SOC 2
Best SOC 2 Consultants in the USA (2026): 6 Firms Compared
How we compared these firms
We looked at what each firm publicly says about:
- The SOC 2 services it offers (readiness, implementation, audit support or assessment)
- Who issues the final certificate or report
- The other frameworks it supports
- Where it is based and who it serves
- Anything distinctive it publishes, such as pricing, accreditations or specialisms
We don't rank the firms by score. The right choice depends on your scope, industry, budget and what your customers ask for.
Comparison table
| Firm | Base | SOC 2 services | Who issues the report | Other strengths | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CyberWave GRC (publisher) | USA and India | Scoping, gap assessment, policies, remediation tracking, readiness review, audit coordination, trust package | Independent licensed CPA firm, coordinated end to end | ISO 27001, HIPAA, HITRUST, ISO 42001, DPDP | Fixed-fee quotes that can include the CPA audit fee; team has worked on 200+ SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements |
| Bright Defense | Culver City, California | Gap analysis, risk assessment, policies, evidence management, remediation, vCISO, security testing | Independent CPA firm (fee outside its plans) | ISO 27001, HIPAA, CMMC | Publishes monthly plans from $1,000 per month |
| Rhymetec | USA (founded in New York) | Readiness, compliance consulting, vCISO, penetration testing | Not stated as auditor | ISO 27001, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, HIPAA, GDPR | Firm states 1,200+ companies trust it; Vanta partner |
| RSI Security | San Diego, California | End-to-end SOC 2 consulting: gap analysis, control design, readiness validation, monitoring | Not stated as auditor | PCI DSS QSA, HITRUST Assessor, CMMC C3PAO | Holds several assessor accreditations for other frameworks |
| Accorian | New Jersey, with offices in India, the UAE and Canada | SOC 2 readiness and audit services | Check engagement terms with the firm | ISO 27001, HITRUST, CREST-accredited penetration testing | CREST accredited for Cyber Advisory and Penetration Testing |
| Fractional CISO | USA (U.S.-based team) | SOC 2 consulting through a vCISO-led team | States it does not perform audits | ISO 27001, ISO 42001, HIPAA, CMMC, FedRAMP | States it takes no vendor kickbacks or software commissions |
The firms in detail
CyberWave GRC
- Operates in the USA through ICyberWave Consulting Services LLC (Sheridan, Wyoming) and in India through ICyberWave Consulting Services (OPC) Private Limited.
- End to end: scoping, gap assessment against the 2017 Trust Services Criteria with 2022 points of focus, policies and system description, remediation tracking, readiness review, and audit coordination with an independent licensed CPA firm.
- Our team has worked on more than 200 SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements, and we map SOC 2 controls to ISO 27001, HIPAA and HITRUST so they are built once.
- Fixed-fee quotes after a free scoping call, with the CPA audit fee included where we coordinate the audit.
- Best for: U.S. startups and mid-size SaaS and healthcare companies that want one partner from gap assessment to the attested report.
Bright Defense
- Based in Culver City, Los Angeles, serving clients nationwide.
- Managed SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and CMMC compliance for small and mid-size businesses, with in-house penetration testing.
- Publishes monthly plans (Sentry, Guardian, Defender) starting at $1,000 per month; the CPA audit fee sits outside its plans.
- Best for: startups that prefer a monthly retainer with ongoing vCISO support.
Rhymetec
- Founded in New York in 2015 as a penetration testing firm (per a third-party directory).
- Offers SOC 2 readiness, compliance consulting, vCISO and penetration testing; describes itself as a Vanta partner.
- Firm states 1,200+ companies trust it.
- Best for: companies using Vanta that want pen testing and SOC 2 support together.
RSI Security
- Based in San Diego, founded in 2013 (per a third-party directory).
- End-to-end SOC 2 consulting from gap analysis through ongoing monitoring.
- Holds PCI DSS QSA, PCI ASV, HITRUST Assessor and CMMC C3PAO accreditations.
- Best for: companies that also need PCI DSS, HITRUST or CMMC assessments.
Accorian
- Based in New Jersey, with regional offices in India, the UAE and Canada.
- Offers SOC 2 readiness and audit services, plus ISO 27001 and HITRUST, and CREST-accredited penetration testing.
- Best for: companies that want compliance and CREST-accredited testing from one firm.
Fractional CISO
- U.S.-based team delivering SOC 2 and other frameworks through a vCISO model.
- States it does not sell software, perform certification audits or take vendor kickbacks.
- Best for: companies that want ongoing security leadership, not just a one-off audit project.
Where CyberWave GRC fits
We're a good fit if you want one partner for the whole journey, from the first gap assessment to engaging the CPA firm and getting your attested report, at a fixed fee. Our team has worked on more than 200 SOC 1 and SOC 2 engagements, and we build SOC 2 so it carries into ISO 27001, HIPAA or HITRUST later. If you want a monthly retainer with heavy in-house engineering support, a managed-service firm may suit you better.
How to choose
- Which CPA firm will issue the report, and is it independent of the consultants?
- Is the CPA audit fee included in the quote?
- Type 1 first, or straight to Type 2?
- Which Trust Services Criteria do your customers actually ask for?
- Will the firm work with your compliance platform (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe) or without one?
- Who attends workshops and walkthroughs from the firm's side?
- What support is included after the first report?
Frequently asked questions
Only a licensed CPA firm, under AICPA attestation standards. Consultants prepare you, but the auditor must be independent of the people who designed your controls.
It depends on scope, criteria and whether you choose Type 1 or Type 2. Readiness and audit are often priced separately. See our SOC 2 audit cost guide.
Readiness typically takes a few weeks to a few months depending on how many gaps you have. A Type 2 then needs an observation period, usually 3 to 12 months. See SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2.
Yes. SOC 2 readiness is usually delivered remotely, and the report is issued by a licensed CPA firm. What matters is the firm's SOC 2 experience and the independence of the auditor.
Not always. Platforms help with evidence collection and monitoring, but a good consultant can run SOC 2 with or without one. See our Vanta vs Drata vs Sprinto vs Secureframe comparison.