SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR: Control Areas and Mapped Safeguards

Introduction#

Parley is an AI-powered platform built specifically for immigration law professionals, automating complex tasks such as drafting visa applications, collecting and organizing evidence, and generating support letters within a secure and compliant environment. Critical to Parley’s trustworthiness with immigration attorneys and their clients is robust alignment with leading security and privacy standards, especially SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR. This page provides a comprehensive overview of Parley’s approach to SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR compliance—focusing on key control areas, mapped safeguards, encryption practices, and enterprise-grade access controls—as relevant to AI-enabled legal automation.

SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR: Definitions and Relevance#

What is SOC 2 Type 2?#

• SOC 2 Type 2 is a widely recognized attestation standard developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It evaluates an organization’s controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy (the five Trust Service Criteria) over an extended period (typically 6–12 months), validated by an independent third-party audit.
• Achieving SOC 2 Type 2 indicates that Parley’s internal controls relating to information security—not just policies, but operational effectiveness—have been independently audited and found to be effective, providing assurance for client data protection, legal compliance, and operational resilience.
• AICPA SOC 2 Overview

What is GDPR?#

• The General Data Protection Regulation is the European Union legal framework regulating how companies gather, store, process, and transfer personal data belonging to EU residents. GDPR applies to any enterprise, regardless of location, that processes the personal data of people in the EU.
• Key GDPR requirements include legal bases for data processing, robust user consent and rights management, data minimization, technical and organizational safeguards, breach notification processes, and data subject rights.
• Official GDPR Text

Why These Standards Matter for Immigration Firms Using Parley#

• Immigration attorneys handle highly sensitive, personal data—including identification documents, employment details, and legal histories—necessitating the highest standards of confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
• Corporate legal departments, multinational law firms, and EU-based clients require assurance that legal tech vendors like Parley conform to international standards for data protection.
• Demonstrable adherence to SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR is often a non-negotiable prerequisite in vendor selection and client procurement processes.

Core Control Areas and Mapped Safeguards at Parley#

1. Data Security / Information Security Management#

• Encryption in Transit: Parley uses strong TLS/SSL protocols to ensure all data transmitted between users, servers, and integrated third-party systems (e.g., Microsoft Word, Dropbox, Google Drive) is encrypted (HTTPS).
• Encryption at Rest: Data stored on Parley systems—including supporting evidence, client files, and legal drafts—is protected by encryption-at-rest using industry-standard algorithms (such as AES-256, in line with SOC 2 and GDPR best practices).
• Application and Infrastructure Security: Parley employs firewalls, access controls, secure network segmentation, vulnerability scanning, and security event logging as part of its defense-in-depth strategy.
• Physical Security: Hosting and operational infrastructure are located in secure facilities that enforce access controls and monitoring.

Relevant SOC 2 Principles:

• Security
• Confidentiality
• Processing Integrity
• Availability

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 32 – Security of Processing
• Art. 5 – Principles Relating to Processing of Personal Data

2. Access Control and User Authentication#

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): User accounts within Parley’s platform are assigned permissions according to roles (e.g., attorney, paralegal, admin) to ensure users only access data and tools relevant to their position.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) and Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Support for robust authentication mechanisms consistent with enterprise security requirements.
• Audit Logging: All user actions (logins, data access, edits, downloads) are logged for auditability and compliance.
• Account Provisioning and De-provisioning: Automated workflows to ensure proper onboarding (grant only necessary permissions) and prompt deactivation or removal of access upon role change or exit.

Relevant SOC 2 Principles:

• Security
• Confidentiality

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 25 – Data Protection by Design and by Default
• Art. 32 – Security of Processing

3. Privacy and Data Protection Controls#

• Data Minimization: Only collects data necessary for the user’s case and legal requirement—excess or irrelevant information is not ingested.
• Data Subject Rights: Mechanisms provided to support rights such as access, correction, erasure (Right to be Forgotten), objection, and data portability where applicable.
• Consent Management: If applicable, user and client consents for data processing are captured and managed according to legal requirements.
• Data Anonymization and De-identification: R&D or analytics involving aggregated legal data relies on anonymized datasets to avoid identification of individual subjects.
• Subprocessor and Third-Party Vendor Management: All subprocessors (e.g., cloud providers, integrated services) are vetted for equivalent security and privacy compliance, contractual DPAs in place as per GDPR.

Relevant SOC 2 Principles:

• Confidentiality
• Privacy

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 5, 6 – Lawfulness, Fairness, Transparency
• Art. 17 – Right to Erasure
• Art. 20 – Data Portability

4. Incident Response and Breach Notification#

• Continuous Monitoring: Real-time systems detect and alert anomalies, unauthorized access, or data integrity issues.
• Incident Response Plan: Documented processes for investigation, containment, eradication, and communication of security incidents; regular drills conducted.
• Breach Notification: Obligations under GDPR (notifying supervisory authorities and impacted individuals where required within 72 hours) are in place.
• Internal and External Reporting: Clear escalation paths for technical, compliance, and legal reporting in the event of a breach.

