Actioner Achieves SOC 2 Compliance – What it means for you

Actioner is proud to announce that we have achieved SOC 2 Type 2 certification! This certification confirms the rigorous security, availability, privacy, and reliability standards we have implemented to protect our clients' data, in compliance with the AICPA’s (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) TSC (Trust Services Criteria). This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data security and compliance.

But what exactly does SOC 2 Type 2 certification mean for our customers?

Read on to discover how this achievement benefits you and demonstrates our dedication to providing a secure and trustworthy platform.

What is SOC 2 Type 2 Certification?

SOC 2 Type 2 certification is a widely recognized standard for data security and operational maturity in the tech industry. Developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) focuses on five "trust service principles"—security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. The Type 2 designation specifically involves a thorough, ongoing audit of a company’s systems and processes over a period of time, typically six months to a year.

Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification demonstrates that a company not only has robust security policies and procedures in place but also consistently follows them over time. This certification provides external validation that an organization is committed to protecting customer data and maintaining high standards of operational effectiveness.

For Actioner, obtaining SOC 2 Type 2 certification signifies our unwavering commitment to security, privacy, and reliability. It assures our customers that we prioritize safeguarding their data and maintaining the integrity of our services. This milestone reflects our dedication to upholding the highest industry standards and continuously improving our security posture.

The Importance of Security and Compliance for Actioner and Our Customers

At Actioner, security and compliance are integral to our mission. In an age where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly common, safeguarding our users' data is paramount. Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification underscores our commitment to providing a secure and trustworthy platform.

This certification holds significant importance for Actioner and our customers. It demonstrates that we have implemented rigorous controls and procedures to protect customer information. By adhering to the stringent requirements of SOC 2 Type 2, we affirm our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of data security and operational excellence.

For our customers, the benefits of SOC 2 Type 2 certification are substantial. They can trust that Actioner has taken extensive measures to ensure the security, availability, and confidentiality of their data. This certification provides assurance that our platform is reliable and that we prioritize the protection of their sensitive information.

The process of achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification has also led to significant enhancements and improvements within our organization. We have refined our security policies, streamlined our processes, and fortified our infrastructure. These improvements translate directly into a more robust and secure platform for our users.

Moreover, SOC 2 Type 2 certification reinforces our commitment to transparency and accountability. It shows that we are not only meeting but exceeding industry standards, continuously working to enhance our security measures. Our customers can be confident that they are partnering with a company that values their security and is committed to maintaining the highest levels of compliance.

In a world where trust is essential, SOC 2 Type 2 certification is a key differentiator for Actioner. It sets us apart as a company that values security, privacy, and operational excellence. This milestone underscores our pledge to provide a safe and reliable platform for all our users and reflects our ongoing dedication to security and compliance.

By prioritizing security and compliance, we not only protect our customers' data but also foster trust and confidence in our platform. Our commitment to these principles ensures that we continue to deliver exceptional value and peace of mind to our users, reinforcing our position as a trusted partner in their success.

Our Journey to SOC 2 Type 2 Certification

Our journey to achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification began 9 months ago, with a firm commitment to meeting the highest standards of security and compliance. Recognizing the importance of rigorous monitoring and continuous improvement, we partnered with Drata, a leading platform for continuous compliance monitoring. Drata served as our central registry for policies, assets, evidence, and reports, enabling us to maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date compliance framework.

Before the official audit and observation period commenced, we took the initiative to conduct an internal audit. This self-audit involved orchestrating all our departments—from engineering to HR—to ensure that the necessary policies, architectures, and processes were in place. We meticulously reviewed our systems to identify and address any gaps, ensuring we were fully prepared for the external audit.

This proactive approach paid off significantly. By the time the official third-party audit period began, our processes were well-established, and the evidence of our compliance controls was a natural reflection of our day-to-day operations. The smooth and efficient audit process was a testament to our thorough preparation and dedication to compliance.

Throughout this journey, we treated any identified requirements that were missing or insufficient as high priorities. Despite the myriad of business demands typical for a startup, we struck a perfect balance between addressing these needs and managing our compliance obligations. Our team’s commitment and coordinated effort ensured that we met our goals without compromising on our operational priorities.

