SOC 3 Report Compliance Support

An SOC 3 report is a public-facing report describing an organization’s controls related to applicable trust services criteria. It is designed to help customers and other interested parties understand how a service organization addresses areas such as security and operational safeguards. Unlike a restricted-use report, an SOC 3 report can generally be distributed publicly, making it useful for communicating assurance to a broader audience.

SOC 2 reports are generally more detailed and intended for specific users such as customers, business partners, or auditors. SOC 3 reports provide a more general summary that can be shared publicly. Both relate to controls over applicable trust services criteria, but the audience, level of detail, and distribution expectations differ. LME Services can help clarify readiness needs and coordinate with an independent CPA auditor.

No. An independent CPA auditor performs the attestation and issues the SOC report. LME Services supports the preparation process by helping design controls, document policies and procedures, identify security gaps, guide implementation, and organize information for auditor review. This separation helps distinguish advisory and readiness work from the independent attestation itself.

Preparation can include reviewing the organization’s systems and processes, identifying applicable controls, developing policies, documenting procedures, assessing gaps, and organizing evidence for review. It may also involve improving security monitoring, access management, backup practices, and response procedures where gaps are identified. The exact scope depends on the organization, systems, services, and trust services criteria selected.

SOC 3 and SOC 2 are related but are not interchangeable deliverables. Both may evaluate controls against trust services criteria, while SOC 2 is typically a detailed report for a defined audience and SOC 3 is intended for broader public distribution. Organizations should determine which report aligns with customer expectations, contractual requirements, and their communication goals.

Yes. LME Services helps organizations construct policies and procedures, define control responsibilities, identify missing documentation, and create a practical roadmap for implementation. The team can also help connect documentation with operational security practices, including monitoring, access controls, backup readiness, and incident response. Documentation should accurately reflect how the organization operates rather than describe controls that are not in place.

Begin by identifying the systems and services in scope, reviewing applicable trust services criteria, and documenting relevant policies and procedures. Next, assess control gaps, gather appropriate evidence, address weaknesses, and establish ownership for ongoing activities. LME Services can guide readiness work and coordinate with a trusted AICPA-certified CPA auditor so expectations and responsibilities are clearer before attestation begins.

Pricing is provided after consultation because compliance scope, systems, documentation needs, and industry requirements vary by organization. LME Services offers custom quotes for compliance work and can discuss the expected effort during a discovery conversation. The engagement may include readiness assessment, policy development, control guidance, gap analysis, monitoring, staff training, and auditor coordination depending on the selected scope.