Comparisons4 June 2026 5 min read

SOC 2 vs SOC 3: Public vs Private Audit Reports

SOC 2 is a confidential report shared under NDA. SOC 3 is a public-facing summary. Learn when each is useful and whether you need both.

Key Takeaways

SOC 3 is a public version of SOC 2 — same audit, same auditor, but only a summary opinion without control details.
SOC 2 is shared under NDA with specific customers; SOC 3 can be posted publicly on your website.
Enterprise buyers require SOC 2, not SOC 3 — SOC 3 is for marketing, not procurement.
Having SOC 2 means you can issue a SOC 3 at no additional audit cost — the work is already done.
SOC 3 is useful for trust centre pages, marketing materials, and prospects who do not need the full report.

In this guide

Overview
SOC 3 Explained
What SOC 3 Contains
When SOC 3 Is Useful
When You Need SOC 2 Specifically
Summary

Overview

SOC 2 and SOC 3 are both outputs of the same audit engagement — they are not separate audits. Understanding the difference helps you communicate your compliance posture effectively to different audiences: the procurement team needs SOC 2; the public trust centre can feature SOC 3.

SOC 3 Explained

SOC 3 is a general use report — a public-facing summary that a service organisation can distribute freely without restriction. It contains the auditor's opinion on whether the organisation's controls met the Trust Services Criteria, but it does not include the detailed description of controls, test procedures, or test results that appear in SOC 2.

SOC 3 can be used on websites, in marketing collateral, in RFP responses as a general reference, and on trust centre pages. Companies can display a SOC 3 seal on their website to signal that they have passed an independent audit.

What SOC 3 Contains

A SOC 3 report typically contains three sections: the auditor's report (the opinion), management's assertion (a statement that controls met the criteria), and the system description (a brief, non-technical overview of the service).

What SOC 3 does not contain (compared to SOC 2): the detailed description of each control, the auditor's testing procedures for each criterion, test results, identified exceptions, and the observation period evidence summary. These details are only in the SOC 2 report.

When SOC 3 Is Useful

Trust centre and website: post your SOC 3 report or seal on your security trust centre page so prospects can confirm you have passed an independent audit without requesting the full SOC 2 under NDA.

Early-stage sales: send SOC 3 to prospects who ask about your security posture before you are at the contract stage. It provides assurance without disclosing the control detail of your SOC 2.

Marketing and PR: announce your SOC 2/3 achievement publicly. SOC 3 is designed for this — SOC 2 contains operational security detail that should not be publicly disclosed.

When You Need SOC 2 Specifically

Enterprise procurement: the vendor security review team will require the full SOC 2 Type II report, signed NDA, and often a vendor questionnaire alongside. SOC 3 alone does not satisfy procurement requirements.

Customer auditors: if a customer's financial or compliance auditors request your SOC report, they need the full SOC 2 with control details and testing results. SOC 3 is insufficient for this purpose.

Security questionnaire responses: when customers send long-form security questionnaires with specific control questions, you support your answers by referencing specific sections of your SOC 2. SOC 3 does not have this level of detail.

Summary

If you have SOC 2, you can issue SOC 3 at no additional audit cost — simply ask your auditor to prepare the shorter public-facing version. There is no reason not to have both.

Treat them as complementary: SOC 2 for procurement and compliance requirements, SOC 3 for public trust-building and early-stage sales conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SOC 3 a separate audit from SOC 2?

No. SOC 3 is produced from the same audit engagement as SOC 2. Your auditor completes the full SOC 2 audit, then prepares a shorter public-facing SOC 3 report based on the same findings. There is typically a small additional fee ($500–$2,000) for the separate SOC 3 document.

Can I post my SOC 2 report publicly?

You can, but it is generally not advisable. Your SOC 2 contains detailed information about your control environment, testing procedures, and any exceptions. This information could be useful to attackers. SOC 3 is designed specifically for public distribution and contains only the auditor's opinion.

Does SOC 3 include Type I and Type II?

Yes — SOC 3 can be issued for either a Type I or Type II engagement. Like SOC 2, a SOC 3 based on a Type II audit is more credible because it attests to controls operating effectively over time. Enterprise buyers who see a SOC 3 seal can ask what period it covers.

Can I use SOC 3 for GDPR or DPDP compliance evidence?

Not directly. Regulatory compliance requirements (GDPR Article 28, DPDP Act security obligations) require substantive evidence of controls — the SOC 2 report with its detailed control descriptions and testing results. SOC 3 is too high-level for this purpose.

What is a SOC 3 seal and where can I use it?

A SOC 3 seal (AICPA's Trust Services seal or your auditor's equivalent) is a graphic that indicates your organisation has passed a SOC 3 examination. You can display it on your website, in marketing materials, and in proposals. It signals independent audit assurance without sharing confidential control details.

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