact on your systems, network, or even your entire organization if (or rather, when) those weaknesses are compromised.
Although penetration testing is one of the more advanced methods for strengthening cybersecurity, a few high-level concepts are both essential and easy to grasp – especially when aligning your efforts with SOC 2 penetration testing requirements.
One of the most fundamental distinctions lies in the two main testing approaches used for SOC 2: internal and external penetration testing.
Internal Penetration Testing
Internal pen testing describes the procedure of letting the pen testing into your own network. This can be carried out in different forms (you can use a segmented subnet that is pretty sandboxed or you can provide access to your main work network which has all the company assets within it). The only thing required is access to the internal network for it to be an internal pen test.
Monitoring systems such as IDS/IPS are also evaluated during internal testing, although skilled attackers with enough time can often bypass them by moving slowly and deliberately.
Ethical Hacking: Understanding the “Hats”
When you talk about “hats” in the hacking industry, you’re referring to the ethical stance of the hacker. If I’m a white hat hacker, it means I only hack legally – under contract or through bug bounty programs. A gray hat generally operates legally but may occasionally engage in unauthorized activity. And then, you guessed it – black hat hackers are fully malicious actors.
White, Gray, and Black Box Penetration Testing Explained
In penetration testing, “boxes” refer to the level of access and information provided to the tester, which directly impacts the depth, scope, and effectiveness of the test.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| White Box | Full access is provided, including source code, system architecture, and internal documentation. Ideal for comprehensive testing. |
| Gray Box | Limited information is shared – no source code, but details like privileged user accounts, IPs, and system logic are given. |
| Black Box | No internal information is shared; only a URL or network access is provided. Least recommended due to time constraints and limited depth. |
External Network Penetration Testing
External network penetration testing targets publicly accessible systems such as web applications, APIs, and firewalls. While often quicker than internal testing, it plays a key role in identifying potential entry points for external attackers.
For most SOC 2 procedures, a gray box application test is the recommended method. In this approach, the organization provides the tester with partial system knowledge – such as user roles, IP addresses, and explanations of business logic. This cooperation allows for a more focused and realistic simulation of an attack, without granting full internal access.
Gray box testing strikes the ideal balance between depth and efficiency. It mirrors how a real-world attacker with limited information might operate, making it an effective way to uncover meaningful vulnerabilities that could otherwise go unnoticed.
GET COMPLIANT 90% FASTER
What are the Main Goals of SOC 2 Penetration Testing?
Depending on your organization’s security posture, there are many potential objectives and goals of a penetration test.
The most common goals include the following:
- To confirm a robust organizational security posture.
- To validate the strength of an organization’s security controls.
- To identify any vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access to gain access to or compromise sensitive company or client data.
- To identify any areas where intruders can gain control of company operations.
- To determine an organization’s ability to detect and respond to security breaches and external threats.
Performing regular pen tests and meeting the above objectives enables companies to monitor and adjust their security controls to mitigate risks and maintain continuous SOC 2 compliance.
Key Benefits of Penetration Testing in SOC 2 Compliance
Beyond meeting auditor expectations, penetration testing plays a strategic role in strengthening your security posture and ensuring a smooth compliance journey. It’s not just about achieving or maintaining compliance – it’s about building a truly resilient security program.
A well-executed pen test helps your organization:
- Identify vulnerabilities in systems, networks, or applications before they’re exploited
- Validate that security controls work as intended under real-world attack conditions
- Prioritize remediation based on actual risk, not assumptions
- Reduce audit surprises by proactively addressing gaps ahead of time
- Tailor testing to your SOC 2 scope, especially for systems processing customer data
- Improve overall security maturity, beyond just passing the audit
By surfacing real risks and helping you close gaps early, penetration testing helps you remain audit-ready at all times while building lasting trust in your organization’s ability to protect data.
GET SOC 2 COMPLIANT 90% FASTER
Streamline SOC 2 Penetration Testing with Scytale
Although pen tests are essential for strengthening your security and compliance posture, they can be quite the task. With Scytale, you can automate your compliance processes and streamline penetration testing so you can stay 100% protected and audit-ready 24/7, while benefiting from a simpler, more efficient approach.
FAQs
Is penetration testing required for SOC 2 compliance?
Penetration testing isn’t explicitly required by SOC 2, but it’s strongly expected by auditors. It provides clear evidence that your security controls work effectively to mitigate risks, making it a critical part of preparing for and passing your SOC 2 audit, as well as strengthening your cybersecurity defenses.
How often should penetration testing be conducted for SOC 2 compliance?
SOC 2 auditors typically expect penetration testing to be conducted annually or after any major changes to systems or infrastructure. Regular testing ensures your controls stay effective, vulnerabilities are addressed promptly, and your organization remains continuously audit-ready.
Are there specific tools recommended for SOC 2 penetration testing?
There are a variety of penetration testing tools that can help organizations streamline pen testing for SOC 2 compliance. For example, compliance automation platforms like Scytale offer tailored pen testing aligned with your audit scope. Ultimately, the most important factor is that the tools and approach accurately simulate real-world threats and match your SOC 2 compliance requirements.
