Skip to content 
The use of Artificial Intelligence, or AI, has been drastic and quick. The development of new products by AI startups is one of the major causes of this. Such products are capable of learning, thinking, and doing several other things for people. Acceptance of AI products by the public at large will not be possible without trust being built up first between the public and the AI products. There is a need for users to be totally confident regarding the safety of their information and the non-existence of any faults in the AI. The SOC 2 report is a key factor in this scenario. This blog is a unique case supporting the reliability of the company in question.
What is SOC 2 and its Importance for AI Startups?
SOC 2 is a credential that validates the company’s compliance with the best practices in the secure handling of customer information. It can be regarded as a report card for security. The establishment of this standard was by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Getting a SOC 2 report is essential for `AI Startups`. It is a clear indication to the clients that the startup has committed itself to protecting the confidentiality and security of their data. It indeed fosters trust to a great extent. Customers who trust you are the ones who will most probably accept your AI products. It is a great help in positioning your company above the competition.
The Five Trust Services Criteria for AI Products
The five criteria, Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy, are all essential in the working of `AI Startups`.
The Security principle is the most important one. It is mandatory for any SOC 2 report. Good `Cyber Security Services` are essential to meet this requirement. In the case of an AI startup, this means not only safeguarding the AI models but also protecting the data that has been used for their training and the data that the AI has access to through its processing activities.
The concept of availability signifies that the AI system has to be operational and fully functional at the time when the customers want it. Suppose there is an AI service that assists physicians. It should be accessible around the clock.
The principle of Confidentiality is concerned with the safeguarding of secret information; sensitive data is processed by many AI systems. This may be related to business secrecy or the private plans of a company. The Confidentiality principle implies that the startup has set up very strict procedures so that only authorized personnel have access to this information.
Privacy is a concept that is very similar to confidentiality; however, the former is mainly concerned with the protection of personal data. A study revealed that 81% of respondents were worried about the data handling practices of companies. To win over customer trust, new AI companies have to be in line with the privacy rules and also extremely careful with the personal information. A SOC 2 compliance audit will check whether the firm has set up proper measures to secure such personal information.
Getting Ready for a SOC 2 Audit
A startup should do a `SOC 2 gap assessment with AI`. This is like a practice test. It helps the company find any areas where its security is weak. Bridging the gaps allows the startup to rectify them even before the actual audit takes place. This enhances the entire procedure. The whole process becomes more efficient. Thus, this step becomes an essential part of the utilization of `Cyber Security Services`.
After fixing the gaps, the company is ready for the official `SOC 2 compliance audit`. This audit is done by an independent auditor. The auditor checks the company’s systems and processes against the Trust Services Criteria. There are two types of reports. A Type I report checks the design of the security controls at a single point in time. A Type II report is more detailed. It checks if the controls have been working well over a period of time, usually 6 to 12 months.
The process of preparing for this audit is very valuable. It forces a startup to build strong, secure processes from the very beginning. A `SOC 2 gap assessment with AI` can be considered as the most suitable and initial step for security-compliant startups in the process of showcasing their integrity. The same is true for the whole process of AI, where trust is nothing but the single most important task of every new enterprise. By demonstrating SOC 2 compliance, `AI Startups` can easily take most customers’ worries about their trustworthiness and security off their shoulders.
At SecurifyAI, we understand the unique challenges that AI companies face. We provide specialized services like penetration testing and compliance advisory to help you navigate the complexities of standards like SOC 2. Our goal is to help you build secure AI products and earn the trust of your customers from day one.