What is the primary objective of **SOC 2**?

**The primary objective of SOC 2 is to provide independent assurance that a service organization's controls meet the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.** Developed by the AICPA, SOC 2 evaluates systems handling customer data, with Security (CC1-CC9) as the mandatory common criteria. Type 2 reports assess both design and operating effectiveness over 3-12 months, delivering stakeholder trust for SaaS and cloud providers.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **SOC 2**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with SOC 2, as it is a voluntary AICPA framework, but service organizations are professionally compelled by enterprise customer mandates.** It targets SaaS, cloud, fintech, and data processors storing, transmitting, or processing customer data, especially those pursuing deals with Fortune 500 buyers demanding Type 2 reports in RFPs and MSAs.

Oes **SOC 2** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, SOC 2 requires an external audit by an independent AICPA-accredited CPA firm to issue Type 1 or Type 2 attestation reports.** Type 1 verifies control design at a point in time; Type 2 tests operating effectiveness over a period via sampling, walkthroughs, and evidence review, ensuring unqualified opinions without certification seals.

How often should an assessment for **SOC 2** be performed?

**SOC 2 assessments should be performed annually for Type 2 reports to capture full control cycles, with bridge letters extending validity up to 3 months.** The monitoring period is typically 3-12 months minimum, followed by audit fieldwork; ongoing continuous monitoring sustains compliance post-attestation.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **SOC 2**?

**Non-compliance with SOC 2 results in lost enterprise deals, extended sales cycles by 3-6 months, and heightened breach liability, though no direct AICPA fines apply.** Vendors face RFP disqualification, custom audits, elevated CAC by 20-50%, and reputational damage, as 70-80% of SaaS enterprise contracts mandate Type 2 reports.

An **SOC 2** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, SOC 2 controls map extensively to frameworks like ISO 27001 (80% overlap), NIST CSF, and others via AICPA spreadsheets.** Common Criteria (CC1-CC9) align with ISO Annex A controls, enabling shared evidence for multi-compliance without dual certifications, particularly for Security TSC.

What is the first step to begin implementing **SOC 2**?

**The first step to implement SOC 2 is a scoping exercise and gap analysis against the Trust Services Criteria, engaging a CPA for readiness assessment.** Define in-scope systems, data flows, and TSC (starting with mandatory Security), inventory assets, and prioritize 50-100 controls for remediation using tools like Vanta.

What is the primary objective of **WELL**?

**The primary objective of WELL is to advance human health and well-being in the built environment through performance-based design, operations, and policies.** Administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), WELL v2 organizes requirements across **10 core concepts**—**Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, and Community**—plus **Innovation**. It mandates **24 Preconditions** (pass/fail minimums) and enables points from **102 Optimizations** to achieve certification tiers: **Bronze (40 points)**, **Silver (50 points, min 1 per concept)**, **Gold (60 points, min 2 per concept)**, **Platinum (80 points, min 3 per concept)**. Outcomes are verified via on-site testing of air quality (e.g., **CO₂ ≤900 ppm**), water, lighting, acoustics, and thermal conditions.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **WELL**?

**WELL is voluntary with no legal mandates, but professionally required for organizations pursuing certification or market differentiation in health-focused real estate.** Applicable to owners, developers, and operators of new/existing buildings via pathways like **WELL Certification** (owner-controlled), **WELL Core** (base buildings, ≥75% leased), and **WELL for Residential**. Targeted at C-suite in corporate real estate, facilities, HR, and ESG roles in offices, hospitality, education, healthcare; billions of sq ft certified globally signal professional imperative for tenant retention and ESG reporting.

Does **WELL** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, WELL mandates third-party documentation review and on-site performance verification (PV) by authorized WELL Performance Testing Agents.** Process includes two review rounds (preliminary/final, 20-25 business days for Certification), PV testing at ≥50% occupancy for air, water, light, sound, thermal metrics, and IWBI certification award. Pre-testing recommended; conflict-of-interest rules prohibit dual consulting/testing roles.

How often should an assessment for **WELL** be performed?

**WELL requires recertification every three years, with annual reporting for select features like air quality monitoring.** Ongoing assessments via continuous monitoring (e.g., **CO₂, PM2.5** sensors recalibrated annually, data updated every 15 minutes) support compliance; full PV and documentation updates occur at recertification to verify sustained performance across **Preconditions** and earned **Optimizations**.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **WELL**?

**Non-compliance results in certification denial, additional curative review fees, and delayed timelines; no statutory penalties as WELL is voluntary.** Failed PV (e.g., exceeding **CO₂ thresholds**) requires remediation or lower-tier award; recertification lapses risk losing credential, reputational harm, and ESG reporting gaps, potentially impacting rents (up to 7.7% premium for certified spaces) and tenant retention.

An **WELL** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, IWBI provides official crosswalks mapping WELL features to frameworks like LEED.** Alignments reduce duplication (e.g., air filtration, daylighting); WELL complements environmental standards by focusing on occupant health, enabling streamlined dual certification and integrated ESG metrics.

What is the first step to begin implementing **WELL**?

