Leveraging framework overlap is the most efficient way to comply with the growing number of security and privacy requirements.

That’s because using the work you’ve already done for one security framework to help you achieve another certification or reach compliance helps to reduce redundancy, ensure comprehensive coverage, simplify management, ensure flexibility and scalability, reduce risk, and optimize resource allocation.

In this post, we’ll take a look at exactly how you can best leverage framework overlap between SOC 2 and CPRA.

SOC 2 and CPRA

For many companies operating in California, both SOC 2 and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) — formerly CCPA — are must-haves. While the CPRA itself doesn't prescribe specific controls like some other compliance frameworks, aligning with SOC 2 controls can help organizations meet CPRA requirements, especially those related to data security and privacy.

And, identifying the CPRA-SOC2 overlap and using a platform — like Strike Graph — that supports multi-framework mapping can get you across both finish lines faster and more efficiently.

To get you started, here are 12 SOC 2 controls that can also help you reach CPRA compliance:

Control environment

The control environment, as defined by the COSO (Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) framework, encompasses the organizational structure, culture, and processes that influence how a company manages its risks and achieves its objectives.

Establishing a strong control environment by defining policies and procedures related to data protection, access controls, and incident response can help you reach both SOC 2 and CPRA compliance.

Risk assessment

SOC 2 addresses an organization's processes and controls related to identifying, assessing, and managing risks that could impact the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of the systems and data covered by the SOC 2 audit.

Regularly assessing and identifying risks to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data is also essential for the CPRA's data protection requirements.

Access control

SOC 2 addresses the controls and practices that organizations have in place to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to their systems and data.

Implementing strict access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive data is also consistent with CPRA's requirements for data access and protection.

Data classification

SOC 2 focuses on how organizations classify, handle, and protect sensitive information, including customer data and other confidential information.

Properly classifying and categorizing data — including personal information — is also required by the CPRA to manage the handling and protection of data inventory and data mapping.

Data encryption

SOC 2 speaks to various aspects of data protection, including encryption, which is a fundamental component of protecting data confidentiality and is crucial for meeting SOC 2 compliance requirements.

Encrypting sensitive data, both in transit and at rest, to safeguard against unauthorized access aligns perfectly with the CPRA's emphasis on data security.

Incident response

SOC 2 assesses how organizations prepare for, respond to, and manage security incidents and events that could potentially impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the systems and data they are responsible for.

Developing, documenting, and establishing an incident response plan to continuously monitor for security incidents and address data breaches promptly also maps to the CPRA, as it has stringent breach notification, incident management, and reporting requirements.

Vendor management

SOC 2 assesses how organizations manage and oversee their relationships with third-party vendors and service providers, particularly those that may have access to or process sensitive data on behalf of the organization.

Already having these SOC 2 requirements in place ensures that third-party vendors handling personal information adhere to the same data protection standards as outlined in CPRA, as data sharing is also a critical aspect of CPRA compliance.

Auditing and monitoring

SOC 2 assesses an organization's ability to monitor, log, and analyze activities within its systems and networks. 

By implementing regular audits of your security and privacy program, you’ll ensure effective monitoring and logging. You’ll also do a better job identifying and responding to security incidents, maintaining the integrity of systems, and meeting compliance requirements of both SOC 2 and CPRA.

Data retention and disposal

SOC 2 includes considerations for how data is retained and ultimately disposed of when it is no longer needed.

Establishing data retention and secure disposal policies and procedures also aligns with the CPRA's requirements for limiting data processing and storage.

Data subject rights

SOC 2 focuses on the responsibilities of the service organization and the service auditor in the context of SOC 2 reporting. However, it also indirectly encompasses aspects related to data subject rights and the organization's obligations under data protection laws, such as GDPR and CPRA.

Developing processes and procedures to address data subject rights — such as the right to access, correct, and delete personal information — is also mandated by, and covers you for, the CPRA.

Security awareness and training

SOC 2 addresses an organization's practices and controls related to security awareness, training, and education for its employees and other personnel. 

Conducting regular security awareness training for employees on data protection, privacy, and security best practices and ensuring they understand and comply can also help you meet CPRA's requirements for employee training and awareness.

Privacy impact assessments (PIAs)

SOC 2 evaluations often involve assessing whether an organization has processes and controls in place to meet privacy requirements, including those related to conducting privacy impact assessments (PIAs).

Performing PIAs to evaluate the potential privacy risks associated with data processing activities is also required by CPRA.

Using Strike Graph can get you to compliance faster — on multiple fronts

Using an all-in-one compliance platform like Strike Graph can help you go from the compliance starting line to the finish line faster, more efficiently, and with less time, money, and human resources invested. That’s because our multi-framework mapping feature allows you to connect controls — and their associated evidence — to as many security frameworks as you need in your security program. 

That means for frameworks that have a lot of overlap, like SOC 2 and CPRA, you don’t have to map each individual control to each framework. Instead, you’ll be able to use the controls you create for SOC 2 for CPRA. And, when you need to make updates or add additional evidence, you’ll be able to do so across all of your frameworks at once.