Why a whistleblowing hotline is essential for SOC 2 accreditation

Under recently implemented rules, companies wishing to become SOC 2 accredited must be able to demonstrate that they have a working whistleblowing policy. This includes ensuring that the relevant reporting and handling processes are both established and fit for purpose. 

One of the best ways that any organisation can demonstrate their commitment to transparency and supporting staff wishing to make disclosures (or blow the whistle) is to implement a dedicated whistleblowing hotline with Safecall. 

Here's what you need to know: 

What is SOC 2? 

SOC 2 is an auditing process that ensures data is protected at all times.  

To attain SOC 2 certification, a business must show that it is responsible when it comes to staff and client privacy. In order to pass and become certified, they are assessed according to five trust principles. 

These include: 

• Privacy  
• Security 
• Confidentiality and privacy  
• Availability  
• Processing integrity 

Why do I need a whistleblowing hotline for SOC 2? 

In early 2019, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) began rolling out a series of new criteria and requirements that companies needed to comply with in order to gain SOC 2 certification. As well as increased security measures around file integrity and third-party vendor risk management, a whistleblower policy must now also be in place. 

If any company hopes to be compliant with this addition to the SOC 2 rules, then implementing a dedicated whistleblowing hotline is a simple way to do so: Havig a hotline will allow staff to make disclosures with confidence that they will retain their anonymity, and can also be used by other stakeholders to report worrying behaviour or oversights.   

What's more, having whistleblowing capability in place demonstrates that your organisation takes the security of its data seriously, and is willing to launch an investigation should an issue or breach be reported. It also allows you to show the processes that are in place for when a disclosure is made, including steps taken to protect anonymity and the ways in which a resolution can be reached.  

What are the benefits of a whistleblowing hotline from Safecall?  

More and more businesses and organisations are recognising the need for a secure, impartial, and trustworthy whistleblowing hotline, and coming to Safecall to have one implemented 

Aside from aiding in the SOC 2 acquirement process, a dedicated whistleblowing hotline gives members of your team the power to speak up. In reality though, it can also do so much more for your businesses. 

For a start, there's the fostering of a more trusting, open company culture and internal environment. If employees see that their concerns are taken seriously, and that their disclosures are met with action and taken seriously, then trust grows. This is a huge benefit for employers and senior managers, as staff who have the interests of the company and the public at heart are staff who are dedicated and have bought into the values of the company. 

When you implement a whistleblowing hotline with Safecall you also get access to the decades of experience held by our team of investigators. We treat every disclosure with complete impartiality, so managers and c-suite members can rest assured that all investigations are completely and rigorously fair.