Which statement accurately describes SOC 3 in relation to SOC 2?

Which statement accurately describes SOC 3 in relation to SOC 2?

• A. They provide the same detail as SOC 2
• B. They are not publicly available
• C. SOC 3 is the same as SOC 2 but available for public use
• D. SOC 1 covers privacy only

Answer: (C)

SOC reports use the same set of trust service criteria (security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy), but they differ in detail and distribution. A SOC 2 report is detailed and usually confidential, meant for a specific audience such as clients and auditors. A SOC 3 delivers the same overall controls framework and auditor opinion, but in a concise, high-level summary that can be shared publicly. That’s why this statement is the best: SOC 3 reflects the same controls and conclusion as SOC 2, but it’s designed for public use without exposing the detailed testing results found in a full SOC 2 report. The other options don’t fit because SOC 2 is not the same level of detail as SOC 3, SOC 3 is publicly available, and SOC 1 is about controls relevant to financial reporting rather than privacy.

SOC reports use the same set of trust service criteria (security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy), but they differ in detail and distribution. A SOC 2 report is detailed and usually confidential, meant for a specific audience such as clients and auditors. A SOC 3 delivers the same overall controls framework and auditor opinion, but in a concise, high-level summary that can be shared publicly. That’s why this statement is the best: SOC 3 reflects the same controls and conclusion as SOC 2, but it’s designed for public use without exposing the detailed testing results found in a full SOC 2 report. The other options don’t fit because SOC 2 is not the same level of detail as SOC 3, SOC 3 is publicly available, and SOC 1 is about controls relevant to financial reporting rather than privacy.