Summary

Marketing software handles some of the most sensitive data in your organization — customer emails, behavioral data, purchase history, and personally identifiable information (PII). If your marketing platform is a SaaS product or if you’re evaluating a marketing vendor, understanding SOC 2 requirements is essential for protecting your business and your customers. Not every TSC is mandatory. The Security criterion (CC series) is required for all SOC 2 audits. Additional criteria are selected based on your product’s specific commitments to customers. Addressing these gaps before your audit window begins is essential to achieving a clean report.

SOC 2 Requirements for Marketing Software: A Complete Compliance Guide

This guide breaks down exactly what SOC 2 compliance means for marketing software, which Trust Service Criteria apply, and how to build a compliance program that satisfies auditors and enterprise buyers alike.

What Is SOC 2 and Why Does It Matter for Marketing Software?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an auditing framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). It evaluates how a software company manages customer data based on five Trust Service Criteria (TSC): Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.

For marketing software specifically, SOC 2 matters because:

Marketing platforms process large volumes of contact data and behavioral analytics
Email marketing tools store opt-in records and campaign engagement history
CRM integrations create pathways between systems that must be secured
Enterprise buyers increasingly require SOC 2 Type II reports before signing contracts
Data breaches in marketing systems can expose millions of customer records

Whether you’re building a marketing automation tool or evaluating one as a buyer, SOC 2 compliance signals that data security is taken seriously.

The Two Types of SOC 2 Reports

SOC 2 Type I

A Type I report evaluates whether your controls are designed appropriately at a single point in time. It’s faster to obtain and useful for early-stage companies wanting to demonstrate initial compliance posture.

SOC 2 Type II

A Type II report evaluates whether your controls operated effectively over a period of time (typically 6–12 months). This is the gold standard that enterprise clients expect and is far more meaningful from a security assurance perspective.

Most mature marketing software companies pursue SOC 2 Type II to satisfy procurement requirements from large customers.

Which Trust Service Criteria Apply to Marketing Software?

Not every TSC is mandatory. The Security criterion (CC series) is required for all SOC 2 audits. Additional criteria are selected based on your product’s specific commitments to customers.

Security (Required)

The Common Criteria (CC) controls cover the foundation of your security program. For marketing software, this includes:

Access controls: Who can access campaign data, contact lists, and API integrations
Logical and physical access: Multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and secure data centers
Change management: How code changes are reviewed, tested, and deployed
Risk assessment: Ongoing identification and mitigation of security risks
Incident response: Documented procedures for detecting and responding to breaches
Vendor management: Security assessments of third-party integrations like ad platforms and analytics tools

Availability

If your marketing software promises uptime SLAs, the Availability criterion applies. This covers:

Infrastructure monitoring and alerting
Disaster recovery and business continuity planning
Capacity planning to handle campaign send volumes
Documented recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs)

Confidentiality

Marketing platforms often process data that customers expect to remain confidential — proprietary audience segments, competitive campaign strategies, and customer lists. Confidentiality controls include:

Encryption of data at rest and in transit
Data classification policies
Non-disclosure agreements with employees and contractors
Secure data deletion procedures when contracts end

Privacy

If your marketing software collects, uses, or retains personal data — which virtually all do — the Privacy criterion is highly relevant. This aligns closely with regulations like GDPR and CCPA and covers:

Notice and consent mechanisms
Data minimization practices
Individual rights management (access, deletion, correction)
Retention and disposal schedules
Cross-border data transfer safeguards

Core SOC 2 Controls Marketing Software Companies Must Implement

1. Information Security Policy

You need a written, board-approved information security policy that defines your organization’s commitment to protecting customer data. This policy forms the backbone of your entire compliance program.

2. Access Management Controls

Marketing platforms often have complex permission structures. Your access management program should include:

Formal onboarding and offboarding procedures
Quarterly access reviews
Principle of least privilege enforcement
MFA for all production system access

3. Encryption Standards

All customer data must be encrypted:

In transit: TLS 1.2 or higher for all data transfers
At rest: AES-256 encryption for stored data including contact databases and campaign records

4. Vulnerability Management

Marketing software companies must demonstrate a proactive approach to vulnerabilities:

Regular penetration testing (at least annually)
Automated vulnerability scanning of infrastructure
Patch management with defined remediation timelines
Secure software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices

5. Incident Response Plan

You need a documented plan that covers detection, containment, notification, and post-incident review. For marketing software, this is especially critical given the volume of PII involved in contact databases.

