Managed File Transfer Provider Demonstrates Security Control Maturity as Platform Scales Beyond Initial Deployment Architecture
Achieving SOC 2 Type II certification once validates that security controls function effectively over an extended audit period. Maintaining certification for four consecutive years while expanding audit scope across additional infrastructure environments demonstrates organizational maturity that enterprises prioritize when evaluating vendors for sensitive data operations. Sharetru, a managed file transfer technology provider, today announced it has successfully achieved SOC 2 Type II certification for the fourth consecutive year through an independent audit conducted by A-LIGN, a leading cybersecurity compliance and attestation firm. Notably, this year’s audit incorporated two additional infrastructure environments, both of which passed the rigorous evaluation process—validating Sharetru’s ability to implement uniform security standards across evolving technical architecture.
For organizations managing file transfers containing financial data, healthcare records, personally identifiable information, or intellectual property, vendor security posture directly impacts compliance obligations and risk exposure. SOC 2 Type II certification provides independent verification that a provider’s security practices meet rigorous industry standards and operate effectively over time, reducing due diligence burden and supporting regulatory compliance requirements that prohibit data sharing with inadequately secured third parties.
Why SOC 2 Type II Matters More Than Point-in-Time Security Assessments
SOC 2 Type I certification evaluates whether security controls exist and are properly designed at a single point in time—essentially a snapshot assessment. SOC 2 Type II requires organizations to demonstrate that these controls operate effectively over an extended period, typically six to twelve months, providing evidence that security isn’t a temporary state achieved for audit purposes but an ongoing operational discipline.
The certification examines five trust service principles established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA): security (protection against unauthorized access), availability (system accessibility and usability as committed), processing integrity (system processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized), confidentiality (information designated as confidential is protected), and privacy (personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in conformity with commitments).
For managed file transfer providers like Sharetru, these principles directly address customer concerns. Security controls must prevent unauthorized access to files in transit and at rest. Availability ensures file transfer services remain operational when business processes depend on them. Processing integrity confirms that files aren’t corrupted, lost, or delivered to wrong recipients. Confidentiality and privacy protections address regulatory requirements across industries from healthcare (HIPAA) to finance (GLBA, PCI DSS) to data protection regulations (GDPR, CCPA).
“Reaching our fourth consecutive year of SOC 2 Type II certification is a testament to our team’s dedication and our commitment to earning our customers’ trust every single day,” said Brendon Ainsworth, CEO of Sharetru. “The successful integration of additional platforms into our compliance framework this year proves that security excellence and business agility coexist within our business.”
Key Insights at a Glance
- Certification milestone: Fourth consecutive year of SOC 2 Type II certification, demonstrating sustained operational effectiveness of security controls
- Expanded audit scope: Two additional infrastructure environments incorporated into this year’s assessment, both successfully validated
- Independent validation: Audit conducted by A-LIGN, a leading cybersecurity compliance and attestation firm
- Trust service principles: Certification evaluates security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls
- Operational discipline: Annual audits require extensive documentation, continuous monitoring, and third-party validation over 6-12 month periods
Scaling Security Controls Across Infrastructure Growth
Sharetru’s expansion of audit scope to include two additional infrastructure environments addresses a challenge many technology providers face: maintaining consistent security posture as architecture evolves to support business growth, new deployment models, or geographic expansion. Organizations often achieve initial SOC 2 Type II certification covering their primary production environment, then struggle to extend equivalent controls to new infrastructure introduced for disaster recovery, multi-region deployments, or customer-specific isolated environments.
The inclusion of additional platforms in Sharetru’s audit demonstrates that security controls aren’t environment-specific implementations but systematic processes that scale across technical infrastructure regardless of deployment complexity. This matters for enterprise customers evaluating whether a vendor can maintain security standards as their own usage grows or as they require specialized deployment configurations for compliance or performance requirements.
“Maintaining SOC 2 Type II compliance for four consecutive years while broadening our audit coverage represents significant operational discipline,” said Derek Webb, VP of Technology Operations and Security at Sharetru. “This year’s comprehensive evaluation affirmed that our security posture remains uncompromised as our infrastructure grows and evolves.”
Continuous Compliance Versus Point-in-Time Certification
The distinction between achieving certification once and maintaining it annually reflects different organizational capabilities. Initial certification often involves intensive preparation—documenting policies, implementing controls, conducting internal assessments—concentrated in the months preceding audit. Maintaining certification requires embedding security practices into daily operations so controls function consistently without requiring special effort during audit periods.
Annual SOC 2 Type II audits evaluate whether policies are followed in practice, whether controls operate as documented, whether exceptions are identified and remediated, and whether the security program adapts to changing threats and operational requirements. Auditors examine logs, interview personnel, test control effectiveness, and verify that the organization’s actual practices match documented procedures. This continuous validation differs fundamentally from one-time assessments that may not detect degradation in control effectiveness between audit periods.
For Sharetru’s customers—enterprises managing sensitive file transfers across business partners, regulatory agencies, financial institutions, or healthcare providers—the four-year track record provides assurance that security isn’t a temporary state but an operational commitment sustained across leadership changes, technology updates, and business growth phases.
SOC 2 Type II in Vendor Risk Management Programs
Enterprise vendor risk management programs increasingly require SOC 2 Type II certification as a baseline for technology providers handling sensitive data. Without this certification, vendors face longer procurement cycles, more extensive security questionnaires, additional contractual requirements, or outright disqualification from consideration.
The certification reduces information asymmetry between vendors and customers. Rather than relying on vendor self-assessment or conducting independent security audits (expensive and time-consuming), enterprises can review SOC 2 Type II reports to understand a vendor’s control environment, identify any exceptions or qualified opinions, and make risk-informed procurement decisions.
For Sharetru, the four consecutive years of certification combined with expanded infrastructure coverage positions the company to serve enterprise customers whose vendor risk policies require demonstrated security maturity, not just current compliance status. Organizations concerned about vendor viability—whether a provider can maintain security standards as they scale or face operational challenges—view multi-year certification history as evidence of organizational capability rather than temporary achievement.
As data protection regulations proliferate globally and cyberattack sophistication increases, the security requirements for third-party service providers handling sensitive information continue to intensify. Managed file transfer sits at a particularly sensitive position in enterprise architecture: files in transit often contain exactly the data that attackers target and regulators mandate protection for. Whether four years of SOC 2 Type II certification with expanding scope translates to sustained competitive advantage depends on how aggressively competitors pursue equivalent certifications and whether customers continue prioritizing security maturity over cost optimization. The inclusion of additional infrastructure in this year’s audit suggests Sharetru is preparing for customers who require deployment flexibility without compromising security standards—a combination that becomes increasingly valuable as enterprises balance cloud adoption, data sovereignty requirements, and compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions.
About Sharetru
Sharetru is a secure managed file transfer (MFT) and controlled file sharing platform built for organizations with strict security and compliance requirements. Sharetru supports web-based sharing, secure share links, and native SFTP/FTPS/SCP workflows, with centralized access controls, auditing, and retention. Sharetru helps teams align to frameworks such as FedRAMP Moderate (Sharetru Federal), NIST SP 800-53, CMMC, ITAR/CUI, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI.
