How 1Password supports SOC 2 compliance

Compliance frameworks like SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls) play a vital role in ensuring that service providers securely manage data to protect the interests of their clients. For organizations undergoing a SOC 2 audit, demonstrating effective access management is paramount, as it directly affects the five Trust Service Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

What is the challenge of meeting SOC 2 compliance?

Achieving SOC 2 compliance is critical for organizations that handle sensitive data, as it demonstrates their commitment to data security and privacy. However, it is also a complex and resource-intensive process. To meet the five Trust Service Criteria, organizations must establish strict access controls, manage user authentication, and maintain audit trails to meet these criteria.

Why address this challenge?

Achieving SOC 2 compliance has become more than just a checkbox for organizations – it is often viewed as a non-negotiable requirement for selling to Enterprise customers, who demand evidence of robust data protection practices. For many businesses, SOC 2 is not a ticket to entry but also a competitive differentiator in industries where trust and security are paramount. Failing to comply doesn’t just mean losing business opportunities; it signals to potential customers and partners that the organization may not prioritize safeguarding sensitive data, which can erode credibility and weaken market positioning. By addressing SOC 2 requirements proactively, businesses can not only reduce the risks of breaches and non-compliance penalties but also strengthen their value proposition as a trusted partner in the marketplace.

Addressing SOC 2 compliance with Extended Access Management

Addressing SOC 2 compliance challenges requires a new approach to access management. This includes implementing granular controls, continuous monitoring, and robust auditing mechanism. Organizations will need a solution that can simplify user access management, automate compliance tasks, and provide the transparency required for audits. This naturally leads to the role of Extended Access Management (XAM), which can help organizations not only meet but maintain SOC 2 compliance by delivering advanced security controls and audit-ready reporting capabilities.

In this context, 1Password®️ Extended Access Management emerges as a key enabler, helping businesses not only meet SOC 2 compliance mandates but also maintain them continuously by delivering robust security controls, transparency, and auditability. In this blog, we explore how 1Password Extended Access Management supports each of the SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria.

SOC 2 overview: The five trust service criteria

SOC 2 focuses on five primary principles:

1. Security – Information and systems are protected against unauthorized access, both physical and logical.
2. Availability – The system is available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
3. Processing Integrity – System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized.
4. Confidentiality – Confidential information is protected as committed or agreed.
5. Privacy – Personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in conformity with the organization’s commitments and with criteria set forth in the Privacy Management Framework (PMF) defined by the AICPA.

SOC 2 compliance tools are essential for organizations to meet confidentiality and security standards, and 1Password delivers industry-leading capabilities. Let’s delve into how 1Password Extended Access Management aligns with these principles.

Security: Protecting Access and Preventing Breaches

Security forms the foundation of SOC 2 compliance. Organizations must design and execute security controls that provide protection against unauthorized access and breaches. With 1Password Extended Access Management, companies gain control over user authentication, access, and identity, addressing critical security challenges.

Key Features:

• Granular access control: 1Password Extended Access Management enforces role-based access controls across your devices and role-based permissions for credentials. Administrators can limit access based on the user’s role, location, and device checks.
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA): 1Password Extended Access Management acts as a possession-based MFA across sign-ins when using device trust capabilities and can identify MFA opportunities for sign-ins not covered by your SSO provider, adding an extra layer of security to ensure that users must verify their identity through multiple methods.
• Contextual access management: enhances traditional MFA by adding a dynamic layer of protection based on the context in which access is requested. 1Password Extended Access Management assesses access based on multiple factors beyond just identity verification to determine whether access should be granted (e.g. critical OS patches, device security settings, device compliance status, and more) and prompts users to remediate device issues before allowing sign-in.
• Aligned to zero trust principles: 1Password Extended Access Management ensures that every identity and device is verified before access is granted. This reduces the attack surface by preventing unauthorized devices or credentials from being exploited.

SOC 2 alignment: 1Password Extended Access Management helps organizations meet SOC 2’s security criteria by preventing unauthorized access, ensuring secure authentication, and reducing the risk of credential-based attacks — a leading cause of data breaches.

Availability: Ensuring reliable access to systems and data

SOC 2 Availability criteria mandates that systems be available for use. Failure to plan ahead and implement controls that limit downtime and data loss can not only disrupt business operations, but also negatively impact SOC 2 compliance.

Key features:

• Device health monitoring: With comprehensive insights into device security, 1Password Extended Access Management prevents unhealthy or compromised devices from accessing sensitive applications, ensuring that only trusted devices are allowed access.
• Redundancy: Multi-datacenter database and application server redundancy and load balancing.

