Both are SOC reports from a CPA firm, but they answer very different questions. Here's which you need.
The core difference
SOC 1 is about controls that affect your customers' financial reporting — relevant if your service could impact their books. SOC 2 is about controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy — the report most SaaS customers ask for.
| SOC 1 | SOC 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Financial-reporting controls | Security & data controls |
| Who asks | Customers' auditors (financial impact) | Customers' security teams |
| Framework | SSAE 18 (ICFR) | Trust Services Criteria |
| Type I / II | Yes | Yes |
Which do you need?
If your service touches your customers' financial reporting (payroll, payments, financial software), you may need SOC 1. If customers care about how you protect their data — most SaaS — you need SOC 2. Some companies need both.
Same engine, either reportThe underlying control-and-evidence work is similar. Learn about SOC 2 or see SOC 2 with Vallorix.
General explainer, not audit advice. SOC reports are issued by a licensed CPA firm, not by Vallorix.