SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 · Hub71, ADGM, Masdar City and twofour54
SOC 2 Compliance in Abu Dhabi
Intello gets Abu Dhabi tech, AI and fintech companies ready for their SOC 2 audit. We assess your controls against the Trust Services Criteria, build what is missing, organise the evidence and work with your CPA auditor until your SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2 report is issued.
- On site in Abu Dhabi
- 500+ clients
- 99% client satisfaction
What is SOC 2, and why Abu Dhabi tech companies need it
SOC 2 is an independent audit report on how a service company protects its clients’ data, based on the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria. It is not a certificate: a licensed CPA firm audits your controls and issues a report you share with clients under NDA. For Abu Dhabi companies selling to the US and global enterprises, it is often the document that closes the deal.
| Framework | AICPA Trust Services Criteria: Security (always included), plus Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality and Privacy if relevant |
|---|---|
| Who audits | An independent licensed CPA firm. Consultants prepare you; they cannot issue the report |
| Type 1 | Controls designed properly at a single point in time |
| Type 2 | Controls working over an observation period, usually 3 to 12 months |
| Who asks for it | Enterprise buyers, especially in the US, in vendor security reviews |
| Where we work | On site anywhere in Abu Dhabi, and remotely from our Dubai office |
SOC 2 for Abu Dhabi’s tech and AI companies
Abu Dhabi has built one of the region’s fastest-growing tech scenes, and much of it sells abroad. When a US or European client runs a vendor review, a SOC 2 report answers most of their questions at once.
Hub71 start-ups
Venture-backed software and AI companies in Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem, often facing their first enterprise security review.
ADGM fintechs
Payment, wealth and digital-asset platforms regulated by the FSRA that serve banks and partners abroad. See ADGM compliance.
Masdar City
Clean-tech, AI and research companies that host data and models for international clients.
twofour54
Media, gaming and content platforms handling user and partner data at scale.
Managed service and cloud providers
IT, cloud and security providers whose government and enterprise clients assess them as critical suppliers.
Companies already ISO 27001 certified
Most of your controls carry over. We map your ISO 27001 ISMS to the Trust Services Criteria and close the gaps.
Also available: SOC 2 compliance in Dubai · SOC 2 across the UAE · SOC 2 in Sharjah
Do you need SOC 2 compliance in Abu Dhabi?
A SOC 2 report is usually worth it if any of these apply to you:
- A client or prospect has asked for your SOC 2 report in a security review
- You sell software, AI, cloud or data services to enterprises, especially in the US
- Your sales team spends weeks answering security questionnaires
- You host, process or store client data as a service provider
- You already hold ISO 27001 and clients still ask for SOC 2
- An investor or partner wants independent proof of your security controls
Selling mainly to Gulf government and enterprise buyers? They often prefer ISO 27001. Many Abu Dhabi companies end up with both, and we will tell you which to do first in the readiness call.
What SOC 2 compliance involves
The Security criteria (the common criteria in the [2017 Trust Services Criteria](https://www.aicpa-cima.com/resources/download/2017-trust-services-criteria-with-revised-points-of-focus-2022)) are in every SOC 2 report. The other four categories are added only if they matter to your clients.
Control environment and governance
Management oversight, an organisation chart, a code of conduct and clear security roles, even in a small start-up.
Risk assessment
A documented, repeatable process for identifying and managing risks, including fraud and supplier risk.
Access control
Joiner, mover and leaver processes, multi-factor authentication, least privilege and regular access reviews.
Change management
Approved, tested and recorded changes to code, models and infrastructure, with separation of duties.
System operations and monitoring
Logging, alerting, vulnerability management and incident response that are running and evidenced.
Vendor management
Due diligence and monitoring of the suppliers and cloud services that touch client data.
Availability and continuity
Backups, disaster recovery and capacity planning, if your clients depend on uptime.
Confidentiality and privacy
Data classification, encryption, retention and deletion, including training data for AI models, if in scope.
How we get Abu Dhabi companies to a SOC 2 report
A clear sequence from first call to report, with the audit firm involved early so there are no surprises.
- 1
Readiness call and scoping
We agree the system in scope, which Trust Services Criteria to include, and whether to start with Type 1 or go straight to Type 2.
Week 0 · free
- 2
Readiness assessment
Your current controls tested against the chosen criteria, with a gap list ranked by audit risk.
Weeks 1–3
- 3
Remediation and policies
Missing controls built, policies written and tools set up with your engineering team. A compliance automation platform can speed up evidence collection.
Weeks 3–10
- 4
Evidence and mock audit
Evidence organised the way auditors ask for it, then a mock audit to catch gaps early.
Before the audit
- 5
Type 1 audit
The CPA firm checks control design at a single date. Useful when a deal needs a report quickly.
Optional
- 6
Type 2 observation and audit
Controls run and evidence is collected through the observation period. We support you until the report is issued.
3–12 months
A first Type 1 report is often possible within three to four months. A Type 2 report needs an observation period on top of that.
