SOC 2 Pitfalls: Could Your Customer Data Be a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen?

If your organisation uses IBM Power Systems running AIX or IBMi and relies on a Third Party Maintenance (TPM) or managed services/cloud provider without legal access to IBM’s microcode and firmware updates, your SOC 2 compliance could be at risk. SOC 2 emphasises system security, availability, and process integrity—all of which depend on secure and up-to-date hardware.

Key Risks to SOC 2 Compliance

Security Risks (Security Principle):

• Unpatched vulnerabilities in firmware increase the risk of unauthorised access or attacks, violating SOC 2’s security requirements.

System Downtime (Availability Principle):

• Hardware vulnerabilities can lead to outages or degraded performance, impacting system availability.

Ineffective Incident Response:

• Without microcode updates, incident resolution becomes slower and less effective, threatening SOC 2 compliance.

Third-Party Oversight Challenges:

• TPMs or cloud providers without firmware access introduce unmanaged third-party risks, failing SOC 2’s vendor management standards.

The Solution: IBM Support via Baby Blue IT Consulting

Partner with Baby Blue IT Consulting to transition maintenance back to IBM and gain access to essential firmware updates, ensuring SOC 2 compliance.

Benefits of Choosing Baby Blue IT Consulting:

• Proactive Security: IBM’s updates close hardware vulnerabilities, strengthening system security.
• Firmware Level Assessment and Updates: Our team conducts a thorough review of your current firmware levels, identifies outdated components, and updates them to the most recent versions.
• Improved Availability: Reliable hardware updates ensure system uptime and performance.
• Enhanced Incident Response: IBM’s support accelerates recovery from hardware-related incidents.
• Vendor Risk Mitigation: Transitioning to IBM eliminates unmanaged third-party risks.

By making the switch with Baby Blue IT Consulting, you can maintain trust with your clients, ensure SOC 2 compliance, and protect your organisation’s reputation.