SOC 2 Type 2 attestation is a rigorous independent audit that provides assurance that a company’s information security controls meet specific criteria. Building upon our security controls and our SOC 2 Type 1 compliance, First Factory’s recent achievement in attaining SOC 2 Type 2 attestation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the security, confidentiality, and integrity of our clients’ data and systems. We have spent the last few years focusing on articulating our policies, maturing our processes, and training our team to have greater security awareness and leverage more secure ways of building software. The rigorous evaluation from auditors concluded that our processes and procedures were designed and implemented to meet our objectives, that the controls stated were suitably designed, and—most importantly—that they were operating effectively.
Trust Services Observed
Our SOC 2 Type 2 auditors evaluated us in the following trust areas: Security, Availability, and Confidentiality.
Security illustrates our commitment to security principles within our fundamental nearshore software development services. The assessment determined that our security services were sufficiently designed to allow system users to access the information they need based on the permission of least privilege provisioning. It also evaluated our use of encryption protocols to protect client data at rest and in transit.
Availability addresses our ability to manage capacity demand by monitoring and evaluating current processing, resource capacity, and usage rates. We further showed that we meet business objectives and client needs by designing, developing, and monitoring internal processes and forecasting demand. Of course, we were required to demonstrate ample data recovery testing procedures to support system recoveries.
The last of the three trust services to be evaluated was confidentiality, and the auditors attested that privacy and the protection of sensitive and proprietary information are well-defined and classified into categories with associated retention periods. We showed additional safeguards to data based on roles and permissions, with all changes in permissions requiring approval. Data retention and disposal policies and procedures are also well documented and in place.
Assurance of Data Security
The relationships we have with our clients are based on trust. We value long-term partnerships and are proud to have worked with some clients for over ten years. We would not be able to consistently meet our customers’ business objectives and growing security needs if we did not invest in information security. Keeping a dedicated InfoSec Officer on staff and engaging with a fractional CISO have enabled us to make great progress over the last few years and will help us stay attuned to the evolving cybersecurity needs. Hopefully, our SOC 2 Type 2 attestation will provide our clients with increased assurance that their data is protected by strong security controls designed effectively, consistently utilized, and effective in their function. As we build custom software solutions for our clients or consult on strategy and infrastructure, we help them reduce their risk of data breaches and other security incidents.
Being SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, First Factory may also allow our customers to meet regulatory compliance, helping them further protect data, achieve certifications, and avoid legal penalties and fines.
Evolving Threats and the Road Ahead
Infosecurity is evolving, and malicious actors continue to exploit vulnerabilities that harm companies and extort money from them. As the hackers employ additional tactics and become more sophisticated, we must increase our awareness and improve our skills to protect against these growing threats. Infosecurity is no longer a nice-to-have but, rather, is an essential component in business operations and software product development. Having our SOC 2 Type 2 attestation does not mean that we will be immune to breaches. Still, it articulates our preparedness to protect against threats, address vulnerabilities, and manage active cyberattacks more confidently.
We will continue to pursue annual attestations for SOC 2 Type 2 compliance and look for ways to further our security position, which will benefit our business and our clients.
You can request a copy of our SOC 2 Type 2 report or talk with us about your software development and security needs via our contact form at: https://firstfactory.com/nearshore-solutions/
