• SOC 2 Audit Prep and System Description Kit cover
  • What's inside: system description and management assertion templates, audit readiness plan and Start Here guide
  • First page of the SOC 2 system description template
  • 12-week SOC 2 audit readiness plan in Excel
  • First page of the management assertion template
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SOC 2 Audit Prep & System Description Kit

SOC 2 Audit Prep & System Description Kit

$49.00 USD
$49.00 USD
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Instant download. Editable files. One-organization licence. 5-day fit guarantee.

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This kit is one of 4 in the SOC 2 Compliance Toolkit, with 20 policies, the control matrix, the risk and vendor kit, plus incident response, business continuity and a compliance calendar. All 52 templates for $249 instead of $286 for the 4 kits bought separately.

See the SOC 2 Compliance Toolkit (52 Templates)

Not ready to buy? Get the free SOC 2 readiness checklist

5-day fit guarantee. If it does not fit your SOC 2 program, ask for a refund within 5 days. Conditions.

The system description, management assertion and 12-week plan that take you from SOC 2 readiness to fieldwork. The system description is often the longest single piece of writing in SOC 2 preparation; this kit gives you the structure and worked examples.

What you get

  1. System Description Template (Word, 7 pages): management's description organized by the topics of the AICPA description criteria (DC 200), in 11 sections from services and commitments to subservice organizations, CUECs, incidents and changes, with shaded fictional examples and a completion checklist.
  2. Management Assertion Template (Word, 3 pages): the structure of the assertion, an outline and a pre-signing checklist. Your auditor provides the final wording.
  3. Audit Readiness Plan (Excel): a 37-task 12-week plan, Type 2 period planner, 12-month evidence calendar for 113 recurring controls, an auditor scorecard with 10 weighted criteria plus a licensed-CPA-firm gate, and a 25-item go/no-go checklist.
  4. Start Here guide (PDF): how the pieces fit, steps and common mistakes.

Also included in the SOC 2 Compliance Toolkit.

How to use it

  1. Enter your start date in the 12-week plan and assign owners.
  2. Score two to four CPA firms and aim to sign an engagement letter by around week 9.
  3. Draft the system description, starting with services, system components and subservice organizations, which take longest.
  4. Put the evidence calendar into your team calendars.
  5. Run the go/no-go checklist before confirming a Type 1 date or starting a Type 2 period, then prepare the assertion with your auditor's wording.

Who it is for

Teams nearly ready for their first SOC 2 audit, or who have picked a Type 1 date and need to organize the last mile: the description, the auditor, the timeline and the evidence.

Good to know

  • Instant download. Editable Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx), plus a PDF guide. Works in Excel 2016 or later, Microsoft 365 and LibreOffice; no macros.
  • Licensed for use within one organization.
  • Criteria are referenced by number and summarized in our own words; the AICPA criteria are free to download from the AICPA.
  • SOC 2 is an attestation report by a licensed CPA firm, not a certification. These templates help you prepare; they do not guarantee an unqualified SOC 2 opinion.
  • 5-day fit guarantee: if it does not fit your system, contact us within 5 days of purchase.
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What every download includes

Instant downloadLink on the confirmation page and by email within minutes.
Fully editableWord (.docx), Excel (.xlsx) and PDF. No macros. Works in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.
5-day fit guaranteeIf the files do not fit your SOC 2 program, ask for a refund within 5 days. Conditions apply.
Free updatesRevised files for the current version of the Trust Services Criteria are sent to you at no charge. One-organization licence.

Templates refer to Trust Services Criteria numbers (for example CC6.1) and describe them in our own words; they do not reproduce AICPA text. A SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm. Templates help you prepare; they do not guarantee a clean report.

Questions about SOC 2 Audit Prep & System Description Kit

What is a SOC 2 system description?

It is management's written description of the service, the system that delivers it, the commitments you make to customers, your controls, and the vendors and customer responsibilities involved. It appears in the final report. You write it; the auditor tests whether it is fairly presented, so it must match what they find.

Does the kit give us the final management assertion wording?

No, and that is deliberate. Your auditor supplies the required wording for the assertion. The kit explains its structure, gives you an outline, and provides a pre-signing checklist so management understands and can support every statement before signing. Never sign wording you have not read or do not understand.

How do we choose a SOC 2 auditor?

The scorecard starts with a gate: only a licensed CPA firm can issue a SOC 2 report. It then weights 10 criteria, including SaaS experience, whether your customers accept their reports, fee clarity, timeline, team seniority, independence and references. Start early; good firms book up.

How does the evidence calendar help with Type 2?

A Type 2 report covers a period, commonly 3 to 12 months, and auditors sample evidence from across it. The calendar lists 113 recurring controls and marks the months each is due, so evidence is filed as you go. The Type 2 planner helps you place annual activities inside the period.

How will I receive the files?

A download button appears on the order confirmation page and the same link is emailed to you within a few minutes. Bundles arrive as one ZIP file.

Can I get a refund?

Yes. With our 5-day fit guarantee, if the files do not fit your SOC 2 program you can ask for a full refund within 5 days of your order. It applies once per customer and organization, covers the whole product, and requires you to confirm you have deleted the files. We also refund non-delivery, defective files, wrong items and duplicate purchases within 30 days. Read the full refund policy.

Can I see the files before I buy?

Yes. The images above show real pages from the files, and the free SOC 2 readiness checklist lets you check where you stand before you buy.

Can I use the templates with more than one company?

Each purchase is licensed to one organization. Consultants and groups need one licence per client or legal entity. See the licence agreement.

Templates that work with this one

Useful next steps when you prepare for a SOC 2 audit.