Enhancements and Improvements Made During the Certification Process

The SOC 2 Type 2 certification process served as a catalyst for numerous enhancements and improvements to our product and underlying infrastructure, focusing on security, availability, privacy, and reliability. Here are some key advancements we made during this journey:

• Infrastructure-Level Data Retention Framework: We developed a robust data retention framework to meet our data cleanup and disposal requirements. This framework ensures that data is managed securely and efficiently, aligning with our commitment to privacy and compliance.
• Intelligent Threat Detection and Enhanced Network Security: We integrated AWS GuardDuty for intelligent threat detection within our infrastructure. Additionally, we enhanced our network firewall layers with automated, intelligent rules to bolster security. These improvements enable proactive threat identification and mitigation, ensuring a safer environment for our users.

• Vulnerability Management in the Software Development Life Cycle: Embedding vulnerability management into our software development life cycle was a crucial step. Tools like AWS Inspector and Snyk have become integral to our process, helping us identify and address vulnerabilities early in the development stages.

• Reliability and Multi-Region Expansion: To enhance reliability, we expanded our operations to multiple regions and improved our multi-region data backup framework. These measures ensure greater resilience and availability of our services, providing a more robust experience for our users.
• Company-Wide Password Management: We adopted 1Password as our password manager across the entire company. This step ensures that all our team members follow best practices for password security, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

• Regular Security Training: We initiated regular security training sessions for all departments. These trainings keep our team informed about the latest security practices and threats, fostering a culture of security awareness within the organization.
• Periodic Security and Vulnerability Testing: We began conducting regular security and vulnerability tests through independent third parties. These tests provide an unbiased assessment of our security posture, helping us identify and rectify potential weaknesses.
• Automation of Temporary Access Rights: We developed AWS IAMGuard to automate the management of temporary access rights on the AWS Console. This tool streamlines access control, ensuring that permissions are granted securely and only when necessary.

By leveraging the SOC 2 process as a guiding framework, we have not only met the certification requirements but also significantly enhanced the overall security and reliability of our platform. These improvements reflect our ongoing commitment to providing a secure and dependable service for our customers.

Future Commitment to Security and Compliance

At Actioner, our commitment to security and compliance is an ongoing journey. Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 certification is a significant milestone, but it is just the beginning. We are dedicated to continuously enhancing our security measures and maintaining the highest standards of compliance. Here are some of our future commitments:

• Annual SOC 2 Type 2 Certification Renewal: We will renew our SOC 2 Type 2 certification every May to ensure that we consistently meet and exceed the required standards. This annual renewal process will keep us accountable and up-to-date with the latest best practices in security and compliance.
• Privacy Shield and GDPR Improvements: We will continue participating in the Privacy Shield framework and enhancing our GDPR standards. Protecting our users' privacy is a top priority, and we are committed to ongoing improvements in our data protection practices to meet and exceed regulatory requirements.
• Achieving CSA STAR Level 2: We aim to make Actioner a CSA STAR Level 2 organization. This certification will further validate our security controls and demonstrate our dedication to cloud security and transparency.
• Pursuing ISO27001:2022 Certification: We are starting the necessary processes to achieve ISO27001:2022 certification. This internationally recognized standard will provide a robust framework for managing our information security management system (ISMS) and further enhance our security posture.

Our future commitments are designed to ensure that Actioner remains at the forefront of security and compliance. We believe that maintaining these high standards is essential for protecting our customers' data and earning their trust. As we continue to grow and evolve, our dedication to security and compliance will remain a core part of our mission, ensuring that we provide a secure, reliable, and trustworthy platform for all our users.

By staying proactive and continuously improving our security measures, we aim to exceed industry standards and set new benchmarks in the field of security and compliance. Our customers can rest assured that we will always prioritize their security and work tirelessly to protect their data and privacy.

At Actioner, we believe that security and compliance are integral to building trust and delivering exceptional value to our customers. As we move forward, we will remain vigilant and proactive, continuously improving our security measures and staying ahead of emerging threats.

We thank our customers for their trust and support and look forward to continuing to provide a secure, reliable, and innovative platform that meets their needs and exceeds their expectations. Together, we will create a safer and more secure digital landscape.

Do you have any questions about how SOC 2 Type 2 compliance works or how we adhere to it? Are you interested in learning how our secure platform can streamline your development processes and enhance your operational efficiency? We’re here to assist you. To learn more, request a demo or contact us at security@actioner.com today!