SOC 2 compliance refers to an organization aligning its processes and controls with the AICPA Trust Services Criteria (TSC) and successfully completing an independent audit that results in a SOC 2 report. In practice, “SOC 2 compliant” usually means the company can provide a recent SOC 2 Type I or Type II report covering the relevant systems and services customers rely on.
SOC 2 is an assurance framework focused on how a service provider protects data and operates secure, reliable systems, commonly requested in B2B procurement.
Why SOC 2 Compliance Matters in EV Charging and Connected Infrastructure
EV charging platforms are connected systems that handle operational and customer data and often control critical functions remotely.
– Builds trust for charger backends (CSMS), monitoring, and remote configuration workflows
– Supports enterprise procurement and vendor risk assessments for fleets, property owners, and public tenders
– Strengthens controls around OCPP operations, incident response, and change management
– Reduces friction for integrations involving roaming, billing, and identity systems
– Demonstrates maturity for security, availability, and operational governance expectations
SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria Scope
SOC 2 compliance can include one or more criteria, depending on customer needs and risk profile.
– Security (baseline in most SOC 2 audits)
– Availability (resilience, uptime, disaster recovery)
– Confidentiality (protecting sensitive business information)
– Processing integrity (accurate, complete, timely processing)
– Privacy (personal data handling aligned to stated commitments)
The more criteria included, the broader the control coverage and evidence typically required.
SOC 2 Type I vs Type II
SOC 2 compliance is usually evidenced by one of these report types.
– Type I: assesses control design at a point in time (are controls designed appropriately)
– Type II: assesses control design and operating effectiveness over a period (are controls working consistently)
Many customers prefer SOC 2 Type II because it shows ongoing operational effectiveness.
What “Being SOC 2 Compliant” Typically Includes
SOC 2 compliance usually requires formal controls across people, process, and technology.
– Access control: least privilege, MFA, joiner/mover/leaver procedures
– Security monitoring: logging, alerting, and escalation workflows (often aligned with a SOC)
– Vulnerability management: scanning, patching, secure OTA updates governance where applicable
– Change management: approvals, separation of duties, release controls, rollback plans
– Incident response: documented runbooks, evidence of testing, post-incident reviews
– Business continuity: backups, disaster recovery, recovery time objectives (RTO/RPO)
– Data protection: encryption in transit/at rest, key management, secrets handling
– Vendor risk management: third-party due diligence and contract controls
– Secure SDLC: code review, CI/CD controls, dependency management, environment separation
How SOC 2 Compliance Is Verified
SOC 2 compliance is demonstrated through an auditor-issued SOC 2 report, supported by evidence.
– Defined system boundaries (what services, environments, and processes are in scope)
– Control descriptions, testing approach, and audit results
– Evidence logs (tickets, access reviews, monitoring records, change approvals, incident drills)
– Identified exceptions (if any) and remediation actions
Customers typically review the report under NDA and map it to their security questionnaire requirements.
Key Benefits of SOC 2 Compliance
– Faster enterprise procurement and reduced security questionnaire burden
– Increased trust in cloud services that manage charging operations and customer data
– Stronger internal discipline for security, availability, and change control
– Clearer accountability across engineering, operations, and support teams
– Better preparedness for incidents through structured monitoring and response
Limitations to Consider
– SOC 2 is scope-specific: a report only covers the systems and services included in the audit
– A SOC 2 report is not a guarantee of “no risk,” but an assessment of controls against criteria
– Achieving and maintaining Type II requires ongoing evidence collection and operational rigor
– Customers may still require additional assurances (penetration testing, ISO 27001 alignment, data residency)
Related Glossary Terms
SOC 2
ISO 27001 compliance
Cybersecurity
Security monitoring center (SOC)
Incident response plan
Patch management
Secure boot
Secure firmware
Secure OTA updates
Data privacy