# SOC 2 Certification: Understanding What You Actually Receive > SOC 2 is an attestation, not a certification. Understand the difference, what a SOC 2 report actually is, and how to correctly communicate your compliance status. - Canonical: https://auditsuisse.com/soc-2-certification - Language: en - Published: 2026-04-01 - Updated: 2026-10-18 SOC 2 Certification “SOC 2 certification” is an everyday search term. Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation report issued by a licensed CPA firm; there is no SOC 2 certificate or certifying body. The report describes the examination scope, date or period, and auditor’s opinion. ## Is SOC 2 a Certification? No. Despite being commonly referred to as "SOC 2 certification," SOC 2 is technically an **attestation**, not a certification. This distinction matters more than semantics — it reflects fundamentally different assurance models with different implications for your organization. A **certification** (like ISO 27001) is issued by an accredited certification body that evaluates your organization against a defined standard and declares that you meet its requirements. You either pass or fail, and you receive a certificate valid for a defined period. An **attestation** (like SOC 2) is an independent auditor's opinion on whether your controls meet specified criteria. Instead of a simple pass/fail, you receive a detailed report that includes the auditor's opinion, a description of your systems, the controls tested, and the results of testing. This provides a more nuanced and detailed view of your security posture than a binary certification. The reason "SOC 2 certification" persists as a term is simple: it's what most people search for and understand intuitively. Procurement teams ask for it, sales teams promise it, and marketing teams advertise it. Using the correct terminology — "SOC 2 report" or "SOC 2 attestation" — demonstrates compliance maturity. > "The certification-versus-attestation distinction isn't just semantics — it reflects fundamentally different assurance models. A certification says you met a standard at a point in time. A SOC 2 attestation provides an independent auditor's detailed opinion on how your controls actually operate. In many ways, it's a more rigorous form of assurance." > > — Sébastien Ruosch, CPA, Director of Auditsuisse Assurance Key Differences ## Certification vs Attestation ### Who Issues It **Certification:** Accredited certification bodies (e.g., BSI, Schellman for ISO 27001). **Attestation:** Licensed CPA firms only — no other entity can issue a SOC 2 report. ### What You Receive **Certification:** A certificate document stating you comply with the standard. **Attestation:** A detailed report with the auditor's opinion, system description, control descriptions, and test results. ### Outcome Model **Certification:** Binary pass/fail — you either meet the standard or you don't. **Attestation:** Nuanced — the auditor provides an opinion (unqualified, qualified, or adverse) with detailed findings. ### Renewal **Certification:** Typically valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits. **Attestation:** SOC 2 reports are typically renewed annually. There is no multi-year validity period. ### Public Disclosure **Certification:** Certificates are often publicly displayed and verifiable through registries. **Attestation:** SOC 2 reports are confidential documents shared under NDA. SOC 3 reports are the publicly shareable version. ## What You Actually Receive: The SOC 2 Report When you complete a SOC 2 audit, you receive a formal report — not a certificate. This report is a comprehensive document that typically runs 50 to 150+ pages and contains several critical sections: - Independent auditor's report — the auditor's opinion on the system description and control design, and, for a Type II report, operating effectiveness during the stated period. Read the opinion together with the scope, test results, exceptions, and any relevant user responsibilities. - **Management's Assertion** — Your organization's formal statement that the system description is accurate and the controls are appropriately designed and operating effectively. - **System Description** — A detailed overview of your systems, infrastructure, software, people, processes, and data relevant to the audit scope. - **Control Descriptions and Test Results** — Each control objective, the specific controls your organization has implemented, the tests the auditor performed, and the results of those tests. - **Complementary User Entity Controls (CUECs)** — Controls that your customers must implement on their end for the overall control environment to be effective. ## How to Communicate Your SOC 2 Status Using precise language when discussing your SOC 2 report demonstrates compliance maturity and avoids potential misrepresentation. Here are recommended approaches: - **Correct:** "We have completed a SOC 2 Type II audit" or "We maintain a current SOC 2 Type II report" - **Specify the deliverable:** "Our SOC 2 Type II report covers the period and system described in the report." - **Avoid:** "We are SOC 2 certified" (technically inaccurate, though commonly used) For your website and marketing materials, consider language like: "Independently audited under AICPA SOC 2 standards" or "SOC 2 Type II report available upon request." If you need a publicly shareable trust credential, consider obtaining a [SOC 3 report](https://auditsuisse.com/soc-3) — a summary version designed for general distribution. Related Resources ## Learn More About SOC 2 [### SOC 2 Audit Services Type I and Type II reports from a US CPA firm enrolled in AICPA peer review.](https://auditsuisse.com/soc-2) [### SOC 2 Compliance Guide Requirements, journey, and how to achieve SOC 2 compliance.](https://auditsuisse.com/soc-2-compliance) [### Type I vs Type II: Which Report First? Compare timelines, buyer expectations, and decision criteria.](https://auditsuisse.com/soc-2-type-1-vs-type-2) Common Questions ## SOC 2 Certification FAQ ### Is SOC 2 a certification? No. SOC 2 is an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm issues an independent opinion on your controls in the form of a SOC 2 report. Unlike certifications such as ISO 27001, there is no certifying body or pass/fail outcome — the auditor provides a detailed opinion on the design and operating effectiveness of your controls. ### What is the difference between SOC 2 certification and attestation? A certification (like ISO 27001) is issued by an accredited certification body that declares you meet a defined standard. An attestation (like SOC 2) is an independent auditor's opinion on whether your controls meet specified criteria. Attestation provides more detailed findings and a nuanced opinion rather than a simple pass/fail. ### Can you say you are SOC 2 certified? While "SOC 2 certified" is widely used colloquially, it is technically inaccurate. The correct language is "We have completed a SOC 2 Type II audit" or "We have a current SOC 2 Type II report." Using precise language demonstrates compliance maturity and avoids potential misrepresentation. ### Who can issue a SOC 2 report? Only licensed CPA firms can issue SOC 2 reports. The audit must be conducted in accordance with SSAE 18 by auditors with relevant expertise. Non-CPA consulting firms cannot issue SOC 2 reports, though they may assist with readiness preparation. ### What is a SOC 2 seal? The AICPA provides SOC logos for eligible service organizations, subject to its registration and usage guidelines. Displaying a logo does not make SOC 2 a certification. The issued report describes the examination scope, date or period, and auditor's opinion. Follow the current AICPA requirements for the specific mark before displaying it. [AICPA SOC logo registration and guidelines](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/soc-for-service-organizations-logo-guidelines-for-service-organization) --- Source: https://auditsuisse.com/soc-2-certification · This Markdown edition is generated from the same content as the HTML page.