What is SOC 3? — A Complete Guide to SOC 3 Reports

Choosing the right compliance report is essential for demonstrating your commitment to data security while meeting the specific needs of your audience. So how do you know if a SOC 3 report is right for you?

A SOC 3 report is similar in scope to a SOC 2 report, but the information is packaged more concisely. This makes SOC 3 reports easier to read and a better fit for widespread distribution.
Both reports result from the same audit, and both can help communicate that an organization’s controls are properly designed, implemented, and operating eﬀectively.

In this blog post, we’ll explain in greater depth what SOC 3 reports are and what they cover.

What is a SOC 3 Report?

Obtaining a System and Organization Controls (SOC) 3 report is one way for a service organization to attest to the security of its digital environment.

The scope for SOC 3 reports is similar to that of SOC 2 reports. However, SOC 3 reports are shorter and allow for more general distribution, with the option of displaying a website seal if the service provider receives an unqualified opinion from their audit firm.

Reports are prepared using one or more of the trust services criteria (TSC) established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Those include:

Security: The system is protected against unauthorized access (both physical and logical).
Availability: The system is available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
Processing Integrity: System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized to meet the entity’s objectives.
Confidentiality: Information designated as confidential is protected as committed or agreed.
Privacy: Personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of to meet the entity’s objectives.

All SOC 3 reports must stem from a SOC 2 Type 2 audit.

Who Needs a SOC 3 Report?

Organizations that should consider a SOC 3 report include cloud service providers (e.g., SaaS, IaaS, PaaS), enterprise systems housing third-party data, IT systems management, and data center colocation facilities. If you want to communicate that your organization’s controls are properly designed, implemented, and operating effectively, but do not want to reveal the details of controls, then the SOC 3 report may be right for you.

Are SOC 3 Reports Public?

A SOC 3 report is the only type of SOC report that can be publicly distributed. Your organization can demonstrate your SOC 3 compliance in marketing campaigns, add it to your website, and more. While other SOC reports are confidential and often require signed non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) prior to viewing, the public nature of SOC 3 reports can help build trust among your stakeholders and customers without revealing private information about your organization.

Why Strategic SOC 3 Planning Matters

Public Trust & Marketing: Use your report as a public-facing “green flag” in marketing materials and RFPs to differentiate your business in a crowded market.
Reduced Sales Friction: Eliminate early-stage security objections by providing a digestible, independent auditor’s opinion that anyone from a CEO to an investor can understand.
Leverage Existing Audits: Since a SOC 3 is derived from your SOC 2 examination, it is a cost-effective way to maximize the value of the audit work you have already completed.

The Bottom Line

A SOC 3 report is far more than a technical summary; it is a powerful marketing asset designed to broadcast your commitment to security to the world. Unlike the restricted-use SOC 1 or SOC 2, a SOC 3 report is built for the public, providing a high-level seal of approval that proves your internal controls are rigorous without revealing your proprietary “playbook.”

By choosing to publish a SOC 3 report, you move beyond satisfying specific auditors and start building a brand of transparency. It allows you to showcase your compliance with the TSC directly on your website and in sales collateral, providing immediate assurance to prospects before they even sign an NDA.