Security should be a paramount concern for any brand. All it takes is one exploited vulnerability to create serious consequences for an entire organization.

Your security team already has safeguards in place to protect your company’s internal data. But when you onboard an external vendor, it opens up new security risk pathways—especially when it comes to website hosting. Your partner needs to demonstrate strong security processes and controls when it comes to storing your sensitive, often private, client data and protect your brand from threats. 

It’s important to evaluate the security of your website builder prior to moving forward, but these reviews can be financially costly and cause timeline delays, thus reducing your agility. 

Fortunately, there are ways to quickly compare vendor security measures to your own brand standards. For website vendor data security, the industry gold standard is SOC 2 compliance.

What is SOC 2 compliance? 

SOC 2 compliance is a standardized framework for organizations to demonstrate their commitment to data security and privacy. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, companies can earn an SOC 2 certification by passing an independent audit that evaluates how they manage and store customer information. 

To become SOC 2 compliant, vendors must meet specific requirements in one or more Trust Services Criteria (TSC). These categories are:

• Security: The vendor’s level of protection against unauthorized access.

• Availability: The accessibility and usability of their platform, namely uptime.

• Processing Integrity: The performance of their platform and accuracy of the data stored.

• Confidentiality: The vendor’s ability to protect sensitive data and restrict access to specific users.

• Privacy: The vendor’s ability to secure personally identifiable information.

Why SOC 2 compliance matters for website vendors 

For web platforms like Squarespace Enterprise, SOC 2 compliance means offering best-available security controls and privacy protection for customers.

Because you entrust website platforms with sensitive consumer data, seeking SOC 2-compliant providers means that you’ve taken the right precautions to protect your user base’s information. 

For website providers, SOC 2 compliance also helps their platform remain performant in the event of cyber attacks. Down websites mean revenue loss and poor experiences for visitors, so SOC 2-compliant vendor development teams closely monitor security risks to limit service interruptions.

In addition to keeping websites secure and running, SOC 2 also illustrates strong processes and controls which contribute to platform reliability. It provides comfort around the integrity of information stored by the website provider.

Risks of working with non-compliant vendors 

Although SOC 2 compliance is the industry standard for competitive providers, there are plenty of vendors on the market that aren’t certified. However, contracting with organizations operating without SOC 2-level security controls in place could put your brand’s reputation and operations at risk.

Working with a provider without SOC 2 certification leaves your valuable internal and client data vulnerable. Bad actors prey on brands using outdated practices, taking advantage of common non-compliant openings.

If these attacks succeed, all of your company’s stored data—contact info, banking details, and more—can be stolen and sold or potentially held hostage. Globally, ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common and can cost brands millions of dollars in damages.

But there’s more than just financial value at stake. A data breach could also have legal consequences for your brand. This is especially true if the vendor’s non-compliance leads to violations of data privacy regulations like the California Consumer Privacy Act.

Ultimately, while a data breach can be financially and legally devastating, they deal more damage to your brand’s reputation. If threats steal sensitive data from your site, customers or partners may question your commitment to security, leading to a loss of trust and credibility in the marketplace.

Benefits of choosing SOC 2-compliant vendors 

Fortunately, SOC 2-compliant vendors bring the right security controls to your brand. Because of their commitment to maintaining robust security measures, you’ll have the necessary processes in place to help your company scale securely. 

With a SOC 2-compliant web vendor, your brand has the highest protection against security breaches and vulnerabilities to internal and consumer data. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing that customers can dependably access your site.

Plus, you can confidently say that you’re operating at the top of industry standards. Because you’re associated with vendors that adhere to recognized frameworks, your web experience offers reliability to your customers.

Working with a SOC 2-compliant vendor makes life easier for your team as well. The high control standards make for simpler vendor selection and management, saving valuable time for your internal procurement team by streamlining audit processes. 

How to verify website platform SOC 2 compliance

If you’re looking for a website vendor, confirming their SOC 2 compliance is an important piece of the decision-making process.

To start, reach out to the vendor and request a copy of their SOC 2 reports. Carefully review the findings, looking for any specific outlined vulnerabilities or deficiencies.

When reading, pay close attention to the Trust Service Criteria and how they relate to content management system services. You may also want to check the qualifications and organization of the independent auditor that conducted the review.

During this time, it’s important to check the expiration date of the paperwork to ensure that you have the most recent findings. The timeline of the review may also indicate whether it’s a Type 1 or Type 2 report.

You can conduct further diligence by reviewing any of the brand’s additional security certifications or external references. They should be more than willing to provide details upon request.

SOC 2 and your website security

Choosing the right website vendor can make or break your security. While a well-established provider sets you up for long-term success, a less experienced company can tarnish your brand’s reputation. Whether SOC 2 non-compliance causes operational costs, website downtime—or worse—confidential data breaches, your entire organization can suffer as a result. 

Fortunately, independent certifications like SOC 2 make the choice simple and verifiable for your organization. Doing your due diligence to ensure SOC 2 compliance during procurement can save countless hours and potentially millions of dollars.

Working with a compliant website vendor gives your team the security tools they need to succeed. With a website that’s accessible, accurate, and protected, you can focus on growth instead of managing IT processes and policies.

Stay secure.