SOC 2 for AI companies
For an AI company, SOC 2 is usually the first report enterprise buyers ask for before they will send you their data. It is an attestation, performed by a licensed CPA firm, against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria.
Why it matters for AI companies
AI products handle sensitive customer data, and buyers know it, so security review is often stricter for AI vendors. A SOC 2 report (usually Type II, which covers a period rather than a single date) is the fastest way to answer those questions once and unblock revenue.
What to focus on
SOC 2 has five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Security (the Common Criteria) is always required; add Confidentiality or Privacy if you make those commitments about customer or training data.
For AI vendors, reviewers focus on how you handle customer data in prompts and training, who and what can access models and data (access control and MFA), and which third parties (including model providers) act as subprocessors. Map those clearly and evidence them.
SOC 2 proves security posture but is not an AI-specific standard. Buyers increasingly also ask how you govern AI itself, so pairing SOC 2 with a framework like ISO/IEC 42001 or the NIST AI RMF is becoming the strong position. Keel lets you run them on one crosswalked control library.
Do it once, not twice
Keel is built on one crosswalked control library, so a control you implement for SOC 2 counts toward every other framework it satisfies. Add a second framework later and it mostly reuses this work. See the crosswalk explorer for the exact overlap.
Start free Check your readinessCommon questions
Do AI startups need SOC 2 Type I or Type II?
Many start with a Type I to show control design quickly, then move to a Type II, which covers operating effectiveness over a period and is what most enterprise buyers ultimately want. Some go straight to Type II.
Is SOC 2 enough for an AI company?
It proves security, but it is not an AI-governance standard. As AI scrutiny and rules like the EU AI Act grow, many AI companies pair SOC 2 with ISO/IEC 42001 or the NIST AI Risk Management Framework. On Keel, shared controls carry across all of them.
Framework names are referenced factually for guidance. Keel is not affiliated with or endorsed by the bodies that publish them. See our legal and trademarks page.