How to Achieve and Maintain SOC 2 Compliance Using a RACI Matrix

SOC 2 compliance is a must-have for companies that store or process customer data in the cloud. Whether you're a SaaS provider, data processor, or IT services firm, demonstrating that your systems are secure, available, and confidential is no longer optional—it’s expected.

But here’s the hidden truth:
Most SOC 2 gaps aren’t technical. They’re operational.
Companies fail audits not because of a missing firewall or encryption setting—but because no one knew who was responsible for updating policies, collecting evidence, or reviewing risk logs.

That’s where the RACI matrix comes in.
By clearly assigning roles across all SOC 2 trust criteria, a RACI matrix helps organizations achieve compliance faster—and maintain it more efficiently year over year.

In this article, we’ll show you how to map RACI to SOC 2, avoid common ownership pitfalls, and use ezRACI to stay audit-ready without the chaos.

What Is SOC 2 and Why Does It Matter?

SOC 2, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), is a security framework designed for service providers storing or handling customer data in the cloud. It's based on five Trust Services Criteria:

1. Security – Protecting against unauthorized access

2. Availability – Ensuring systems are operational and available

3. Processing Integrity – Delivering accurate, timely data

4. Confidentiality – Restricting data access and disclosure

5. Privacy – Protecting personal information per data privacy laws

While only Security is required, many companies seek coverage in Availability and Confidentiality as well—especially in B2B SaaS, fintech, and healthcare.

Achieving SOC 2 requires policies, controls, evidence, and monitoring. But equally important is knowing who does what—and ensuring that ownership doesn’t fall through the cracks.

Why Use a RACI Matrix for SOC 2?

A RACI matrix defines four key roles across any process:

• Responsible – Who performs the work

• Accountable – Who is ultimately answerable

• Consulted – Who provides input or approval

• Informed – Who needs status updates

For SOC 2, this means mapping roles across dozens of recurring tasks:

• Logging and monitoring

• Access reviews

• Policy updates

• Incident response

• Risk assessments

• Penetration testing

• Vendor risk management

• Evidence collection and documentation

Without RACI, these tasks are often passed around informally—or worse, neglected completely. This can lead to delayed audits, failed controls, or last-minute scrambles during renewal.

By implementing a RACI matrix, you’re able to:

• Build accountability into every control

• Streamline collaboration across departments

• Assign evidence tasks with traceability

• Reduce auditor back-and-forth

• Maintain continuous compliance

Step-by-Step: Mapping RACI to SOC 2 Controls

Let’s walk through how to apply RACI to real-world SOC 2 controls. We’ll use examples aligned with the Security Trust Service Criterion, which is mandatory in every audit.

🔐 Logical Access Control (CC6.1 – CC6.6)

SOC 2 requires you to restrict and review access to systems and data.

📜 Policy Management (CC1.2 – CC1.3)

You must maintain documented, reviewed, and approved policies.

🛡️ Monitoring and Incident Response (CC7.1 – CC7.4)

SOC 2 requires real-time detection and timely incident handling.

You can repeat this process across every trust criterion and map controls to actual people—not just job titles—inside a live RACI matrix.

Who Should Be Included in the SOC 2 RACI?

SOC 2 is not just a security team effort. Your RACI matrix should include cross-functional stakeholders from:

• IT & DevOps – Access, logging, infrastructure

• GRC / Compliance – Policy, audits, training

• HR / People Ops – Onboarding, security awareness

• Legal / Privacy – Data protection, incident escalation

• Finance – Vendor risk and budget for tooling

• Engineering / Product – Secure SDLC, code reviews

• Executives – Risk tolerance and accountability

Each of these groups will have a different mix of R, A, C, and I assignments based on the control.

How ezRACI Makes SOC 2 Easier to Manage

Using a spreadsheet-based RACI matrix can work for a while… until your company scales, or your auditor asks for evidence across multiple departments, and nobody knows where to start.

That’s why organizations use ezRACI to take SOC 2 from static to strategic.

With ezRACI, you get:

✅ Pre-built SOC 2 RACI templates aligned to trust criteria
✅ Role-based tagging and visual matrices
✅ Integration with Slack, Teams, and ticketing tools
✅ Evidence task assignments with due dates and alerts
✅ One-click exports for auditors
✅ Version history to track changes across audits

Whether you're working toward Type I or maintaining Type II over 12 months, ezRACI helps your team stay clear, consistent, and compliant—all year long.

Common Mistakes When Managing SOC 2 Ownership

Even well-intentioned teams run into these common issues:

• Too much reliance on the CISO as the default for everything

• No accountability for evidence gathering

• Lack of follow-up on quarterly tasks

• Last-minute evidence collection during audits

• Unclear handoffs between IT, HR, and legal

With ezRACI’s live dashboards and notifications, you don’t need to rely on memory or calendars. Everyone sees what they own—and what’s overdue.

Final Thoughts: Turn Compliance into a Collaborative Process

SOC 2 isn’t just about passing an audit—it’s about building trust. And that means showing that your people, processes, and technology are secure and well-managed.

A RACI matrix turns ambiguity into clarity.
And ezRACI turns that clarity into a living, collaborative system.

If you're preparing for SOC 2, mid-way through a Type II cycle, or looking to upgrade your process for renewals, give ezRACI a try.

👉 Explore SOC 2 RACI templates and start free at www.ezraci.com