SOC 2 Backup and Recovery Requirements: How Respawn Helps

SOC 2 is the trust signal buyers expect. It evaluates whether your controls meet the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria across Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Security is always in scope. The other categories are added based on customer promises and risk. AICPA & CIMA+2Linford & Co.+2

What SOC 2 expects for availability and recovery

Availability criteria focus on keeping systems usable and bringing them back fast when they are not. Two controls are especially relevant to backups:

• A1.2 requires you to design, implement, operate, and monitor environmental protections, recovery infrastructure, and data backup processes that meet your availability objectives. In practice this means defined backup procedures, retention, storage, and access controls. KirkpatrickPrice+1

• A1.3 requires testing of recovery procedures and validation that backups are actually recoverable, not just taken. Auditors expect evidence of restore tests and lessons learned fed back into your plan. Linford & Co.+1

Security criteria also touch recovery after incidents:

• CC7.3 and CC7.4 look for processes to detect, evaluate, and respond to security events, and to recover affected systems. Your ability to restore trustworthy data is part of that story. RSI Security+1

Plain language summary: SOC 2 wants documented backups, proof that restores work, and an incident response process that can put clean data back into service. Linford & Co.

How Respawn supports SOC 2 controls

Backups that match A1.2
Respawn backs up Slack, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace with full snapshots and incrementals. You define scope and frequency. We retain and secure copies so you can meet documented backup objectives under Availability. KirkpatrickPrice

Verification that speaks to A1.3
Most tools assume backups are good. Respawn runs integrity checks on every backup and records evidence you can show an auditor as restore test proof. This aligns with A1.3 expectations to validate recoverability. Linford & Co.

Incident recovery that supports CC7.3 and CC7.4
When you face ransomware or destructive changes, Respawn provides a clean, independently verified copy of business data so you can recover quickly and document the response. That strengthens your narrative for detection, response, and recovery under CC7. RSI Security

Confidentiality guidance
If you include the Confidentiality category, auditors expect appropriate protection of sensitive information. Encryption of backups at rest and in transit is a common control choice. Respawn supports that approach and helps demonstrate protection mechanisms under the Confidentiality criteria. Drata

Auditor-friendly mapping

Use this table in your evidence pack. It shows where Respawn helps, and where your policies and procedures complete the control.

• A1.2 Data backup processes and recovery infrastructure → Automated snapshots plus incrementals for Slack, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, with managed retention and secured storage. KirkpatrickPrice

• A1.3 Recovery testing and validation of backup integrity → Daily verification evidence and periodic restore tests from Respawn. Linford & Co.

• CC7.3 Detect and respond to security events → Use Respawn’s clean copies to recover from malicious deletion or ransomware and document the event. RSI Security

• CC7.4 Post-incident recovery and communication → Restore affected data sets and attach Respawn logs to your incident record. RSI Security

• Confidentiality criteria Protection mechanisms → Encrypt backups and restrict access to backup data, supported by Respawn. Drata

Scope notes that set expectations

SOC 2 is not a product certificate. Only licensed CPA firms can examine and opine on your controls. Your program still needs policies, risk assessment, vendor management, training, and change management. Respawn supplies backup, verification, and recovery evidence that fits into that larger system. AuditBoard+1

Bottom line

Respawn helps you meet the parts of SOC 2 that ask you to back data up, prove you can restore it, and recover after incidents. You bring policies, procedures, and people. Respawn brings reliable, verifiable backups with audit-ready evidence. AICPA & CIMA