SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) Certification is a widely recognized voluntary standard developed by AICPA, the American Institute of CPAs. SOC 2 focuses on how an organization controls and implements security measures. It’s based on five principles outlined by AICPA: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
When it comes to speech AI, it’s important for emerging technologies to be SOC 2 certified as it demonstrates a commitment to data security and privacy when handling sensitive information like voice recordings. At aiOla, we recognize the need for this certification to reinforce our commitment to security standards that safeguard our client’s private data.
This blog post will examine what getting SOC 2 certified means for aiOla and look more closely at this certification and the benefits it brings to speech AI products.
Understanding SOC 2 Compliance
Building off the five trust service criteria outlined by AICPA, SOC 2 frameworks and reports are unique to each organization. Each organization needs to build its own controls and reporting processes designed to comply with the five SOC 2 principles. These criteria help an organization evaluate controls related to customer data and outline specific requirements they must meet to stay compliant.
For speech AI products, a SOC 2-compliant framework may include criteria such as:
- Ensuring the security of voice recordings
- Protecting the availability of speech recognition services
- Maintaining data processing integrity
- Preserving the confidentiality of sensitive speech data
- Safeguarding user privacy
In a SOC 2 audit for a speech AI product, inspectors would examine the systems and processes involved in collecting, processing, and storing voice data while also assessing the effectiveness of implementing controls for these activities. An audit would involve reviewing documentation, employee interviews, controls testing, and other reviews.
Benefits of Being SOC 2 Certified for Speech AI Products
SOC 2 certification brings several benefits for companies handling speech AI or voice-to-text products. Whether you opt to get SOC 2 certified or consider other forms of certification, adopting a security standard for how your organization handles sensitive data is critical. Here’s a look at some specific benefits aiOla and other organizations seeking SOC 2 certification can experience that demonstrate a commitment to protecting consumer information and complying with industry safety standards.
- Enhanced trust and credibility: Attaining SOC 2 certification shows clients you’re committed to securing their data and privacy, which is essential in building trust.
- Data security and privacy assurance: This certification makes your organization more secure by demonstrating you’ve put thought into how your processes adhere to privacy regulations, including measures to prevent unauthorized access and data integrity.
- Competitive advantage: Getting SOC 2 certified can help differentiate your company from competitors in the market, signaling to consumers that your organization takes voice data seriously.
- Flexible report processes: Since companies build their out reporting processes according to SOC 2 guidelines, you can create a custom framework that fits your work, instead of adapting to an alternative standard that may not necessarily fit specific speech AI workflows.
SOC 2 Compliance for Speech AI Products
For AI voice-to-text technologies like aiOla, achieving SOC 2 compliance requires products to adhere to certain standards when it comes to handling and monitoring data. Some measures are critical not only to become SOC 2 certified but also to ensure the security and privacy of customers’ voice data. Let’s look at some compliance measures companies with speech AI products should implement.
Data Handling and Protection Measures
Speech AI products need to include measures for voice data protection, such as encryption in transit and at rest, secure storage practices, and the anonymization of voice data to protect privacy. In addition, data minimization can help reduce the risk of data breaches or unauthorized access.
Access Controls and Identity Management
When handling sensitive information, it’s essential to control who has access to certain data. Speech AI products should implement stringent access controls like multi-factor authentication, role-based access, identity management practices, and more. Regular audits should also be done on access logs to ensure there are no breaches.
Incident Response and Monitoring
It’s important to have a prepared incident response plan in the event of data leaks or breaches. The plan should include procedures for containing leaked data, assessing impact, and notifying affected parties. With ongoing monitoring, it’s easier to respond to these threats in real-time so that incidents, if any, are caught immediately before too much damage is done.
aiOla’s SOC 2 Certification
Many AI and speech AI companies are seeking SOC 2 certification. Organizations that use AI often handle sensitive data, so adopting a recognizable safety standard helps them stay compliant with regulations and demonstrate trustworthiness to prospective customers. Reports show that 42% of organizations saw an upsurge in customer trust and confidence and 72% saw sales opportunities increase after becoming SOC 2 compliant.
While there are other security frameworks, like ISO27001, some companies prefer SOC 2 due to it being more recognizable in North America and more focused on controls for service providers. As a speech AI company, aiOla recognized all the unique benefits SOC 2 certification had to offer, and over the past few months, our team has been putting measures in place to achieve this certification.
Yonatan Benisty, aiOla’s DevOps Team Lead, recognizes the importance of this specific certification in security speech data: “Securing SOC 2 Type ll certification is a pivotal achievement for aiOla.”
When it comes to voice data, it’s incredibly important for aiOla to ensure our customers that their data is handled with the utmost care. “In the field of voice recognition, each recording is handled carefully, processed by a customer-dedicated AI model, encrypted end-to-end by advanced encryption methods, and kept in well-protected data stores,” says Benisty. “Our Data Science team constantly verifies that the AI models we develop are secure, and consistently work with the latest AI technologies to ensure a smooth and bullet-proof data processing and a stable, state-of-the-art speech-to-text solution.”
Elevating Data Security for Speech AI Products With SOC 2
SOC 2 certification is crucial for enhancing data security and privacy, especially when it comes to speech AI products. Companies can show customers how committed they are to protecting sensitive voice data and complying with industry standards by getting SOC 2 certified.
At aiOla, we understand the need to maintain a high level of security as our product handles vast quantities of voice data in potentially sensitive business environments. Now, as aiOla is SOC 2 certified, our commitment to maintaining the utmost standard of security when it comes to handling, storing, and managing voice data is solidified and supported by a globally recognized certification.
Book a demo with one of our experts to see how aiOla remains committed to voice data security and privacy.
