SOC 2 Vendor Assessment Template

Your vendors handle your customer data. Their security failures become your compliance violations. A SOC 2 vendor assessment template transforms this risk into manageable, auditable controls.

Most TPRM managers waste 15-20 hours per vendor collecting the same security evidence repeatedly. Generic security questionnaires miss critical SOC 2 requirements. Vendors submit irrelevant documentation. Risk scores remain subjective. Your auditor questions control inheritance claims.

A purpose-built SOC 2 vendor assessment template solves these problems through structured evidence collection aligned to trust services criteria. You ask the right questions once. Vendors provide specific control evidence. Risk scores follow consistent methodology. Your auditor sees clear control mapping.

This guide breaks down the essential sections, scoring methods, and implementation strategies that make SOC 2 vendor assessments efficient and audit-ready.

Core Template Sections

1. Vendor Profile and Criticality Assessment

Start with business context before diving into controls. This section captures:

• Service description: What data they process, which systems they access
• Data classification: PII, PHI, financial records, intellectual property
• User counts: How many of your employees/customers interact with their service
• Recovery requirements: Maximum tolerable downtime and data loss
• Regulatory exposure: GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA obligations they inherit

Score criticality on a 1-5 scale based on data sensitivity and business impact. Critical vendors (4-5) require annual assessments with full evidence review. Medium-risk vendors (2-3) need biennial reviews. Low-risk vendors (1) can use abbreviated questionnaires.

2. Trust Services Criteria Mapping

Structure questions around SOC 2's five trust services criteria:

Security (Common Criteria)

• Access control procedures (CC6.1-CC6.8)
• Change management processes (CC8.1)
• Risk assessment methodology (CC3.1-CC3.4)
• Incident response procedures (CC7.3-CC7.5)

Availability

• Business continuity planning (A1.1-A1.3)
• Performance monitoring (A1.2)
• Disaster recovery testing frequency

Processing Integrity

• Data validation controls (PI1.1-PI1.5)
• Error handling procedures
• Quality assurance processes

Confidentiality

• Encryption standards for data at rest/transit (C1.1-C1.2)
• Data retention and disposal procedures
• Confidentiality agreements with subprocessors

Privacy

• Privacy notice requirements (P1.1)
• Consent management (P2.1)
• Data subject request procedures (P7.1)

Each section includes specific evidence requests: policies, procedures, audit reports, penetration test results, configuration screenshots.

3. Control Evidence Requirements

Replace yes/no questions with evidence-based validation:

Control Area	Required Evidence	Acceptable Formats
Access Management	User access reviews, provisioning logs	CSV exports, PDF reports, screenshots
Encryption	Configuration files, certificate details	Technical documentation, vendor attestation
Incident Response	Incident logs, response procedures	Ticketing system exports, runbooks
Business Continuity	BCP test results, recovery procedures	Test reports, RTO/RPO documentation
Vulnerability Management	Scan reports, remediation timelines	Automated scan outputs, patch logs

4. Risk Scoring Methodology

Implement objective scoring based on control maturity:

Control Implementation Levels:

• Optimized (5): Automated controls with continuous monitoring
• Managed (4): Documented processes with regular review cycles
• Defined (3): Formal procedures exist but lack consistent execution
• Informal (2): Ad-hoc processes without documentation
• Nonexistent (1): No controls in place

Calculate composite risk scores:

Vendor Risk Score = (Control Score × Criticality × Compliance Gap) / Maximum Possible Score

Vendors scoring below 3.0 require remediation plans within 30 days.

Industry-Specific Considerations

Financial Services

Add sections for:

• SOX compliance status
• PCI DSS certification level
• Background check procedures for personnel with financial system access
• Segregation of duties in payment processing

Healthcare

Include HIPAA-specific controls:

• Business Associate Agreement execution
• PHI encryption standards
• Breach notification procedures
• Minimum necessary access principles

Technology/SaaS

Focus on:

• API security controls
• Multi-tenancy isolation
• Code deployment procedures
• Open source vulnerability management

Implementation Best Practices

1. Pre-Assessment Preparation

Send vendors a data request list 2 weeks before the assessment. Include:

• Required documents (SOC 2 report, pen test results, policies)
• System access needs for control validation
• Key contact information for technical teams

2. Staged Rollout

Week 1-2: Document review and initial scoring Week 3: Technical validation sessions Week 4: Risk scoring and remediation planning

3. Continuous Monitoring Integration

Don't wait for annual reviews. Implement:

• Quarterly control attestations for critical vendors
• Automated certificate expiration tracking
• Security incident notification requirements
• Annual SOC 2 report updates

4. Stakeholder Communication

Create role-specific outputs:

• For Legal: Contract gap analysis and liability assessment
• For IT: Technical control deficiencies and integration risks
• For Executives: Risk heat maps and budget impact analysis

Common Implementation Mistakes

1. Over-Surveying Low-Risk Vendors

Marketing analytics tools don't need the same scrutiny as payment processors. Match assessment depth to risk level.

2. Accepting Outdated SOC 2 Reports

Reports older than 12 months miss recent control changes. Require bridge letters or updated reports.

3. Ignoring Subservice Providers

Your vendor's vendors matter. Map the full supply chain for critical services.

4. Missing Control Inheritance Documentation

Your auditor needs explicit evidence showing which controls you inherit versus implement yourself. Document control boundaries clearly.

5. Neglecting Remediation Tracking

Finding gaps without fixing them wastes everyone's time. Build remediation timelines into initial assessments.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a SOC 2 vendor assessment differ from a general security questionnaire?

SOC 2 assessments map directly to trust services criteria with specific control requirements and evidence standards. General questionnaires lack this framework alignment and often miss critical SOC 2 controls like logical access reviews or change management procedures.

Should I require all vendors to have their own SOC 2 report?

Require SOC 2 reports for vendors processing sensitive data or providing critical infrastructure. For low-risk vendors, a completed assessment template with supporting evidence suffices. Consider vendor size—smaller vendors may have equivalent controls without formal SOC 2 certification.

How often should I reassess vendors using this template?

Critical vendors need annual assessments, medium-risk vendors every two years, and low-risk vendors every three years. Trigger immediate reassessments after security incidents, significant service changes, or M&A activity.

Can I use this template for SOC 2 Type I preparation?

Yes, but remember Type I assesses control design at a point in time. Add sections for control testing procedures and evidence of operating effectiveness to prepare for Type II requirements.

What if a vendor refuses to complete the detailed assessment?

Start with their existing compliance documentation (SOC 2 reports, ISO certifications). Map these to your template requirements. For gaps, negotiate specific evidence requests or consider contract amendments requiring compliance.

How do I score vendors that partially meet control requirements?

Use graduated scoring: Fully implemented (100%), Partially implemented with compensating controls (75%), Partially implemented with gaps (50%), Planned implementation (25%), Not implemented (0%). Document compensating controls explicitly.