--- title: "SOC 2 vs SOC 3: Differences" canonical: "https://auditbadger.com/blog/soc-2-vs-soc-3/" last-updated: "2026-07-01" --- # SOC 2 vs SOC 3: Differences By Bartek Hamerliński • Published 2025-07-08 • 6 min read • Categories: Certification, Compliance Governance, Soc2 Created with AI assistance. AuditBadger retains editorial control and responsibility. **TL;DR:** SOC 2® and SOC 3® come from the same audit but serve different audiences. A SOC 2® report is restricted-use: a detailed, confidential examination of your controls that you share with customers and auditors under NDA. A SOC 3® report is general-use: a short, public summary of the same examination — it includes the auditor's opinion but omits the system description, the controls tested, and the results, so you can safely publish it. A SOC 3® is always based on a Type II examination. Most companies keep both: SOC 2® for buyers who need the detail, SOC 3® as a public trust signal. **Key Concept:** SOC 2® vs SOC 3® — which report to share, and with whom **Reading Time:** 8 minutes **Difficulty:** Beginner **Relevant for:** SaaS founders, security & compliance leads, and anyone fielding "can you send us your SOC report?" If you're running a SaaS company or handling customer data, you've almost certainly met both SOC 2® and SOC 3®. They come out of the same audit and the same trust principles — but they exist for completely different audiences. One is a confidential deep dive you share under NDA; the other is a public trust signal you can put straight on your website. This guide covers the real difference, what each report actually contains, and how to decide whether you need one or both. ## The Short Answer A **SOC 2® report is a _restricted-use_ report** — a detailed, confidential examination of your controls, meant for your customers, auditors, and procurement teams. A **SOC 3® report is a _general-use_ report** — a short, public summary of the very same examination that you're free to publish. Both are attestation reports issued by an independent CPA firm under the AICPA's SSAE 18 standard. Neither is a "certification" you pass or fail — they're the auditor's opinion on how your controls held up. ## What Is a SOC 2® Report? A SOC 2® (System and Organization Controls 2) report describes how your company protects customer data against the Trust Services Criteria defined by the [American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/landing/system-and-organization-controls-soc-suite-of-services). Security is required in every report; the other four are optional, depending on what you do and what customers ask for: - [**Security**](/blog/soc-2-common-criteria-security/) — protection against unauthorized access (required for every report) - [**Availability**](/blog/availability-processing-integrity-in-soc-2/) — your systems stay reliable and accessible - [**Processing Integrity**](/blog/availability-processing-integrity-in-soc-2/) — data is processed completely and accurately - [**Confidentiality**](/blog/confidentiality-in-soc-2-protecting-sensitive-data/) — sensitive business information stays protected - [**Privacy**](/blog/soc-2-trust-service-criteria-privacy/) — personal information is handled appropriately A SOC 2® report is written for a specific, informed audience: enterprise clients, partners, and auditors who need to evaluate your security posture in depth. It includes a description of your system, the controls you've implemented, the tests the auditor performed, and the results of those tests. Because it exposes that level of operational detail, the AICPA classifies it as a **restricted-use** report — meant to be shared only with named parties, typically under an NDA. SOC 2® comes in two flavors: - **Type I** — evaluates whether your controls are _designed_ appropriately at a single point in time. - **Type II** — evaluates whether those controls actually _operated effectively_ over a period of time, usually 3–12 months. Type II carries far more weight with enterprise buyers, because it proves your controls work over time rather than just on paper. For the full breakdown, see our guide to [SOC 2 Type I vs Type II](/blog/soc-2-type-i-vs-type-ii-what-s-the-difference-2026-guide/). ## What Is a SOC 3® Report? SOC 3® is the public-facing sibling of SOC 2®. It's built from the exact same examination and the same Trust Services Criteria, but it strips out the sensitive detail. Per the [AICPA](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/topic/audit-assurance/audit-and-assurance-greater-than-soc-3), a SOC 3® report: - Is a **general-use** report — you can distribute it freely, including publishing it on your website. - **Includes the auditor's overall opinion** on whether your controls met the criteria — so it's genuine assurance, not marketing copy. - **Omits the system description, the specific controls tested, and the detailed test results** — the parts that would be risky to expose publicly. - Is **always a Type II** examination. There's no such thing as a SOC 3 Type I. That last point trips people up: a SOC 3® is only produced once you've completed a SOC 2® _Type II_. It isn't a shortcut or a lighter audit — it's a summarized, safe-to-share version of a Type II you've already earned. That makes it a real trust signal for non-technical stakeholders — prospects, investors, or anyone landing on your security page. For how teams put it to work, see [using a SOC 3 report for marketing](/blog/using-soc-3-for-marketing/). ## SOC 2® vs SOC 3®: Side by Side Both reports come out of the same attestation examination under SSAE 18. The differences are about who's allowed to read them and how much detail they reveal. |   | SOC 2® | SOC 3® | | --- | --- | --- | | **AICPA classification** | Restricted-use | General-use (publishable) | | **Audience** | Clients, auditors, procurement — under NDA | The public — customers, prospects, investors | | **Contents** | System description, controls tested, and detailed results | Auditor's opinion + high-level summary (no test detail) | | **Report type** | Type I or Type II | Always Type II | | **Format** | Detailed, technical report | Short, accessible overview | | **Primary use** | Due diligence & procurement | Marketing & public trust | ## Can You Publish a SOC 2® Report? [![Warning that SOC 2 reports are confidential, restricted-use documents and must not be published publicly](https://humadroid-static-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Warning-SOC-2-Is-Confidential-%E2%80%93-Do-Not-Publish-300x300.jpg)](https://humadroid-static-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Warning-SOC-2-Is-Confidential-%E2%80%93-Do-Not-Publish.jpg) **In a word: no.** A SOC 2® report is a restricted-use document by design. It can contain system architecture, control specifics, and any exceptions the auditor noted — information that could hand an attacker a map of your environment, or undermine trust if it's read out of context. What you _can_ do is tell the world you've completed a SOC 2® Type II examination, and hand over the full report to specific parties under an NDA when they ask. When you want to demonstrate your security posture _publicly_, that's precisely what a SOC 3® is for. ## How a SOC 3® Gets Made (and What It Costs) You can't request a SOC 3® on its own. It's generated from a completed SOC 2® Type II examination by the same CPA firm — so the heavy lifting is the SOC 2® itself. Once that's done, most auditors will produce the SOC 3® summary alongside it, often at little or no extra cost. The report must be issued and worded by your auditor; you don't get to edit it, which is exactly why it carries weight. ## Do You Need Both? It depends on who you sell to. If you're targeting enterprise or mid-market buyers, **SOC 2® Type II is usually non-negotiable** — procurement and security teams will want the detailed report before they sign. If you also want a public trust signal for smaller customers, investors, or your website, a **SOC 3®** is a cheap add-on that rides on the same examination. The pattern most companies settle on: > **SOC 2® for the buyers who ask for the details. SOC 3® for everyone else.** ## Getting Started Whichever you need, the work underneath is the same: define your scope, implement and document your controls, collect evidence, and complete the examination with an independent CPA firm. SOC 2® is the foundation; SOC 3® is the summary you layer on top once your Type II is done. New to all of this? Start with our [complete SOC 2 guide for founders](/blog/what-is-soc-2-compliance-the-complete-guide-for-founders-2026/) — or, if you're running a lean team, [how to get SOC 2 without a security team](/blog/how-startups-can-get-soc-2-compliance-without-a-security-team/). ## Related Reading - [SOC 1 vs SOC 2 vs SOC 3: Key Differences](/blog/soc-1-vs-soc-2-vs-soc-3/) - [SOC 2 Type I vs Type II: What's the Difference?](/blog/soc-2-type-i-vs-type-ii-what-s-the-difference-2026-guide/) - [Using a SOC 3 Report for Marketing](/blog/using-soc-3-for-marketing/) - [What Is SOC 2 Compliance? The Complete Guide for Founders](/blog/what-is-soc-2-compliance-the-complete-guide-for-founders-2026/) _ **July 2026 update:** Rewritten and expanded with the AICPA's restricted-use vs general-use distinction, the fact that a SOC 3® is always a Type II examination (and includes the auditor's opinion but omits the test detail), a corrected side-by-side comparison table, refreshed internal links, and a new FAQ section._ ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to prepare for a SOC 2 audit? Type I audits typically take 1–3 months total (preparation plus audit). Type II takes 6–15 months because it includes a mandatory 3–12 month observation period. Industry data shows 56% of organizations spend 3–6 months in the preparation phase alone, though companies using compliance automation platforms report cutting preparation time by roughly 40%. Starting from scratch with no documented policies will take longer than building on existing security practices. ### What's the difference between SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports? SOC 2 is a restricted-use report with detailed controls, tests, and system descriptions shared confidentially under NDA with customers and auditors. SOC 3 is a general-use public summary of the same Type II examination