How to Secure Your Varonis for SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley) Compliance and Pass Audits

 

Ensuring SOX compliance with your Varonis data security platform isn’t just about technology—it's about people, processes, and documentation. Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) is a U.S. law that requires public companies to secure and accurately report their financial data. If you store, move, or audit sensitive financial data with Varonis and want to know how to get the SOX compliance badge/seal, here’s what you need:

• Understand SOX Scope: Only financial data and systems affecting financial reporting are in SOX scope. With Varonis, focus on folders, files, mailboxes, and systems where financial records, spreadsheets, audits, or accounting files are stored.
• Baseline & Classify Data: Varonis can automatically scan for SOX-relevant data (like financial statements or PII). Set up data classification policies to tag all sensitive information, which auditors will ask for.
• Access Control and Least Privilege: Varonis helps you see who has access to what. Enforce least privilege—make sure only those who need access to SOX data have it. Remove unused permissions. Audit and review permissions regularly.
• Monitor & Alert: Set up Varonis to generate real-time alerts for abnormal activity—such as mass deletions, privilege escalations, or access outside working hours—on SOX-relevant data. Prove to auditors you have eyes on risky behaviors and respond fast.
• Audit Trails: Varonis logs changes, accesses, and deletions. Ensure audit logs are retained for minimum periods (usually 7 years for SOX) and cannot be edited by regular admins. Have a process to review these logs and document findings.
• Separation of Duties: Make sure no single person can both control and review the same data or logs. Use Varonis role-based access and document this setup for your auditors.
• Periodic Reviews: Document regular reviews of access rights, alerts, exceptions, and sensitive data locations. Store proof of reviews, ideally in Varonis or your ticketing system.

How to Get the SOX Badge/Seal With Varonis?
You don’t get a formal “SOX seal” from Varonis itself, but you must pass independent SOX audits. Here’s what’s crucial for how to get How to Secure Your Varonis for SOX badge/seal:

• Gather evidence (screenshots, reports, signed reviews) showing you have:
  • automated monitoring,
  • data classification,
  • clear access control,
  • response procedures for alerts/incidents,
  • documented periodic reviews
• Be ready for auditors to request logs, reports, and proof of response to incidents and permission changes on SOX-scoped data.
• Document every process, policy, and exception.
• Get a third-party SOX readiness assessment—firms like OCD Tech run mock audits, help cover gaps, and guide remediation so you enter audits with confidence.

What Auditors Look for

• Ongoing monitoring with Varonis, not just annual reviews
• Complete audit trails and alerting on suspicious activity
• Timely removal of excessive permissions and documentation of reviews/responses
• Evidence that only approved personnel access SOX-related data and that you act fast if something suspicious happens
• Independent validation or assessment by professionals like OCD Tech

Summary: To secure Varonis for SOX compliance and ace your audit, classify and protect financial data, lock down permissions, monitor and alert in real time, keep detailed and tamper-proof logs, and run periodic reviews with documentation. Team up with consulting and assessment services such as OCD Tech to ensure no step is missed and breeze through your SOX audit.