Managed IT & Support
Cybersecurity
Cloud, Backup & Network
A customer asked for your SOC 2 report and the deal is waiting. You get a clear plan for controls, evidence and the audit, so Chicago buyers get the proof they asked for.
Get a Free IT AssessmentSOC 2 is a report an independent auditor writes about how your company protects customer data. Nobody can be “SOC 2 certified” in the strict sense. You earn a report, and buyers read it. If you sell software or services to larger companies, you will likely be asked for one, often in the middle of a deal.
Chicago has a deep base of companies that run into this. Software firms in the West Loop and Fulton Market, fintech and trading technology teams near LaSalle Street, healthcare technology vendors, logistics platforms and professional services firms all handle other people’s data. Their customers have security teams, and those teams send questionnaires and ask for the report.
SOC 2 consulting turns that request into a plan. A consultant reviews what you do today, compares it to the criteria the auditor will test, lists the gaps and helps you close them. Then you pick an auditor and go through the audit with someone who knows what evidence they will ask for. You stay in charge of the business. The consultant handles the paperwork map.
The first SOC 2 is the hard one. Most small and mid-size companies have good habits but little written proof. Access gets removed when someone leaves, but there is no ticket showing it. Laptops are encrypted, but nobody can list them. Auditors need records, and records take time to build. A consultant shows you what to capture, and when to start.
Cost and timing matter too. Auditor fees vary with scope, and a poorly scoped audit can cost more and run longer. Many teams also try to cover every criterion when a customer only needs a few. A consultant helps you set scope, pick a sensible report type and avoid buying tools you do not need. Your own team stays focused on running the company.
Everything below is part of one monthly plan. Pick a topic to see what is handled for you and how it works in a Chicago office.
The first step is a review of what you already do. We look at how you grant access, handle changes, store data, train staff and respond to problems. Each area is compared to the SOC 2 criteria you plan to include in the report.
You get a short, ranked list of gaps with plain notes on effort. Some gaps are a missing policy. Others are a technical fix like multi-factor sign-in on a forgotten system. Knowing the list first keeps the audit from turning into a scramble.
SOC 2 does not require one fixed set of tools. It requires that you say what you do and then do it. We write policies in short, plain language and map each one to a control you can actually run, such as quarterly access reviews or tested backups.
Many controls depend on the technology under them. Endpoint protection, patching, logging and backups all show up in the audit. We connect the policy to the setting in your systems so one change does not break the other.
Auditors test samples. They ask for a list of new hires and the proof that each got training and access approval. They ask for change tickets and backup logs. If evidence lives in email and memory, gathering it takes weeks.
We set up a simple way to capture proof as work happens, using tickets, exports and shared folders you already have. A short calendar tells each owner what to save and when. At audit time the evidence is already in one place.
We help you choose between a Type 1 report, which checks design at one point in time, and a Type 2, which checks that controls worked over several months. Many companies start with Type 1 to answer a pending deal, then move to Type 2.
We help you compare auditors, prepare for kickoff, answer questions and review draft findings. We do not issue the report. Only the independent auditor can. Our job is to make sure you arrive prepared and know what each request means.
SOC 2 is not a one-time project. Controls must keep working, and the report is renewed each year. Staff change, systems change and new vendors appear. Without a routine, the second year feels like starting over.
We set up a light yearly cycle: access reviews, policy updates, vendor checks, training and a pre-audit check. If you grow into other frameworks later, much of the same work carries over to requirements like PCI or CMMC.
Plenty of companies can fix a laptop. These are the three reasons clients mention most when they explain why they picked Ping Chicago.
Your technicians know how Loop high-rises handle building access, why basement server closets flood in summer storms and how long it really takes to reach Oak Brook at 4 p.m. That local knowledge turns into faster, calmer fixes.
Your network, devices and backups are watched around the clock. Most issues are caught and fixed before anyone in your office notices, and the rest are explained to you in plain English.
You get a written per-user quote after a free assessment, with every included service listed. No hourly surprises, no emergency rates and no fine print about what counts as extra.
Companies that need a SOC 2 report are spread across the city, from downtown towers to converted warehouses and suburban office parks. Most of the work happens remotely, with on-site sessions for kickoff, walkthroughs and audit days.
Most Loop offices share a building’s internet riser, wiring closets and security desk. Managed IT here means working with property management on access and cabling, keeping remote access stable for commuters and scheduling after-hours work around building rules.
Creative agencies need fast Wi-Fi for large files and constant video calls, while medical offices near Northwestern Memorial need HIPAA-ready systems. Both get the same help desk, with security matched to the data they store.
