We’re delighted to announce that Colleagues Matrixx has achieved SOC 2 certification, a rigorous international certification demonstrating our commitment to maintaining and protecting information security.
Achieving this standard serves as third-party validation of our commitment to providing enterprise-level security and protecting customer data from potential breaches.
Cybersecurity frameworks lay down the guiding principles and best practices that companies must follow to improve their security systems and connections. SOC 2 is one such framework, which applies to technology companies like Colleagues Matrixx that store and deal with customer data in the cloud.
We’ve always believed that we’re the custodians of trust when it comes to our customer’s data. At Colleagues Matrixx we are making every investment to establish and maintain the highest level of security and compliance. Achieving SOC 2 showcases our ongoing commitment to the privacy and security of our clients critical business and geological data and reinforces our rigorous policies and procedures to safeguard customer data.
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2, short for System and Organisation Controls 2, is a framework developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) that establishes criteria for effectively managing customer data. This framework is built upon five fundamental “trust service principles” which encompass security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
In contrast to the rigid requirements of PCI DSS, SOC 2 reports are custom-tailored to each individual organisation. They are crafted in alignment with the specific operational practices of each entity, for Colleagues Matrixx this means allowing specific client preferred design controls that adhere to one or more of these trust principles.
These internal reports serve as vital resources, not only for Colleagues Matrixx internal security measures, but also for regulators, business partners, clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders. They offer essential insights into how we as a service provider handles and safeguards data in line with industry best practice.
SOC 2 Certification Explained
SOC 2 certification is granted by independent auditors who evaluate an organisation’s adherence to one or more of the five trust principles, examining the systems and processes in use.
These trust principles are categorised as follows:
Security:
The security principle is all about safeguarding system resources against unauthorised access. Access controls play a critical role in preventing potential system abuse, data theft, unauthorised data removal, software misuse, and improper disclosure of information. Employing IT security tools like network and web application firewalls (WAFs), two-factor authentication, and intrusion detection systems is vital in thwarting security breaches that might lead to unauthorised access.
Availability:
The availability principle pertains to ensuring the accessibility of the system, products, or services as outlined in a contract or service level agreement (SLA). Both parties establish a minimum acceptable performance level for system availability. While this principle doesn’t deal with system functionality and usability directly, it encompasses security-related criteria that can impact availability. Monitoring network performance, implementing site failover procedures, and handling security incidents are crucial aspects of maintaining system availability.
Processing Integrity:
The processing integrity principle evaluates whether a system fulfills its intended purpose, delivering accurate, complete, valid, timely, and authorised data. However, processing integrity does not inherently ensure data integrity. Detecting errors in data before it enters the system typically falls outside the purview of the processing entity. Monitoring data processing and implementing quality assurance procedures are essential for ensuring processing integrity.
Confidentiality:
Data is deemed confidential when access and disclosure are limited to specific individuals or organisations. This includes data intended exclusively for company personnel, as well as sensitive financial information, business plans, intellectual property, and internal price lists. Encryption is a crucial control mechanism for safeguarding confidentiality during data transmission. Employing network and application firewalls, in combination with robust access controls, helps protect information stored or processed on computer systems.
Privacy:
The privacy principle addresses how a system collects, uses, retains, discloses, and disposes of personal information, in accordance with an organisation’s privacy notice and the generally accepted privacy principles (GAPP) outlined by the AICPA. Personal identifiable information (PII), such as names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, as well as sensitive personal data related to health, race, sexuality, and religion, requires an elevated level of protection. Stringent controls must be implemented to prevent unauthorised access to all forms of PII.
Why SOC 2 Certification Matters
Achieving SOC 2 certification is no small feat, and here’s why it matters:
Data Security Assurance
With the digital transformation of PLOD/DDR processes, mining operations rely extensively on securely handling geological, operational, and environmental data. SOC 2 compliance means that an auditor has tested internal controls that meet the SOC 2 criteria, providing a high assurance that your data is secure. This demonstrates Colleagues Matrixx’s dedication to protecting your data. It signifies that we have implemented comprehensive security measures to safeguard your sensitive information.