Processing integrity: Ensuring accuracy and timeliness

Processing integrity focuses on ensuring that systems perform their functions as intended, without errors or unauthorized alterations. Data must be processed in a timely, complete, and accurate manner.

Key features:

• Granular access control: By limiting access to credentials and data based on user roles and groups and their permissions, 1Password Extended Access Management ensures that only authorized personnel can make changes or process data.
• Audit trails: Comprehensive logging of device and credential access as well as the actions taken within 1Password ensures that data processing activities can be tracked and verified for accuracy. Any anomalies or unauthorized actions can be flagged and investigated promptly when connected to your security information and event management (SIEM) provider or reviewed in reporting.
• Real-time monitoring: Administrators can monitor user access to credentials and device health in real time as they connect 1Password to their SIEM tools.

Confidentiality: Protecting sensitive information

Protecting sensitive information is a cornerstone of SOC 2 compliance. With 1Password’s confidentiality and security standards, organizations ensure robust data protection.

Key features:

• End-to-end encryption in vaults: Personal data in vaults is encrypted at rest and in transit, reducing the risk of unauthorized data exposure.
• Data encryption for Device Trust: All web, API, and endpoint agent traffic sent to or from the Device Trust application uses HTTPS with TLS 256 bit encryption.
• Secure secrets management: Stores sensitive data such as passwords, API keys, and encryption keys in secure, encrypted vaults, limiting access to only authorized individuals. This helps organizations align with compliance requirements for data protection.

1Password Extended Access Management ensures that confidential information is protected from unauthorized access and disclosure, providing the controls needed to safeguard sensitive business and personal data.

Privacy: Ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations

Privacy is a core component of SOC 2, particularly when personal data is involved. Organizations must ensure that data is collected, used, and retained in a manner that aligns with both their privacy commitments and regulatory requirements such as GDPR and CCPA.

Key features:

• Comprehensive data access controls: 1Password Extended Access Management secures access to personal data and credentials within vaults. Permissions can be defined on how that data and credentials are used and retained. From a device trust perspective, a “limited-user” role only grants access to a subset of features. By enforcing privacy-by-design principles, organizations can limit the exposure of personal data to only those who need it.
• Detailed access logs and audits: 1Password Extended Access Management provides detailed logs of who accessed data in vaults and when it is accessed or changed. It also provides detailed logs of device compliance status and changes made across your fleet. These logs can be used to demonstrate compliance with privacy regulations during audits.

1Password Extended Access Management ensures compliance with the privacy principle by controlling access to personal data in vaults and maintaining detailed audit logs that demonstrate compliance with regulatory and contractual obligations.

Auditing and reporting: Simplifying SOC 2 audits with compliance tools

One of the most significant challenges in achieving SOC 2 compliance is maintaining detailed records of access and system interactions. Auditors require comprehensive documentation to ensure that all controls are functioning correctly and that no unauthorized access has occurred.

Key features:

• Comprehensive reporting and audit trails: 1Password Extended Access Management provides a customer accessible log of user interactions which can be viewed in the UI or programmatically. This includes detailed logs of device properties, device health checks, and queries issued against devices. For enterprise password management, all access-related activities for credentials are aggregated in a reporting view.
• Continuous compliance: SOC 2 compliance is not a one-time achievement. It requires continuous monitoring and updating of security controls. 1Password Extended Access Management’s device compliance enforcement and alerts to end users are designed to surface any potential device compliance risks and are addressed proactively, ensuring ongoing alignment with SOC 2 requirements.

1Password Extended Access Management simplifies the audit process by providing detailed logs, real-time monitoring, and reporting that ensure continuous compliance with SOC 2’s rigorous standards.

Achieving SOC 2 compliance with 1Password Extended Access Management

SOC 2 compliance is essential for businesses that handle sensitive data on behalf of their clients. Achieving this certification requires a robust framework for managing access, protecting sensitive information, and ensuring system integrity. 1Password Extended Access Management provides a comprehensive solution that addresses the key requirements of SOC 2, helping organizations secure every sign-in, manage application access, and maintain continuous compliance.

With 1Password Extended Access Management, businesses can confidently navigate the complexities of SOC 2 compliance, knowing that they have the tools in place to protect their systems and data, ensure operational integrity, and meet regulatory requirements.

Ready to strengthen your SOC 2 compliance? Discover how 1Password can be your ultimate tool for confidentiality, security, and data protection. Request a demo or join our upcoming webinar on compliance!

Marc von Mandel

Director, Solutions & Channel Product Marketing