SOC 2 for E-commerce Platforms
Specialized guide for e-commerce platforms and payment processing with focus on Security + Processing Integrity + Availability and PCI DSS alignment.
E-commerce SOC 2 Quick Reference
Security + Processing Integrity + Availability
6-12 months
Payment security, transaction integrity
Important: PCI DSS Integration
E-commerce platforms handling payment card data need both SOC 2 and PCI DSS compliance. This guide shows how to align requirements and leverage shared controls.
- • Comprehensive security framework
- • Third-party validation
- • Customer trust and vendor requirements
- • Broader operational controls
- • Specific cardholder data protection
- • Network segmentation requirements
- • Vulnerability management
- • Regular security testing
E-commerce platforms have unique SOC 2 requirements driven by payment processing, customer data handling, seasonal traffic variations, and often multi-merchant environments that require sophisticated data isolation and processing integrity controls.
Why Security + Processing Integrity + Availability for E-commerce
Security:
- • Payment card data protection
- • Customer personal information
- • Merchant account security
- • API and integration security
Processing Integrity:
- • Accurate order processing
- • Payment transaction accuracy
- • Inventory management integrity
- • Tax calculation accuracy
Availability:
- • Peak season handling (Black Friday)
- • 24/7 e-commerce operations
- • Global customer base support
- • Mobile commerce reliability
E-commerce Platform Scope Definition
E-commerce scope typically includes customer-facing and payment processing systems:
- • E-commerce platform and storefront
- • Payment processing systems
- • Customer account management
- • Order management systems
- • Inventory management
- • Customer support platforms
- • Fraud detection systems
- • Analytics and reporting
- • Mobile applications
- • Third-party integrations
E-commerce Implementation Roadmap
Follow this timeline to implement SOC 2 controls for your e-commerce platform:
Foundation & PCI Alignment
- • Define scope (include payment systems)
- • PCI DSS gap analysis
- • Payment security controls
- • Policy development
Processing & Security Controls
- • Order processing controls
- • Payment integrity validation
- • Data protection implementation
- • Monitoring and logging setup
Availability & Performance
- • Load testing and optimization
- • Peak season preparation
- • Disaster recovery testing
- • Performance monitoring
Evidence & Audit
- • Evidence collection
- • Internal assessment
- • Auditor engagement
- • SOC 2 examination
E-commerce Templates & Resources
Specialized templates for e-commerce platforms, including payment processing controls and processing integrity documentation.