SOC 3 is a public-facing version of the SOC 2 report, designed to demonstrate your organization’s adherence to security and privacy best practices, without revealing any sensitive details.
Issued by a CPA and based on the same Trust Services Criteria as SOC 2, SOC 3 reports are ideal for marketing, trust-building, and publicly showcasing your security posture. They’re easy to share with customers, partners, and stakeholders, making them a powerful addition to any trust-based sales strategy.
What Is a SOC 3 Report?
A SOC 3 report is a general-use summary derived from a successful SOC 2 Type II audit. Like SOC 2, it evaluates your organization’s controls based on the Trust Services Criteria:
- Security
- Availability
- Processing Integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy
Unlike SOC 2, a SOC 3 report includes no sensitive audit findings or internal documentation. It simply presents the auditor’s opinion and a summary of controls, making it suitable for broad distribution across websites, sales materials, and investor reports.
SOC 3 vs SOC 2: What’s the Difference?
While both reports are based on the same audit framework, they serve different audiences and purposes:
| Aspect | SOC 2 | SOC 3 |
| Use | Restricted to clients, partners, and auditors | Public, can be shared on websites or in marketing |
| Detail Level | In-depth findings, control design, and test results | High-level summary and auditor’s opinion |
| Purpose | Formal vendor assurance and risk assessments | General trust-building and public transparency |
| Availability | Provided upon request or under NDA | Freely distributed or posted publicly |
SOC 3 is often seen as a marketing-friendly extension of SOC 2.
When Is SOC 3 the Right Fit?
SOC 3 is ideal when you want to publicly showcase your security posture, without disclosing sensitive audit results.
Common use cases include:
- Adding a trust badge to your website
- Including SOC 3 in sales collateral or pitch decks
- Supporting vendor due diligence with a general proof of compliance
- Enhancing brand credibility in security-conscious industries
For SaaS companies, MSPs, cloud providers, and digital platforms, SOC 3 reports offer a frictionless way to demonstrate trustworthiness.
The MSP Guide to SOC 2: Preparing for a SOC 2 Journey
DownloadWhy Organizations Use SOC 3 Reports
SOC 3 reports are often used to strengthen brand reputation and speed up trust-building with prospects and partners.
Key benefits:
- Public Trust and Transparency – Shows that your controls meet industry standards
- Marketing Utility – Freely shareable, ideal for sales and PR use
- Client Reassurance – Supports initial due diligence without requiring access to SOC 2
- No Risk of Overexposure – Contains no sensitive findings or control-level details
- Complements SOC 2 – Acts as a public-facing version of a formal audit
How to Get a SOC 3 Report
To receive a SOC 3, your organization must first complete a successful SOC 2 Type II audit. Once that audit is complete, your auditing firm can issue a SOC 3 report summarizing the results.
Steps to obtain a SOC 3:
- Undergo a SOC 2 Type II audit
- Request a SOC 3 version from your auditing CPA
- Share the SOC 3 report publicly to reinforce your commitment to security
The report includes:
- A high-level description of your services
- The scope of the audit
- The auditor’s opinion on your compliance
- A summary of Trust Services Criteria and your adherence to them
FAQs About SOC 3
SOC 2 is a detailed report used by clients and auditors under NDA; SOC 3 is a high-level, public version meant for broad distribution.
Organizations that want to demonstrate their compliance posture to the public, especially SaaS platforms, cloud providers, and tech vendors.
No. SOC 3 can only be issued if you have already completed a SOC 2 Type II audit.
Many companies link to their SOC 3 report on their website or use it in trust centers, pitch decks, and sales enablement materials.
No. SOC 3 is not legally required—it is entirely voluntary but highly beneficial for transparency and trust-building.