What our SOC 2 compliance services in Abu Dhabi include
- Readiness assessment against the selected Trust Services Criteria
- Scope and system description draft
- Prioritised gap list and remediation plan
- SOC 2 policy set: security, access, change, incident, vendor, continuity and more
- Control matrix mapping each criterion to your controls and evidence
- Evidence collection plan and mock audit
- Support choosing a CPA firm and during the audit
- Mapping to ISO 27001 if you have or want both
Choose how we work with you
SOC 2 readiness assessment
2–3 weeksBest for: Knowing exactly what an auditor would find
- · Control testing
- · Gap list
- · Remediation roadmap
Full SOC 2 programme
3–12 monthsBest for: Getting from zero to a report
- · Readiness and remediation
- · Policies and evidence
- · Audit support for Type 1 and Type 2
Ongoing SOC 2 support
YearlyBest for: Yearly Type 2 renewals
- · Evidence reviews
- · Control monitoring
- · Renewal audit support
Is an enterprise deal waiting on your SOC 2 report?
Tell us when your client needs it. We will tell you whether a Type 1 report can get there first and what a Type 2 will take.
SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2 for Abu Dhabi companies
Most enterprise clients ultimately want a Type 2 report. A Type 1 report can be a faster first step when a deal is waiting.
| SOC 2 Type 1 | SOC 2 Type 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | Whether controls are designed properly | Whether controls worked over a period |
| Period covered | A single date | Usually 3 to 12 months |
| Time to report | Faster | Longer, because of the observation period |
| What clients think of it | A good start | The report most enterprise buyers ask for |
| Renewal | Usually replaced by a Type 2 | Renewed every year |
What affects the cost of SOC 2 compliance in Abu Dhabi
You get a written scope and a fixed consulting fee after the readiness call. These are the factors that move it:
- Criteria in scope
- Security only, or Security plus Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity or Privacy.
- System size
- The number of products, environments, cloud accounts and teams in scope.
- Starting point
- Existing ISO 27001 or security policies shorten the work considerably.
- Type 1 or Type 2
- A Type 2 includes the observation period and more evidence.
- Tooling
- Whether you use a compliance automation platform for evidence.
- Audit firm fees
- Paid directly to the CPA firm, separate from our fees. We help you compare quotes.
Why companies choose Intello as their SOC 2 consultants in Abu Dhabi
23+
years in UAE cybersecurity
500+
clients served
99%
client satisfaction
Controls that actually work. We help your engineers build controls that pass a Type 2, not just policies on paper.
One programme, several frameworks. SOC 2 controls mapped to ISO 27001, ISO 42001 and ADGM requirements, so the work is reused.
We speak the auditor’s language. Evidence is organised the way CPA firms ask for it, which keeps the audit short.
On site in Abu Dhabi. Workshops at your premises, for a report your US and global clients accept.
Frequently asked questions
Is there such a thing as SOC 2 certification in Abu Dhabi?
Not exactly. People often search for “SOC 2 certification in Abu Dhabi”, but SOC 2 is an attestation report, not a certificate. An independent licensed CPA firm audits your controls against the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria and issues a report you share with clients under NDA.
How much does SOC 2 compliance in Abu Dhabi cost?
There are two parts: the consultant’s fee to get you ready, and the CPA firm’s audit fee. Both depend on the criteria in scope, the size of your system, your starting point and whether you need a Type 1 or Type 2 report. We give a fixed consulting fee after a free readiness call.
How long does a SOC 2 audit in Abu Dhabi take?
A Type 1 report is often possible within three to four months, depending on your starting point. A Type 2 report adds an observation period, usually three to twelve months, so a first Type 2 report commonly takes six to twelve months in total.
Can an Abu Dhabi company get a SOC 2 report from a US auditor?
Yes. SOC 2 is not limited to US companies. Any service organisation can engage a licensed CPA firm, and many audits run largely remotely. We help you choose an audit firm your clients will accept and coordinate the audit.
Do Hub71 start-ups need SOC 2?
Not by law, but many need it to sell to US and European enterprises. Starting early, with a light set of controls that grows with the company, is much cheaper than retrofitting them before a big deal.
What is the difference between SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 certifies a management system and is widely recognised across the Gulf and Europe. SOC 2 is an audit report on how your controls work, and is the norm with US buyers. They overlap heavily, so one programme can support both.
Do you work on site in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Scoping workshops and the mock audit can be done at your Abu Dhabi office, with most evidence work done remotely in between.
Is a penetration test required for SOC 2?
The Trust Services Criteria do not name penetration testing, but they expect you to find and fix vulnerabilities, and most auditors and clients expect a recent independent test. We can run one through our VAPT service in Abu Dhabi.
Related services
Start your SOC 2 programme in Abu Dhabi
Tell us a little about your company and when your client needs the report. We will set up a free 30-minute readiness call.
What happens next
- 1We get in touch to arrange a call
- 2A 30-minute readiness call
- 3A written scope, timeline and fixed fee
Prefer to talk now? Call +971 55 355 6787