How to Secure Your Atlassian for SOC 2 and Get the SOC 2 Badge/Seal

 

Securing your Atlassian environment (like Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket) for SOC 2 isn’t just about keeping hackers out—it’s about proving to your clients and partners that you’re trustworthy. SOC 2 is a special standard focused on how companies handle their data in the cloud, for confidentiality, integrity and security. Here’s everything you need to know about how to secure your Atlassian for SOC 2 and how to get that SOC 2 badge or seal.

• Understand SOC 2 Requirements: SOC 2 is built around five “Trust Services Criteria”: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. For Atlassian, security and confidentiality are usually most critical. You’ll need to prove you have controls over who can access your data, how you protect it, and how you monitor for problems.
• Access Controls: Limit access in Atlassian to only those who really need it. Every user should have the minimum permissions necessary for their job (a principle called “least privilege”). Set up SSO (Single Sign-On) and, if available, use your company’s Identity Provider. Enforce strong password policies and enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
• Change Management: Make sure any changes (like new workflows, integrations, or user roles) in Atlassian are reviewed, logged, and approved. This means setting up an approval process for configuration changes and tracking all updates in changelogs or audit-trails.
• Monitoring & Alerts: Use Atlassian’s built-in auditing features and any available integrations with SIEM tools to monitor logins and changes. Set up alerts for suspicious activity (like failed logins or unexpected permission changes). Regularly review these logs to spot issues early.
• Data Protection: Protect sensitive data using encryption—both while it’s stored (at-rest) and while it’s moving over the internet (in-transit). Make sure attachments, comments, and files in Jira and Confluence are not publicly accessible. Enable backups, and test your ability to restore data.
• Vendor Management: Document all integrations and plug-ins with Atlassian. Make sure that these tools come from reputable vendors who also meet SOC 2 requirements. If you use any third-party Atlassian add-ons, check their security measures.
• Security Policies & User Training: Publish clear policies for your staff on how to use Atlassian tools securely. Train staff regularly about data handling, phishing risks, and safe file sharing.

 

Getting the SOC 2 Badge/Seal on Your Site—The Compliance Process

 

Once your Atlassian instance is secure, here’s how to actually get SOC 2 certified (and earn the badge/seal):

• Readiness Assessment: Before an audit, do a “gap analysis” to see where your controls meet SOC 2 requirements, and where you fall short. Consider working with an external expert like OCD Tech, which specializes in SOC 2 readiness and consulting. Their experience can help you spot issues and prepare the right documentation.
• Remediate Gaps: Based on the assessment, fix problems in your Atlassian setup—tighten permissions, update policies, fix audit-logging, etc.
• Documentation: Prepare detailed documentation: access controls, policies, incident response plans, training logs, and screenshots of key settings.
• Independent Audit: Hire a qualified SOC 2 auditor. They will review your policies and Atlassian settings, interview staff, check your logs, and make sure everything’s working. The audit covers a minimum of six months of evidence.
• Get the Report & Badge: If you pass, you’ll get a SOC 2 report and (optionally) a badge or seal to put on your website or sales materials—proving your Atlassian systems are professionally secured.

 

What’s Most Important to Pass the Audit?

 

• Proving access control is tight, current, and reviewed regularly.
• Showing consistent, up-to-date security policies and staff training.
• Having comprehensive and available system logs and monitoring in Atlassian.
• Demonstrating quick and documented incident response and change management.
• Proving your Atlassian data is encrypted, backed up, and only accessible by authorized people.
• Having documentation ready for every control and process.
• Fixing any gaps before audit—here again, consulting with OCD Tech can be an enormous help for readiness and successful certification.

If you follow these steps, you'll know not just how to secure your Atlassian for SOC 2, but also how to get the SOC 2 badge/seal, building trust and competitive advantage for your organization.