**The first step is project enrollment/registration on the IWBI digital platform and scorecard development.** Identify applicable features by space type, target certification level, and compliance pathways (e.g., continuous monitoring); conduct Precondition gap analysis and optional pre-testing for air/water risks to de-risk PV.

SOC 2 vs WELL | GRADUM

Standards Comparison

SOC 2

Voluntary

2010

AICPA framework for Trust Services Criteria controls

WELL

Voluntary

2014

Performance-based certification for occupant health in buildings.

Quick Verdict

SOC 2 provides data security assurance for SaaS providers via audits, while WELL certifies buildings for occupant health through performance testing. Companies adopt SOC 2 to win enterprise deals; WELL to boost productivity, retention, and ESG metrics.

Cybersecurity / Trust

SOC 2

System and Organization Controls 2

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Trust Services Criteria with mandatory Security (CC1-CC9)
Type 2 audits prove operating effectiveness over 3-12 months
Flexible scoping of optional criteria like Availability, Privacy
Independent AICPA CPA firm attestation reports
High control overlap with ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA

Building Health & Wellness

WELL

WELL Building Standard v2

Cost

€€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

Mandatory on-site performance verification testing
10 core health concepts with preconditions/optimizations
Tiered certification: Bronze to Platinum levels
Continuous monitoring compliance pathways
Evidence-based focus on occupant well-being outcomes

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

SOC 2 Details

What It Is

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a voluntary attestation framework developed by the AICPA to evaluate service organizations' controls over customer data. It uses Trust Services Criteria (TSC)—a principles-based, risk-focused approach assessing security and operations for SaaS, cloud, and tech services.

Key Components

Five TSC: Security (mandatory, CC1-CC9), Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy (optional).
~50-100 controls mapped to criteria, with redundancy (2-3 per area).
Built on COSO principles; Type 1 (design) and Type 2 (design + effectiveness) reports.
Independent CPA audits provide unqualified opinions.

Why Organizations Use It

Drives enterprise sales by streamlining due diligence, reducing CAC 20-50%, and building trust. Mitigates breach risks ($1M+ incidents), enhances resilience, and overlaps 80% with ISO 27001, GDPR. Signals maturity to VCs, unlocks marketplaces.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis (2-4 weeks), control deployment (4-8 weeks), 3-12 month monitoring, CPA audit. Targets service orgs (startups to enterprises) in tech/fintech. Automation (Vanta, Drata) cuts effort 70%; annual recertification.

WELL Details

What It Is

The WELL Building Standard (WELL v2) is a performance-based certification framework administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). It focuses on designing, operating, and verifying buildings to advance human health and well-being, emphasizing indoor environmental quality over pure sustainability. Its approach combines mandatory Preconditions with optional Optimizations for tiered certification.

Key Components

**10 core conceptsAir, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials, Mind, Community (plus Innovation).
24 Preconditions and 102 Optimizations.
Built on evidence-based health research; requires on-site performance verification.
Certification model: Bronze (40 points), Silver (50), Gold (60), Platinum (80), with concept minimums at higher tiers.

Why Organizations Use It

Enhances occupant health, productivity, and ESG reporting.
Voluntary but driven by tenant demands, talent retention, higher rents.
Mitigates health risks; builds stakeholder trust via verified outcomes.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, scorecard, documentation, verification, recertification (3 years).
Applies to new/existing buildings, all sizes/industries.
Requires third-party review and on-site testing.

Key Differences

Aspect	SOC 2	WELL
Scope	Security, availability, confidentiality, privacy of customer data	Human health, air/water quality, light, sound, thermal comfort
Industry	SaaS, cloud, fintech, service organizations globally	Real estate, offices, healthcare, education worldwide
Nature	Voluntary AICPA audit attestation framework	Voluntary IWBI performance-based certification
Testing	Type 2 audits over 3-12 months by CPA firms	On-site performance verification, annual monitoring
Penalties	Lost deals, no certification, reputational damage	No certification, no direct penalties, market disadvantage

Scope

SOC 2

Security, availability, confidentiality, privacy of customer data

WELL

Human health, air/water quality, light, sound, thermal comfort

Industry

SOC 2

SaaS, cloud, fintech, service organizations globally

WELL

Real estate, offices, healthcare, education worldwide

Nature

SOC 2

Voluntary AICPA audit attestation framework

WELL

Voluntary IWBI performance-based certification

Testing

SOC 2

Type 2 audits over 3-12 months by CPA firms

WELL

On-site performance verification, annual monitoring

Penalties

SOC 2

Lost deals, no certification, reputational damage

WELL

No certification, no direct penalties, market disadvantage

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about SOC 2 and WELL

SOC 2 FAQ

WELL FAQ

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SOC 2

WELL

Quick Verdict

SOC 2

Key Features

WELL

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

SOC 2 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

WELL Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

SOC 2 FAQ

What is the primary objective of SOC 2?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with SOC 2?

Oes SOC 2 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for SOC 2 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with SOC 2?

An SOC 2 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing SOC 2?

WELL FAQ

What is the primary objective of WELL?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with WELL?

Does WELL require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for WELL be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with WELL?

An WELL be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing WELL?

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NIS2 vs NIST 800-171

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