skip to content

Third Party Attestation

Verifying the reliability of your external services.

Achieving trust and transparency with controls assurance

Using a third party for some of your business functions can help increase efficiencies, decrease costs, and drive overall performance. But with an increase in the reliance on outsourcing services comes a decrease in control. The need to verify that your external service provider has established internal controls that are designed effectively and operate as intended is important to your business planning and peace of mind. That is where System and Organization Controls (SOC) reports step in.

SOC reports demonstrate the trust and transparency of the internal controls of your third-party service provider to your clients, prospects, and stakeholders. SOC reports provide this certainty across a wide range of environments—data centres, fund administration, back-office operations, fintech, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), cloud computing operations, managed security, and enterprise IT external services—just to name a few.

Obtaining a SOC report can help your business meet client expectations, boost your competitive advantage, identify and mitigate risks from potential weaknesses in your systems, and demonstrate the overall reliability and integrity in your processes and procedures. BDO professionals work closely with you to develop cost-effective solutions that fit with your unique business needs.


If your financial processes are being managed by a third party, then a SOC 1 report will attest to the compliance of systems involved in financial transactions. Also known as CSAE 3416 or SOC 1 reports, they provide independent assurance and reasonable confidence in the internal controls for these financial processes.  

Our professionals develop two types of SOC 1 reports: 
  • Type I attests that internal controls are suitably designed 
  • Type II attests that internal controls are suitably designed and operating effectively 

If your business uses a third party for processes not directly related to financial reporting, such as the collection, storage, or transmission of information, then SOC2, SOC 2+ and SOC 3 reports will provide oversight and governance at the third-party organization. These reports cover information security, availability, integrity, privacy, and confidentiality and are particularly important when the physical location is remote and difficult to inspect, as is often the case with cloud-based processing and storage solutions.

All three reports are related but differ in what they cover:

  • SOC 2 compliance covers the operations of a service organization. 
  • SOC 2+ compliance includes additional topics specific to users' unique requirements, such as HITRUST, ISO-27001 and NIST. If planned properly, this audit approach can reduce compliance costs and efforts by streamlining controls testing and combining assurance reporting in one report. 
  • SOC 3 compliance is less detailed than SOC 2 compliance, and it is meant to be publicly available. SOC 3 reports are designed to meet the needs of users who require assurance about the controls at a service organization. 

Our professionals develop two types of SOC 2, SOC 2+ and SOC 3 reports:

  • Type I attests that internal controls are suitably designed 
  • Type II attests that internal controls are suitably designed and operating effectively

Featured insights for Third Party Attestation

Resources to support your business

Third Party Attestation 2022

Businesses across the globe face a rapidly evolving set of risks. BDO Global presents an insightful report that highlights how third party attestation is a valuable tool for creating trust and efficiency across supply chains and vendor relationships.

Learn more

Our Third Party Attestation service is in your industry

Reliable information and guidance to manage evolving regulations, new business models, and emerging technology trends to stay ahead of the curve.

Learn more

Supporting the complex governance, risk, and compliance needs of your financial services business so you can focus on your bottom line.

Learn more

Helping governments at all levels leverage technology-based solutions and develop customized frameworks, creating better outcomes for citizens and public servants.

Learn more

Other services you may be looking for

Public companies or companies preparing to go public face unique challenges regarding regulatory reporting requirements, corporate governance, and shareholder demands. BDO’s experienced team helps clients navigate pressing issues through strategies that meet regulatory needs while supporting future goals. Every growth story is different, and we have the knowledge and experience to support a diverse group of clients.

Businesses across all industries are adopting advanced and emerging technologies at a much faster rate than ever before. Solutions driven by data and AI are powerful assets to help you stay competitive in current markets; but they aren’t without vulnerabilities. Our comprehensive, end-to-end cybersecurity services can help you mitigate the risks and strengthen your defences against cyber crime and attacks. 

The lean finance departments of today require external support, knowledge, and experience. Whether it’s investors, management, or auditors who need accurate financial reporting to make informed decisions, BDO's Accounting Advisory professionals communicate the facts that matter and why they matter, simply and clearly.

With a risk landscape that is constantly changing—from staying ahead of regulations to emerging crisis situations to financial risk—our advisors are committed to understanding your business, tailoring risk mitigation and management strategies when they matter the most.

Do you need to develop an IT strategy that better aligns with your business objectives and supports future goals? We can help assess your existing infrastructure, find opportunities for enhancement, and produce a plan to meet future technology demands.

Our team utilizes people, technology, and innovation to support your transformation. We deliver insights from powerful data analytics to inform your business and drive success. With your distinctive business challenges, we understand the importance of reacting to market disturbances and developing pragmatic solutions. 

Our Third Party Attestation service supports the stage your business is in

Growth strategies designed to match your business model, your goals, and your expectations.

Grow, expand & acquire

Comply with the ever-increasing complexity of accounting, tax, and regulatory reporting requirements on an ongoing basis.

Comply with regulations

Secure your most important assets through critical, preventative, and corrective measures.

Secure, protect & investigate

This site uses cookies to provide you with a more responsive and personalised service. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies. Please read our privacy statement for more information on the cookies we use and how to delete or block them.

Accept and close