SOC 2 Considerations for Virtual Assistant Services
For businesses with SOC 2 compliance requirements, working with virtual assistants introduces vendor management obligations that must be addressed in your compliance program.
See also: what is a virtual assistant, how to hire a virtual assistant, virtual assistant pricing.
SOC 2 and Vendor Management
SOC 2 compliance requires organizations to assess and manage the security risks of their third-party vendors — including virtual assistants. Your VA has access to systems and data covered by your SOC 2 program, making them a relevant vendor risk.
What Your SOC 2 Auditor Will Ask
During a SOC 2 audit, you may be asked:
- Do you have written agreements with vendors covering data security?
- Do you assess vendor security practices before onboarding?
- Do you monitor vendor access and revoke it when no longer needed?
- What controls does your VA have in place to protect the data they access?
Practical Steps for SOC 2 Programs
Before onboarding a VA:
- Complete a vendor risk assessment
- Ensure contractor agreements include data security requirements
- Document the access being granted and its business justification
Ongoing:
- Include VAs in your access review cycles
- Document security incidents involving VA access
- Review VA agreements annually for continued appropriateness
VA Security Questionnaire
For SOC 2 purposes, you may want VAs to complete a security questionnaire covering:
- Device security practices
- Password management tools used
- Network security (VPN, WPA2/WPA3)
- Incident reporting processes
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