Teams here grow fast, so new hires need laptops, accounts and access on their first day. Managed IT keeps onboarding repeatable and the network ready for the next floor or the next office.
Point-of-sale systems, guest Wi-Fi and a handful of laptops can still take a shop offline. Managed IT separates guest and business networks and keeps payment systems updated and monitored.
Event, hospitality and professional offices near McCormick Place deal with seasonal rushes. Managed IT scales support around busy weeks and keeps shared and public spaces secure.
Practices and offices in Evanston and Skokie get the same remote help desk as downtown clients, with on-site visits scheduled for hardware, cabling and network work.
Logistics and distribution businesses near O’Hare run warehouses, scanners and shipping systems around the clock. Managed IT monitors those networks 24/7 and plans updates outside shift changes.
Many companies in Oak Brook, Naperville and Schaumburg run a suburban headquarters with a city branch. Managed IT connects both sites securely and supports staff at either location.
There are three common ways to reach a SOC 2 report. The right one depends on your team’s time, your budget and how much security work already exists.
| Topic | Ping Chicago | Do It Yourself | Compliance Software Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | A consultant guides, your team executes | Your team learns it alone | Your team uses a tool and fills gaps |
| Scope decisions | Set with your buyers in mind | Often too broad or too narrow | Template defaults, may not fit |
| Policy writing | Plain-English policies tailored to you | Templates found online, edited by hand | Generic templates included |
| Technical fixes | Guidance and hands-on help | Left to internal staff | Tool flags issues, you fix them |
| Evidence collection | Process set up and checked | Collected late, often in a rush | Automated for connected systems only |
| Auditor readiness | Prep and walkthrough support | First-time surprises common | Basic prep, little coaching |
| Typical cost | Project fee plus auditor cost | Low cash cost, high staff time | Subscription plus staff time and auditor cost |
The work stops living in your head and starts living in a system your team can repeat.
You know which systems, people and criteria the audit covers.
Security reviews stop stalling sales because the report answers most questions.
Access, backups and logging work day to day, not only on audit week.
You know the likely cost and timeline before you sign with an auditor.
SOC 2 comes up in many sectors, and each one has related requirements worth planning together.
Our old provider took a day to answer. Now a typical ticket is closed in about 12 minutes, and password resets happen while I’m still on the phone. Our staff stopped complaining about IT within the first month, which never happened before.
We were nervous about changing providers with deadlines ahead. The whole move took three weeks, email and files kept working throughout, and every login and device was documented. Not one person missed a day of work because of it.
We used to get surprise invoices every time something broke. Now it’s one predictable monthly bill, and problems get flagged before we notice them. Planning our IT budget takes five minutes instead of an argument with the owner.
After a free assessment you receive a written quote with scope, timeline and fees, so you can compare it with any auditor’s price.
SOC 2 is an independent auditor’s report on how a company protects customer data. Software, SaaS, data hosting and service companies usually need it when larger customers ask for proof of security during a sale or vendor review.
A Type 1 report checks whether your controls are designed properly on one date. A Type 2 report tests whether they worked over a period, often three to twelve months. Many companies start with Type 1 to unblock a deal.
Most first-time companies take several months from kickoff to a finished Type 1 report. A Type 2 adds an observation period. Timing depends on your gaps, how fast you fix them and your auditor’s schedule.
It typically depends on company size, scope and how many gaps exist. Consulting is usually priced as a project, and the auditor bills separately. A written quote after an assessment keeps both costs clear before you commit.
Not always. Software helps collect evidence and track tasks, and some teams like it. A smaller company with few systems can sometimes manage with tickets and shared folders. A consultant can tell you which fits.
Security is required in every SOC 2 report. Availability, confidentiality, processing integrity and privacy are optional. Include only what your customers ask for. Extra criteria add work, cost and audit time.
No. The report must come from an independent CPA firm. A consultant prepares you, helps you choose an auditor and supports you during testing. Keeping those roles separate is what gives the report its value.
Tell us the date at the start. We can often suggest a Type 1 first, plus a plan for Type 2. Be careful about promises. The auditor’s schedule and your gaps both affect the real timeline.
Yes. SOC 2 expects staff to understand security rules, and auditors ask for proof of training. Short yearly sessions and onboarding training usually satisfy this, as long as completion is recorded.
No. They are separate frameworks with different rules. Many controls overlap, so planning them together saves effort. A healthcare vendor or payment business may need more than one.
Need something slightly different? These services cover the same ground from another angle.
A free assessment shows your gaps, your likely timeline and what the work would cost.