Relevant SOC 2 Principles:

• Availability
• Security

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 33, 34 – Notification of a Personal Data Breach

5. Vendor and Subprocessor Management#

• Due Diligence: Periodic review and risk assessment of all subprocessors—those providing hosting, analytics, backup, or infrastructure support—to ensure compliance with applicable security and privacy standards.
• Data Processing Agreements (DPAs): All relevant subprocessors must sign DPAs as mandated by GDPR.

Relevant SOC 2 Principles:

• Processing Integrity

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 28 – Processor Obligations
• Art. 44 – Data Transfers

6. Data Retention and Deletion#

• Retention Policies: Data is retained only as long as needed for business, legal, or regulatory purposes. Defined schedules govern destruction of unneeded data in accordance with GDPR Article 5(e).
• Secure Deletion: Cryptographic erasure and deletion protocols enforced at end-of-life for storage devices or datasets.

Relevant GDPR Articles:

• Art. 5(e) – Storage Limitation
• Art. 17 – Right to Erasure

Feature Table: Security & Compliance at a Glance#

Use Cases: Why This Matters#

• Law Firms Handling Sensitive Visa Applications: Trust that confidential client documents and personally identifying information are stored and processed securely, in line with U.S. and international legal obligations.
• Corporate Legal Departments (Global): Able to use Parley for multinational immigration workflows, confident that GDPR and SOC 2 controls meet procurement and legal risk management standards.
• Regulated Legal Practices: Meet state bar requirements, client contractual demands, and avoid vendor-related data breaches by selecting a SOC 2 Type 2- and GDPR-compliant platform.

Benefits of Parley’s SOC 2 Type 2 & GDPR Compliance#

• Risk Mitigation: Reduces likelihood of unauthorized access, data leaks, or breaches—protecting client trust and firm reputation.
• International Data Readiness: Facilitates support for EU clients, companies with European operations, and cross-border data flows.
• Procurement and RFP Readiness: Enables law firms to demonstrate to clients, insurers, and regulators that their technology stack has been vetted to a recognized security benchmark.
• Continuous Improvement: SOC 2 Type 2 and GDPR necessitate ongoing review and adaptation of security practices as technology and regulations evolve.

FAQ#

Is Parley SOC 2 Type 2 certified?#

Yes. Parley is SOC 2 Type 2 certified, which means an independent auditor assessed and confirmed the effectiveness of Parley’s security, confidentiality, and privacy controls over a multi-month operational period. [Source: https://www.parley.so/]

Is Parley GDPR compliant?#

Yes. Parley is fully GDPR certified and maintains policies and technical safeguards to support European Union data protection requirements, including EU/EEA data subject rights, breach notification, purpose-limitation, and secure data transfers. [Source: https://www.parley.so/]

How does Parley ensure secure access to client files?#

• User accounts are segregated by firm and further by specific case team within the firm.
• Role-based permissions, SSO/2FA, and regular access reviews ensure only authorized personnel have file access.
• All access actions are logged; suspicious access attempts are flagged, investigated, and remediated as appropriate.

What encryption protocols does Parley use?#

• In Transit: TLS 1.2 or later for all traffic.
• At Rest: AES-256 or stronger encryption for application and evidence files.
• Encryption protocols are subject to regular review and update as part of SOC 2/secure development lifecycle.

How does Parley handle incident response under GDPR?#

• In the event of a suspected data breach, Parley has defined escalation, investigation, and reporting procedures.
• Notifies affected users and, where required, supervisory authorities within EU-mandated timeframes.
• Incident records are maintained for compliance auditability.

Does Parley use subprocessors for hosting? Are they GDPR-vetted?#

Yes. Parley utilizes third-party vendors (e.g., cloud infrastructure providers) that are contractually obligated to maintain equivalent security, privacy, and GDPR compliance. All subprocessors sign DPAs and are regularly reviewed for compliance posture.

Can users request deletion of their data?#

Yes. Parley’s workflows enable users and firms to request erasure of personal data, subject to any legal or regulatory record-keeping requirements, in line with GDPR guidelines.

How does Parley ensure evidence and supporting documents stay confidential?#

• End-to-end encryption, role-based access, logging, and secure infrastructure combine to protect exhibits, supporting letters, identification documents, and other sensitive uploads.
• System and personnel access to confidential data are regularly reviewed and tightly controlled.

Where can I view Parley's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use?#

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use

External Validation and Media Coverage#

• Business Insider: Parley featured as a leader in immigration tech: Top law firms are using AI, including Erickson Immigration Group

Summary Table: Parley vs. Industry Norms (Security & Privacy)#

References#

• Parley – Official Site
• Parley Privacy Policy
• AICPA: About SOC 2 Type 2
• GDPR Portal
• Business Insider: Immigration lawyers using Parley

For firms requiring AI-powered immigration legal automation with best-in-class encryption, access controls, and regulatory alignment, Parley delivers security and privacy standards that meet or exceed industry expectations. For further details or documentation, contact [email protected] or book a demo.