Password Rotation Policies for SOC 2 Compliance

Password rotation policies are a critical part of SOC 2’s security controls. They protect against compromised credentials, insider threats, and forgotten accounts lingering in the system. Without a clear rotation strategy, you fail the security principle—and that means failing the audit.

SOC 2 does not dictate an exact rotation period. Instead, it requires you to define and enforce a policy that meets industry best practices. For most teams, this means 90 days for administrative accounts, shorter for privileged system access, and immediate rotation when suspicious activity is detected. The policy must be documented, automated where possible, and tracked for evidence during audits.

Strong password rotation policies combine technical enforcement with operational discipline. Use centralized identity providers like Okta or Azure AD to set rotation intervals and lock expired credentials. Integrate these settings with your logging system so auditors can verify compliance. Multi-factor authentication should be included in the same policy to reduce risk even further.

Auditors expect proof. This means having rotation logs, policy version history, and system screenshots ready. If your process is manual, gaps will be found. Automation ensures no user bypasses the rules and no password stays active beyond its allowed lifespan.

Failing here is expensive. Passing here is simple: define the rotation period, apply it consistently, and prove it works. Your SOC 2 report depends on it.

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