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

 

Achieving SOC 2 compliance using Vanta is a big milestone in building trust with your customers. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to secure your Vanta account for SOC 2, how to get the SOC 2 badge/seal, and what matters most during the audit process.

• Understand the SOC 2 Basics: SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a framework focused on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of customer data. For most companies, “security” is the minimum standard for a SOC 2 Type I or Type II report.
• Set Up Your Vanta Environment Safely:
  • Ensure all user accounts on Vanta have strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication (2FA) enabled.
  • Assign permissions so only the right people can change Vanta settings or access sensitive audit details.
  • Integrate all your systems: Vanta monitors AWS, GCP, Azure, Github, Okta, Google Workspace, etc. Proper integrations make it possible to continuously track your security controls.
• Map SOC 2 Requirements in Vanta: Vanta has templates and task lists that map directly to the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria. Make sure every requirement is “connected” to real, auditable proof (like policies, screenshots, automated checks).
• Automate Security Monitoring:
  • Enable all available automated tests in Vanta. These alert you about vulnerabilities, outdated software, missing security patches, or risky user permissions.
  • Ensure devices used by your team have hard drive encryption, password protection, up-to-date antivirus, and screen lock timers.
• Document Policies and Procedures: Vanta helps centralize your policies (like Acceptable Use, Incident Response, Access Control). Make sure these are customized to your actual practices, not just templates.
• Employee Security Awareness:
  • Assign mandatory security awareness training for your entire team from within Vanta.
  • Track completion and refresh training at least yearly—or sooner if you update your security processes.
• Prepare For Your Audit: Work with a SOC 2 auditor (Vanta can recommend partners; for example, consider engaging OCD Tech for readiness assessment and gap analysis). They’ll review your Vanta implementation before formal audit.
• Readiness Assessment: A consulting firm like OCD Tech can do a pre-audit assessment. They’ll spot holes in your controls, policies, onboarding/offboarding, and system integrations—making your actual SOC 2 audit much smoother.
• Lead The Audit Process:
  • Gather evidence—Vanta automates evidence collection, but some controls need manual proof (like signed policies or incident logs).
  • Share “audit access” in Vanta with your auditor so they see everything needed for their attestations.
• Get The SOC 2 Badge/Seal:
  • Once you pass the audit, your auditor issues a SOC 2 report.
  • Vanta provides a shareable SOC 2 badge or seal you can display on your company website and sales materials.
  • Keep your controls up-to-date in Vanta—and re-certify annually to maintain your badge/seal and prove ongoing commitment to security.

Most important areas for SOC 2 audit success:

• Access control (who can access production data)
• Timely onboarding/offboarding
• Security training
• Device security/corporate asset management
• Cloud infrastructure and code repository security
• Real-world testing of your incident response plan

Vanta will guide you through each requirement, but a consulting partner like OCD Tech can make your SOC 2 readiness and audit journey faster, smoother, and more successful.