One common pitfall in SOC 2 engagements is believing that SSL everywhere equates to comprehensive encryption. This oversight leaves backups and interservice calls unprotected—like locking a front door but leaving a hole in the roof.
In this article, I’ll guide you through key guidelines for SOC 2 encryption requirements under the security and confidentiality criteria. You’ll learn how encryption maps to the Trust Services Criteria, which assets to encrypt, best practices for key management, and how to collect audit evidence for a seamless attestation.
Understanding Trust Services Criteria and encryption
Encryption isn’t a standalone checkbox; it lives within broader control objectives. The security (common criteria) principle covers controls that protect systems and data from unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification, explicitly citing encryption as a safeguard under CC6 (Logical and Physical Access Controls) and CC5 (Control Activities related to confidentiality).
Confidentiality becomes mandatory when contracts or policies designate information as confidential. In that context, organizations must apply encryption controls to meet the confidentiality criterion and avoid handing auditors an easy finding.
SOC 2’s approach to encryption requirements
SOC 2 avoids prescribing specific algorithms or key lengths, focusing instead on due care and best practices. Encrypting without key management is like giving someone a locked treasure chest and losing the key—it looks secure until you need access. You’ll need to classify data, enforce logical access controls, and continuously monitor cryptographic controls to demonstrate a robust encryption framework.
PRO TIP
Tag your data classes in your DLP or classification tool (e.g., “Confidential,” “Internal,” “Public”) and automate policy enforcement so files marked “Confidential” are encrypted by default—no manual intervention needed.
Why data classification matters
Knowing exactly what to encrypt helps you focus resources and avoid performance pitfalls. By tagging data based on sensitivity, you can target databases, file systems, and backups that demand encryption—and leave lower-risk data in plaintext for efficiency.
Embedding encryption into logical access controls
Deploying AES on storage is only half the battle; the other half is ensuring only authorized services or personnel can use the keys. Role-based access controls and integration with identity platforms ensure encryption keys aren’t sitting unsecured, waiting for a curious developer to stumble upon them.
Encryption at rest: Requirement and best practices
Encryption at rest means every sensitive byte you store—whether in a database, file system, or backup—must be unreadable without the proper key. This control protects against breaches involving stolen disks or insider threats.
To meet and exceed SOC 2 expectations, adopt industry-standard symmetric and asymmetric algorithms with strong key lengths. Table 1 outlines common choices and their minimum recommendations.
| Encryption algorithms and key lengths | Recommended minimum key length | Notes |
| AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) | 128-bit | AES-256 strongly recommended for new deployments |
| RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman) | 2048-bit | Consider RSA-3072 or higher for long-term security |
| TDEA (Triple DES Encryption Algorithm) | Triple-length key (168-bit) | Acceptable if legacy systems require it |
Once you’ve chosen your algorithms, configure cloud volumes and database engines to enforce encryption by default. Periodically test decryption processes to confirm that data remains recoverable under real-world conditions.
Encryption in transit: Requirement and best practices
Any data flowing across networks—whether client-server, service-to-service, or API calls—must be protected against eavesdropping or tampering. Neglect this and it’s like shouting passwords across a crowded coffee shop Wi-Fi.
SOC 2 requires encrypted channels everywhere. Adopt TLS 1.2 or higher (ideally TLS 1.3) for web traffic, use IPsec or secure VPN tunnels for backend links, and implement robust certificate management to ensure packets remain private.
| Encryption in transit protocols and recommendations | Protocols | Guidance |
| TLS (Transport Layer Security) | 1.2 minimum; 1.3 ideal | Disable SSL and TLS 1.0/1.1; automate certificate renewal |
| IPsec | Version 2 | Use for site-to-site and service meshes |
| Secure VPN | Various | Ensure multi-factor authentication for tunnel access |
Remember to validate certificates against a trusted certificate authority and monitor expiration dates so you’re never caught off-guard.
PRO TIP
Configure your service mesh or API gateway to enforce mTLS between microservices. Then export your mTLS metrics monthly to demonstrate to auditors that inter-service traffic is always encrypted.
Key management: Processes you can’t skip
SOC 2 treats key management like the secret sauce—if it’s sloppy, encryption is worthless. Think of your keys like nuclear launch codes: only a handful of people get access, and every use is logged.
You need documented processes covering key generation, distribution, rotation, revocation, storage, and destruction. Leverage hardware security modules (HSMs) or cloud Key Management Services (KMS) for generation. Restrict access through role-based access controls, rotate keys on a schedule (for example, every 90 days), and maintain an emergency revocation procedure in case of compromise. Store keys encrypted at rest and securely destroy them when they retire.
PRO TIP
Maintain a key-rotation calendar in your GRC tool tied to your KMS API. Automate reminders for upcoming key rotations and log completion timestamps so auditors see a fully documented rotation history.
Implementing controls and gathering audit evidence
Getting ready for a SOC 2 audit involves more than flipping a switch. Start with a gap analysis that maps your controls against the Trust Services Criteria’s points of focus for encryption. Next, codify policies and procedures: define data classes requiring encryption, spell out key lifecycle rules, and assign ownership.
Technically implement encryption at rest and in transit across your infrastructure, integrating with a centralized KMS or HSM to prevent “shadow keys.” Set up automated scanners or scripts to verify encryption coverage and periodically decrypt test data to ensure you can restore it when needed.
When the auditor arrives, present artifacts such as configuration snapshots showing encryption enabled, key management logs detailing rotations and access, and penetration test results confirming your encryption can withstand real-world attacks.
Streamline your SOC 2 compliance with CyberUpgrade
SOC 2 compliance demands airtight controls, clear evidence, and proof that your security measures truly work under scrutiny. CyberUpgrade offers predefined, customizable workflows aligned with Trust Services Criteria that automate tasks like background checks, access reviews, and incident logging. Real-time Slack and Teams prompts guide your team through every step, slashing manual effort by up to 80% and ensuring no control gets overlooked.
All compliance evidence—from vulnerability scans to MFA logs—is centralized in an audit-ready repository, making it easy to satisfy both ongoing monitoring and “separate evaluation” requirements under CC 4.1 and CC 7.1. Built-in risk assessments, pen-testing integrations, and continuous monitoring shore up your defenses, while our fractional CISO service provides expert guidance and strategic leadership.
With CyberUpgrade, you’ll not only meet today’s SOC 2 standards but build a scalable, future-proof compliance program—so audits become confirmation, not chaos.
Beyond compliance: Building trust through cryptographic rigor
After the audit, don’t let your encryption controls collect dust. Treat them as living processes: monitor for deprecated algorithms, track emerging vulnerabilities, and adapt your key management as your business evolves. Are you ready to turn cryptographic rigor into your competitive edge?