Client Confidence
Mining operations often involve collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including drilling contractors, geological experts, and regulatory bodies. More and more business partnerships require SOC 2 certification as a prerequisite to working together due to increasing data security threats and regulatory scrutiny. It’s no secret that data breaches and cyber attacks have become increasingly common, so clients need to know that their data is in safe hands. Colleagues Matrixx’s SOC 2 certification is a testament to our dedication to security and an assurance of trust in our digital PLOD/DDR services.
Risk Mitigation
SOC 2 certification involves rigorous assessments and audits, which help identify and mitigate potential security risks. This means as a client, you can have peace of mind knowing that we have taken steps to protect your data and mitigate potential security threats. By continuously monitoring our systems and processes, we proactively address any vulnerabilities and strengthen our security measures to protect against potential threats.
What does SOC 2 Certification mean for you?
SOC 2 certification provides assurance to you that your data is handled with utmost care and protected against potential security risks. It also demonstrates our commitment to maintaining your data’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
You can rest assured that your data is stored in a secure environment with strict access controls and encryption protocols in place. Additionally, with regular internal audits and external SOC 2 audits, we continuously monitor and improve our security processes to ensure ongoing compliance.
In this era of data breaches and cyber threats, the security of your data should be non-negotiable. It’s essential to consider whether you’re using the services of a company that lacks SOC 2 certification. Here are a few questions to ponder:
- Do you have full confidence in the security measures employed by your service provider?
- Are you certain that your sensitive data is protected against potential threats?
- Can your service provider demonstrate a commitment to data security through rigorous audits and assessments?
If you find yourself hesitating or uncertain about any of these questions, it might be time to reconsider your choice of service provider. SOC 2 certification is not just a badge; it’s a symbol of our dedication to data security and client trust. It assures that your data is handled with the utmost care and protected against potential security risks.
Our Journey to SOC 2 Certification
For Colleagues Matrixx obtaining SOC 2 certification was a natural progression in our commitment to upholding industry best practices and providing top-notch services to our clients.
Our path to SOC 2 compliance began with a collaboration between Colleagues Matrixx and Sprinto, a robust security compliance software designed specifically for cloud-hosted enterprises. Through this partnership we:
- Conducted a thorough gap analysis of our current security controls against the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) outlined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
- Implemented necessary security controls to meet the TSC requirements, such as network and system security, data encryption, access controls, and incident response procedures.
- Conducted internal audits and assessments to ensure ongoing compliance with the TSC requirements.
- Engaged an independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive SOC 2 audit of our security controls and processes.
Achieving SOC 2 certification is not the end of our commitment; it’s the beginning of a continuous journey. We understand that the threat landscape is constantly evolving, and we are dedicated to staying ahead of potential risks and continuously improving our security measures.
The importance of SOC 2 compliance
SOC 2 compliance holds paramount significance in today’s digital landscape. It serves as a gold standard for organisations entrusted with sensitive customer data. By adhering to the stringent trust principles of security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy, we are able to demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding valuable information.
SOC 2 compliance not only instills trust among customers but also bolsters the credibility of Colleagues Matrixx and other service providers in an increasingly security-conscious world. It goes beyond mere regulatory checkboxes, highlighting a company’s dedication to robust data protection practices. In an era where data breaches can have devastating consequences, SOC 2 compliance is not just a requirement; it’s a strategic imperative for building and maintaining trust in an organisation’s services and products.
About Colleagues Matrixx
Our Matrixx Suite of Exploration Industry software programs were developed to bring significant savings across cost, time and productivity for all drilling companies, mining companies and exploration companies. We are now proudly the only company with SOC 2 certification providing this type of software.
We are known as an ambitious and innovative global digital data and software company, with a world-class track record in developing software solutions suitable for a broad range of industries and clients.
Colleagues Matrixx solutions reduce business risk, reduce internal software development costs, and dramatically improve the data management requirements of our clients.
Colleagues Matrixx’s contribution to mitigating risk is significant, enabling our clients to guarantee the functionality, performance, and scalability of critical business requirements and supporting technology infrastructure.
The Colleagues Matrixx team achieves “software partner” status with each of their clients, as the associated benefits truly allow Colleagues Matrixx to demonstrate the scope and significance of their value-add.
Trusting Colleagues Matrixx to manage your business critical data is a decision you can make knowing we comply and are certified to the highest data security standards.
Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation or product demo, and let us help you achieve your future goals with our cutting-edge mining and drilling industry technology solutions.
