You want a clear starting point.
Our course and assessment are built into the standard. You can see what to implement and what still needs work, one question at a time.
AN OPEN STANDARD. AN INFORMED CHOICE.
Sock Too vs. SOC 2.
Sock Too is the simpler choice for adopting a public security baseline. SOC 2 serves a different need: independent assurance. Choose based on what your business and clients actually need.
WHY CHOOSE SOCK TOO
Start today. Know every rule. Share the result.
Read the complete standard before you sign up. Learn the requirements, assess your practices, and publish a report once you pass. Clients can inspect your answers and check your certificate without requesting a copy from you.
Adopt Sock TooWHAT SOC 2 PROVIDES
An independent examination.
SOC 2 is part of the American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) System and Organization Controls services. A licensed, independent CPA examines controls using applicable Trust Services Criteria. That independent opinion is something a self-attestation does not provide.
Read AICPA’s SOC overview ↗The differences that matter
Swipe across the table to compare both approaches.
| What to compare | Sock Too | SOC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | A practical security baseline you can learn, implement, and declare publicly. | Independent assurance about a service organization’s controls. |
| Who performs it | Your organization completes the course, answers the controls, and signs its declaration. | A licensed, independent CPA performs an examination under AICPA standards. |
| Requirements | 18 published controls, six essential controls, and a published passing score. | Applicable AICPA Trust Services Criteria, addressed through an examination engagement. |
| Evidence | You keep supporting records. Sock Too does not inspect or verify them. | The CPA obtains and evaluates evidence to support the examination opinion. |
| Getting started | Create an account and begin immediately. No auditor appointment is required. | Arrange an engagement with a CPA firm and prepare for its examination. |
| What you share | A downloadable report, public answers and scores, and a badge linked to current status. | A service auditor’s report describing the examination and its opinion. |
SOC 2 descriptions are based on AICPA resources linked below. Sock Too requirements are available in the open standard.
Where Sock Too is a better fit
You want public accountability.
Share the actual answers behind your badge. Every report has a certificate number, issue date, expiration date, and live status.
You want to adopt it yourself.
The course and specification are available under CC BY 4.0. Read and reuse them with attribution. No auditor engagement is needed to complete Sock Too.
When you need SOC 2
If a customer specifically requires a SOC 2 report or an independent CPA opinion, Sock Too does not fulfill that request. Ask which report they need and work with a qualified CPA firm. Sock Too can help you organize basic security work, but it is not a SOC 2 readiness assessment or a guarantee of an examination outcome.
Our case for Sock Too is accessibility and transparency. We do not claim that a self-reported score provides stronger assurance than an independent examination.
Common questions
Is Sock Too a SOC 2 certification?
No. Sock Too is an independently authored standard and organizational self-attestation. SOC 2 is a CPA examination and report, rather than a certificate issued by Sock Too. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by AICPA.
How long does Sock Too take?
Allow about 20–30 minutes for the course and assessment. If you already meet the requirements, you can then sign and publish. Implementing missing controls can take longer; completing the lessons alone does not mean you pass.
What must a company do to pass?
Pass all six knowledge checks, answer all 18 controls, implement all six essential controls, and reach an unrounded average of at least 80%. An authorized representative must confirm the answers and agree to publish them.
Will my clients accept Sock Too?
That is their decision. Send them the standard and your report, and ask whether it meets their needs. Do not describe it as a substitute for a SOC 2 report they have requested.
Sources & review
Written by Sock Too. Reviewed November 1, 2026. SOC 2 and AICPA names identify the comparison subject; no affiliation is implied.