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

 

Securing your Drata environment for SOC 2 compliance—and achieving the official badge or seal—requires careful steps. SOC 2 is a standard created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to ensure that service organizations securely manage data to protect the privacy and interests of their clients. Drata is a popular automation platform for maintaining compliance, but it must be correctly secured and configured to pass a SOC 2 audit.

• Understand SOC 2 Requirements: SOC 2 focuses on five "Trust Services Criteria": Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. To earn the SOC 2 badge, you need strong controls over these areas. The most essential for nearly every organization is the Security principle, which means you have to show that you protect your systems and client data from unauthorized access and breaches.
• Secure Your Drata Platform: Make sure access to your Drata dashboard is restricted to authorized personnel, using strong authentication. Enable Single Sign-On (SSO) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all users. Regularly review user accounts and immediately remove access for team members who no longer need it.
• Configure Integrations Safely: Drata works by connecting to systems like cloud storage, HR tools, and identity providers. Always use least privilege—only give Drata access to data and services it genuinely needs. Review connected integrations routinely and remove unused or unnecessary connections.
• Document Your Policies and Controls: Upload or link all security policies, employee handbooks, data privacy policies, and code of conduct documentation. Make sure they are reviewed, kept up to date, and acknowledged by your team in Drata’s Policy Hub.
• Automate Evidence Collection: Leverage Drata's built-in tools to automate the collection of security evidence—such as logs of access reviews, vulnerability scans, and employee security training. This means when auditors ask for proof, you have what they need instantly.
• Continuous Monitoring: Turn on continuous monitoring in Drata, so it flags any compliance drift (such as a missed access review, expired password, or failed background check). Respond to these alerts quickly and remediate issues without delay.
• Work with a Readiness Expert: A readiness-assessment and consulting firm like OCD Tech can conduct a pre-audit gap assessment, helping you find and fix issues before your official audit. This can raise your chances of passing the first time and earning your SOC 2 seal smoothly.

How to Get the SOC 2 Badge/Seal Using Drata

• When your controls are in place and monitored in Drata, contract with an independent auditor (often a CPA firm) for a SOC 2 examination. They’ll review your Drata evidence and your real-world controls.
• After a successful audit, you’ll receive a SOC 2 report. Some platforms, including Drata, offer a badge or compliance seal you can share on your website or marketing materials, showing prospects and customers you take their data security seriously.

What's Most Important to Pass the SOC 2 Audit?

• Consistency: Your controls can't just exist on paper—they must operate daily.
• Monitoring: Missing alerts or evidence requests in Drata can cause findings or failures with auditors.
• Responsibility: Make sure someone in your organization owns each control, especially related to security incidents and access reviews.
• Expert Guidance: Engage with consulting partners like OCD Tech to navigate complexities and prevent overlooked details.

In summary, how to secure your Drata for SOC 2 badge/seal includes strengthening your account, setting up robust technical and organizational controls, automating and actively monitoring compliance, carefully documenting everything, and regularly engaging with experts—like OCD Tech—to ensure nothing is missed before your official audit. This comprehensive approach ensures you not only achieve but continuously maintain your SOC 2 compliance, securing your business and building trust with your clients.