If you are preparing for SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, you may be asking: “Why is change management such a sticking point?”
You already have security controls. You already train your staff. You are confident your systems are reliable. Yet when the audit begins, the toughest part often comes down to how you handle change.
This is where many businesses hit the wall.
Change management requires tracking updates while proving every significant change was reviewed, approved, and documented in a way auditors can trust.
As Edward Griffin, Chief Information Security Officer at Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS), put it:
“Every change above a certain risk level has to be reviewed, approved, and scheduled. That adds a whole layer of administrative overhead that is difficult for many organizations to adopt and scale.”
SOC 2 readiness can feel daunting, but understanding why change management matters and how to approach it can make the process smoother.
In this article, we’ll dive into the reasons why change management is a struggle and how you can overcome it.
What Is Change Management in SOC 2 Compliance?
Change management is the process of controlling and documenting changes to your systems, applications, or infrastructure. It ensures that every modification is:
- Reviewed for security and operational risks.
- Approved by the right stakeholders.
- Implemented in a controlled way.
- Recorded with evidence that it happened.
SOC 2 auditors want proof that your systems are not being altered without oversight. Even a small update to a configuration file can impact security or availability. Without evidence of a controlled process, your SOC 2 report could be at risk.
4 Reasons Why Change Management Becomes the Hardest Part
Here are the main reasons change management becomes a struggle:
1. It Requires Cultural Change
Change management focuses on how people work. Many teams move fast, fix issues on the fly, or skip approvals.
Auditors, however, want to see that every risky change follows a defined process. That shift can be frustrating for teams that value speed over structure.
2. The Documentation Burden
SOC 2 requires documented proof. Auditors need logs, tickets, approvals, and records available for review.
Griffin shared their struggle in the beginning of their SOC 2 compliance journey: “We were doing a lot of the right things. We just weren’t doing it in a manner that generates trackable evidence of it.”
Without evidence, even the best change management process looks incomplete.
3. It Slows Down Operations
Every major change now requires review and approval. For some businesses, this feels like red tape. It can delay deployments or frustrate staff who are used to moving quickly.
Executives often worry that the process will slow growth. In reality, it forces discipline and reduces the risk of outages or breaches. But the adjustment period is tough.
4. It Affects Every Department
Change management touches IT, security, operations, and even finance. Coordinating across departments adds complexity. Without clear ownership, things fall through the cracks.
This is why change management becomes the bottleneck for SOC 2 readiness. It demands organization-wide participation.
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How to Overcome Change Management Challenges
The good news is that change management does not have to derail your SOC 2 readiness journey. With the right strategies, you can make it manageable and even beneficial.
1. Start Early
According to Griffin, one of the things he would have improved on from ITS’s own SOC 2 compliance journey was to allot more time for change management because of how big a project it was. “Going back now, I’d want a longer ramp-up to that,” he said.
Do not wait until audit season to design your process. Start documenting and tracking changes months in advance. This allows you to refine your workflow before auditors arrive.
2. Use the Right Tools
Manual tracking is not sustainable. Tools like ticketing systems, version control, and automated logs can capture evidence as part of normal workflows.
The less you rely on people to remember documentation, the easier it is to pass the audit.
3. Train and Align Teams
Teams need to understand why change management matters. Position it as a safeguard against mistakes and risks, rather than bureaucracy.
When staff see the link between compliance and client trust, they are more likely to follow the process.
4. Focus on Risk-Based Changes
Not every change needs a full review. Low-risk updates can follow a lighter process, while high-risk changes require detailed approvals.
This balances security with speed, helping teams adapt without grinding to a halt.
The Business Benefits of Strong Change Management
Change management delivers value beyond SOC 2 compliance.
- Reduced downtime: Controlled changes prevent outages.
- Lower risk: Every change is reviewed for potential impact.
- Improved trust: Clients see you take security seriously.
- Better audits: Documented processes make SOC 2 readiness smoother in future years.
Strong change management not only helps you pass the audit, it also improves the way your business runs.
Need Help with SOC 2 Readiness?
Change management is the hardest part of SOC 2 readiness because it requires more than technology. It requires discipline, documentation, and cultural change.
Many businesses stumble here because they underestimate the workload. But with the right planning, tools, and mindset, change management becomes a strength. It proves to auditors, clients, and partners that you are intentional, secure, and reliable.
If SOC 2 readiness is on your roadmap, talk to ITS. Our team has gone through the process and can help you design change management practices that protect your business and satisfy auditors.
Schedule your compliance readiness consultation with our experts today.
If you want to learn more regarding SOC 2 challenges and how to manage them, check out the following resources:
- 8 Common SOC 2 Compliance Challenges Your Business Will Face
- 6 SOC 2 Audit Challenges Your Business Should Watch Out For
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