that you can publish on your website. AuditBadger helps teams prepare for both by organizing controls, evidence, and policies in one AI-assisted workspace. ### Can I get a SOC 3 report without doing SOC 2 Type II first? No — a SOC 3 report is only produced after you've completed a SOC 2 Type II examination. It's not a lighter audit; it's a public-facing summary of your Type II results that omits sensitive control details. AuditBadger helps small teams prepare for SOC 2 Type II efficiently with AI-assisted control mapping and evidence collection for $250/month. ### Do enterprise customers accept SOC 3 reports during vendor security reviews? Most enterprise procurement teams require the full SOC 2 Type II report under NDA because they need to review specific controls and test results. SOC 3 works well for public trust signals, lighter due diligence, and marketing, but isn't detailed enough for rigorous vendor assessments. AuditBadger helps you manage both reports and track which customers received each version. ### How much does it cost to get both SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports? SOC 3 is typically added to your SOC 2 Type II engagement for $1,500–$3,500 extra since it's based on the same audit work. The SOC 2 Type II audit itself usually costs $15,000–$50,000 depending on scope and auditor. AuditBadger helps reduce prep time and consultant costs by organizing your controls, evidence, and audit history in one platform for a flat $250/month with unlimited users. ### What's the difference between SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports? A SOC 2 report is a confidential, restricted-use document with detailed control descriptions and test results that you share under NDA with customers and auditors. A SOC 3 report is a public-facing summary of the same Type II examination that omits sensitive details and can be freely published on your website as a trust signal. ### Do I need both SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports for my SaaS company? Most SaaS companies need SOC 2 Type II to satisfy enterprise customer requirements and security questionnaires. A SOC 3 is optional but valuable for marketing — it's produced from the same examination and gives you a public trust badge for your website without exposing confidential control details that would be in the full SOC 2 report. ### Can AuditBadger help manage SOC 2 controls and evidence collection? Yes, AuditBadger provides AI-assisted GRC software that helps small teams organize SOC 2 controls, collect evidence, manage policies, and track audit readiness for $250/month with unlimited users. The platform structures your compliance work so you can prepare efficiently without hiring expensive consultants for day-to-day control management. ### Is SOC 2 a certification or a pass/fail audit? SOC 2 is not a certification — it's an attestation report where an independent CPA firm provides their opinion on how your controls operated against AICPA Trust Services Criteria. There's no pass/fail; instead, the auditor describes your system, tests your controls over time (Type II), and reports their findings in a confidential document you share with stakeholders. ### Is SOC 3 the same as SOC 2? No. They're based on the same examination and the same Trust Services Criteria, but they're different reports for different audiences. A SOC 2® report is a restricted-use report — detailed and confidential, shared with customers and auditors under NDA. A SOC 3® report is a general-use report — a short, public summary of the same audit that you can publish freely. A SOC 3® includes the auditor's overall opinion but omits the system description, the controls tested, and the detailed results. ### Can I publish my SOC 2 report on my website? No. A SOC 2® report is a restricted-use document under AICPA rules, and it can contain sensitive detail about your systems, controls, and any exceptions the auditor noted. Share it only with named parties under an NDA. If you want a publicly shareable proof of your audit, use a SOC 3® report — that's exactly what it's designed for. ### Is a SOC 3 report always Type II? Yes. A SOC 3® report is always based on a Type II examination — there is no SOC 3 Type I. It's a general-use summary of a completed SOC 2® Type II, so you can only produce one after you've earned a Type II report. ### Does a SOC 3 report include the audit results? A SOC 3® report includes the auditor's overall opinion on whether your controls met the Trust Services Criteria, so it's real assurance — not just marketing. What it leaves out is the detail: the system description, the specific controls the auditor tested, and the individual test results. Those stay in the restricted-use SOC 2® report. ### Do I need both SOC 2 and SOC 3? If you sell to enterprise or mid-market buyers, SOC 2® Type II is usually the report procurement asks for. A SOC 3® is an inexpensive add-on — because it's generated from the same Type II examination, your auditor can typically issue it alongside the SOC 2® with little extra work. Many companies keep both: the SOC 2® for buyers who need the detail, and the SOC 3® for public trust.