Four years after becoming the first AMC to complete the SSAE16 Type 1 audit, Dart Appraisal announced the successful completion of the Service Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) Type 1 attestation. This independent attestation validates that Dart Appraisal has suitably designed controls in place for effectively maintaining the security and confidentiality of client information.
“In 2011, Dart Appraisal led the way by becoming the first AMC to complete the SSAE 16 Type 1 Audit,” Dart Appraisal Operations Vice President Michael Dresden said in a press release. “While it was customary in data management and financial sectors, completing the audit was a rare achievement for an AMC at the time. Today we continue to hold ourselves to the highest industry standards. With our successful completion of the SOC 2 review, we have again demonstrated our commitment to retaining the confidentiality and privacy of our clients’ information through effective controls and strict adherence to compliance and security procedures.”
Dart Appraisal was reviewed against the AICPA Trust Services Principles and Criteria for security and confidentiality, which includes a thorough evaluation of the design of a company’s processes, procedures, and controls. UHY LLP, an independent certified public accounting firm conducted the attestation, evaluating the suitability of the design of controls to achieve the related control objectives stated in the description. The successful completion of a SOC 2 Type 1 engagement provides assurance that there are controls in place that meet the security and confidentiality principles.
According to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a SOC 2 report “helps differentiate entities from their competitors by demonstrating to stakeholders that the entities are attuned to the risks posed by their environment and equipped with the controls that address those risks.”