Are SOC 2 reports public?
No. A SOC 2 report is confidential and shared only under NDA with customers, prospects, and auditors. If you want a freely shareable version, the public summary is a SOC 3 report.
The full answer
SOC 2 reports are not published. They contain a detailed description of your systems, your control environment, and — in a Type 2 — the auditor's tests and any exceptions found. That level of internal detail is exactly why companies keep the report confidential and release it only under a non-disclosure agreement.
In practice, you share the report with customers, prospects evaluating your security, and other auditors, almost always after they sign an NDA. Because a SOC 2 report is an attestation issued by a licensed CPA firm under the AICPA's SSAE No. 18 standards, it is meant for informed users who understand its scope — not for anonymous download.
If you need something you can post on your website or hand out freely, that is a SOC 3 report. A SOC 3 is the public-facing summary version: it confirms the auditor's opinion and the trust criteria covered without exposing the sensitive control detail found in a full SOC 2. Many companies publish a SOC 3 and reserve the SOC 2 for gated requests.
For buyers, the practical rule is that a SOC 2 report stays current for about twelve months from its period end date, so expect to re-share the latest version each year under NDA. If you are commissioning your first report, AuditNex network audits start at $2,500 promotionally and average about $5,000, and you control exactly who receives the finished report.
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Related questions
Can I share my SOC 2 report with prospects?
Yes, but almost always under an NDA. SOC 2 reports are confidential, so companies share them with prospects and customers after a signed non-disclosure agreement. For a freely shareable version, use a SOC 3.
Can buyers verify my SOC 2 report is real?
Yes. Buyers verify a SOC 2 by confirming the signing CPA firm is licensed, checking the report period and opinion, and often contacting the firm directly. A real report names a licensed firm and follows AICPA formatting.
Can one SOC 2 report cover multiple products?
Yes. One SOC 2 report can cover multiple products or systems as long as they share the same control environment and you define that scope clearly in the system description. Many companies audit their whole platform in a single report.
How long is a SOC 2 report valid?
There is no formal expiry — the AICPA sets none. In practice, buyers treat a SOC 2 report as current for about twelve months from its period end date, then expect a fresh Type 2.
What are complementary user entity controls (CUECs)?
Complementary user entity controls, or CUECs, are controls the service organization assumes its customers will operate for the overall controls to work. They are listed in the SOC 2 report, and the auditor does not test them.
What is a SOC 2 bridge letter?
A SOC 2 bridge letter is a short statement from your management confirming that nothing material changed between your report's period end and a customer's review date. It is written by you, not your auditor.
Sources: AICPA SOC 2 and SOC 3 attestation guidance (SSAE No. 18); SOC 2 report distribution market practice, 2026. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.