6. Vendor and Third-Party Risk Management

Marketing platforms integrate with dozens of tools — ad networks, analytics platforms, payment processors, and CRMs. Each integration is a potential risk vector. Your vendor management program should include:

Security questionnaires for all critical vendors
Annual reviews of vendor SOC 2 reports
Contractual data processing agreements (DPAs)

7. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery

Document and test your ability to restore services after an outage. This is particularly important for email marketing tools where campaign timing is business-critical.

Common SOC 2 Gaps in Marketing Software Companies

Many marketing SaaS companies enter their first audit with significant gaps. The most common include:

Undocumented processes: Controls exist informally but aren’t written down or consistently followed
Weak offboarding procedures: Former employees retain access to production systems
Missing audit logs: No centralized logging for user activity and system events
Inadequate subprocessor management: Third-party integrations aren’t formally assessed
No formal risk assessment: Risk identification is reactive rather than systematic

Addressing these gaps before your audit window begins is essential to achieving a clean report.

How Long Does SOC 2 Compliance Take for Marketing Software?

The timeline depends on your starting point:

Phase	Duration
Gap assessment	2–4 weeks
Remediation and control implementation	3–6 months
Type I audit	4–8 weeks
Type II observation period	6–12 months
Type II audit	6–10 weeks

Companies that start with pre-built policy templates and frameworks significantly reduce their remediation time and audit preparation costs.

FAQ: SOC 2 Requirements for Marketing Software

Do all marketing software companies need SOC 2 compliance?

SOC 2 is not legally required, but it has become a de facto requirement for selling to mid-market and enterprise customers. If your marketing platform handles customer PII or integrates with enterprise tech stacks, expect SOC 2 to appear in procurement checklists.

Which SOC 2 criteria should a marketing automation platform pursue?

At minimum, Security is required. Most marketing platforms should also pursue Availability (if offering uptime SLAs) and Privacy (given the volume of personal data processed). Confidentiality is recommended if you handle proprietary customer data like audience segments.

How does SOC 2 relate to GDPR and CCPA for marketing software?

SOC 2’s Privacy criterion overlaps significantly with GDPR and CCPA requirements. While SOC 2 doesn’t replace these regulations, achieving Privacy TSC compliance often satisfies many of the technical and organizational measures required under data protection law. Running both programs together creates efficiency.

How much does SOC 2 compliance cost for a marketing SaaS company?

Costs vary widely. A typical SOC 2 Type II audit from a reputable firm ranges from $20,000 to $60,000. Compliance automation tools, legal fees, and internal staff time add to this. Using pre-built policy templates and documentation frameworks can reduce preparation costs by 40–60%.

Can a small marketing software startup achieve SOC 2 compliance?

Absolutely. SOC 2 is scalable. Smaller companies can scope their audit appropriately, focus on the most relevant criteria, and use templates and automation tools to build a compliant program without a dedicated security team.

Build Your SOC 2 Program Faster with Ready-to-Use Templates

Building a SOC 2 compliance program from scratch is time-consuming, expensive, and easy to get wrong. Every policy, procedure, and control needs to be documented in a format that satisfies auditors — and that documentation needs to reflect how your marketing software actually operates.

Our SOC 2 compliance template library gives you everything you need:

✅ Information Security Policy
✅ Access Control and User Management Procedures
✅ Incident Response Plan
✅ Vendor Risk Management Framework
✅ Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan
✅ Privacy Notice and Data Processing Procedures
✅ Risk Assessment Templates
✅ Audit-ready evidence collection checklists

These templates are written by compliance professionals, formatted for real audits, and customizable for marketing software companies of any size.

Stop spending months writing policies from scratch. Get audit-ready in weeks.

👉 Browse Our SOC 2 Template Library and Start Your Compliance Program Today