Gap Analysis

A gap analysis is a structured review that compares your current security and operational practices against the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria to identify which controls are missing, incomplete, or undocumented. It is typically the first concrete step a company takes after deciding to pursue SOC 2 compliance. The output is a prioritized list of gaps with recommended remediation actions, owners, and target dates. Gap analyses can be performed internally using a checklist, by a compliance platform that automates the assessment, or by a consultant. The depth varies: a quick self-assessment might take a few hours, while a consultant-led analysis can take several weeks and cost five-figure sums. SimpleAudit performs continuous gap analysis through AI-powered review of policies, controls, and evidence so teams can see their readiness score without waiting for a formal engagement. Resolving the gaps identified in this phase is the bulk of the work in SOC 2 preparation.