How to Run a Proof of Concept for SOC 2 Compliance

The email came in at 3:02 a.m. The vendor claimed their product was “SOC 2 ready.” You needed proof. Not promises.

A Proof of Concept (POC) for SOC 2 compliance strips away marketing and shows if a system can actually meet the audit’s requirements. It’s where controls, processes, and evidence collection are put to the test before committing to a full implementation. When done right, the POC is fast, focused, and brutally honest.

SOC 2 is built around the Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Auditors expect demonstrable controls for each. A POC verifies whether your tools can capture and store the evidence in real time—access logs, vulnerability scans, change management records—without forcing manual workarounds.

Key steps for an effective Proof of Concept SOC 2:

1. Define Scope – Target the systems and workflows most critical for audit readiness.
2. Map Controls – Align SOC 2 criteria to specific technical and procedural measures already in place.
3. Simulate Audit Evidence – Run controlled scenarios to generate artifacts auditors will request.
4. Validate Automation – Ensure the system integrates with code repos, infrastructure, and identity providers to collect and update evidence automatically.
5. Assess Gaps – Document what’s missing so fixes can be made before full rollout.

A strong POC exposes weak spots early. It tells you whether your security and compliance stack can survive the scrutiny of a real SOC 2 audit. It also confirms that stakeholders can access compliance data without delay. The goal isn’t just passing the audit—it’s making compliance a continuous, automated process.

Don’t wait until audit season to find out your tooling fails under pressure. Spin up a Proof of Concept SOC 2 in minutes. See it live with automated evidence and gap detection at hoop.dev.