Conquering the cloud at AiDash: A DevOps engineer’s guide to SOC 2 Type 2

As a DevOps engineer at AiDash, an enterprise SaaS company making critical infrastructure climate-resilient and sustainable with satellites and AI, I deal with cutting-edge tech. But I’m also tasked with a crucial responsibility: safeguarding the data that fuels our solutions.

We’ve built a groundbreaking platform that lets you track distributed assets from space. In addition to data like historical weather patterns, sensor readings, and satellite imagery, we handle proprietary and confidential client data about the assets they own, plans they’re making, and more.

Protecting that data is paramount. That’s where SOC 2 Type 2 compliance comes in.

SOC 2 Type 2 is a coveted security certification. It acts as our digital guardian and a badge of honor for our commitment to data security. SOC 2 compliance is our way of saying, “We take data security seriously, and here’s the proof.”

SOC 2 certification is a testament to our unwavering commitment to data protection.

The 5 Trust Services Criteria (TSC): Your digital armor

SOC 2 relies on five core Trust Services Criteria (TSC) principles. These form the bedrock of a robust security posture, ensuring our systems are dependable, resilient, and trustworthy.

Let’s delve into each TSC, translating security jargon into actionable insights using real-world AiDash examples.

Security (SC)

You must meticulously protect your data with a multi-layered security approach: firewalls, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and data encryption.

Firewalls filter incoming and outgoing traffic, blocking unauthorized access attempts. It’s a sophisticated gate that allows only authorized users to enter, while keeping out any unwanted visitors (i.e., hackers). That’s the first layer.

The next layer is MFA, a two-step verification process that requires not just a password, but an additional security factor like a fingerprint scan or a unique code sent to your phone.

Then, to encrypt the data, we use robust algorithms like AES-256 and TLS 1.2 to scramble data both at rest (stored on servers) and in transit (transmitted over networks).

At AiDash, we implement state-of-the-art firewalls specifically configured to protect the unique data types we handle, like satellite imagery and sensor readings we use for our utility customers.

We enforce MFA for all user accounts, especially for personnel with access to sensitive client data and we apply data encryption not just to client information, but also to satellite imagery and sensor readings, thus ensuring confidentiality throughout the entire data lifecycle.

Availability (AV)

Our system needs to be extremely reliable; we claim up to 99% reliability. SOC 2 verifies that our infrastructure is highly available, with features like geographic redundancy.

Geographic redundancy is the practice of storing data across geographically dispersed data centers. That gives you backups in multiple locations, ensuring uninterrupted service even if a natural disaster strikes one facility.

In other words, even in the event of a localized outage, critical data remains secure and readily available. We leverage geographically redundant data centers to ensure our platform remains accessible for our clients across the globe.

Processing Integrity (PI)

Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of data is paramount in our world of AI and satellite-powered solutions. Without that rigor, the product’s value diminishes significantly, there could be liability issues, and material damages may occur, too. To ensure PI, you should employ data validation checks and map out cogent change management procedures.

Data validation checks are automated and ensure the accuracy and completeness of data during input, processing, and storage. Change management procedures ensure that any modifications to our systems or data are controlled, documented, and approved.

At AiDash, we implement data validation routines throughout our data pipelines, identifying and correcting any errors before they can impact our analysis and insights. And our change management procedures guarantee that system updates and data modifications are well-defined, tracked, and reviewed to minimize the risk of errors or unauthorized alterations.

Confidentiality (CG)

Client privacy is our sacred trust. SOC 2 compliance verifies that we keep all data confidential.

The principle of least privilege (PoLP) grants users only the minimum level of access they require to perform their jobs, thus minimizing the risk of unauthorized data exposure. A close companion of PoLP is data encryption—again, using robust encryption algorithms like AES-256 to protect data at rest and in transit.

Privacy (PR)

We have clear data privacy policies and adhere to user privacy regulations. Our data privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, and disclose user data. Because our data privacy policy informs users about our data practices, it ensures transparency and builds trust.

You also must ensure compliance with data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Compliance with data privacy regulations ensures we handle user information responsibly and ethically, while meeting the legal requirements of the regions in which we operate.

Building a Culture of Security: Beyond Technology

While robust technical measures are crucial, security is ultimately a team effort. Here’s how everyone at AiDash contributes to a culture of data protection:

Security Awareness Training: Regular security training programs educate all employees on security best practices, from identifying phishing attempts to password hygiene. But we also conduct additional regular security awareness training for employees who have access to sensitive data to ensure everyone understands their role in safeguarding our digital assets.

Incident Response Plan: A well-defined plan ensures a swift and coordinated response to security incidents. It outlines the roles and responsibilities for containing threats and minimizing damage. A documented incident response plan allows AiDash to respond effectively to security incidents, minimizing downtime and potential data breaches.

The Road to SOC 2 Compliance: A Collaborative Journey

Obtaining SOC 2 compliance is a collaborative effort that requires dedication from various departments. Here’s a glimpse into the process:

Gap Analysis: The first step towards achieving SOC 2 compliance is to identify areas where our security practices might not fully align with SOC 2 requirements. A gap analysis helps us understand the areas where we need to improve our security posture to meet the stringent SOC 2 standards.

Remediation: Based on the gap analysis, we implement corrective measures to strengthen our security controls. The remediation phase involves putting a plan in place to address the identified gaps and enhance our overall security posture.

SOC 2 Audit: An independent auditor assesses our security controls and verifies our compliance with SOC 2 standards. A successful SOC 2 audit demonstrates to our clients that we take data security seriously and have the necessary controls in place to protect their information.

Building trust

By understanding and adhering to all five Trust Services Criteria (TSC) – Security (SC), Availability (AV), Processing Integrity (PI), Confidentiality (CG), and Privacy (PR) – AiDash demonstrates its unwavering commitment to data security and user privacy. This not only fosters trust with our clients but also positions us as a leader in the responsible use of data within the AI and satellite technology sectors.

Remember: As an engineer, you play a vital role in building and maintaining a secure cloud environment. Your expertise in system design, configuration management, and automation contributes significantly to your company’s robust security posture.

Learn more about AiDash, or reach out to get a demo.