Appalachia Technologies, LLC

SOC 2 Type II Certification

Origin

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in 2011 as part of their Service Organization Control reporting framework. It was created to address the growing need for standardized security and privacy assurance as more organizations began storing data in the cloud and relying on third-party service providers. The certification was designed to evaluate how well service organizations manage customer data based on five "Trust Services Criteria": security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Type II specifically requires organizations to demonstrate these controls over a minimum period of time (typically 3-12 months), rather than just at a single point in time.

Industry Value

SOC 2 Type II certification is highly valued because it provides independent verification that a company has implemented and maintained robust security controls over an extended period. For service providers, achieving this certification demonstrates credibility and commitment to data protection, often becoming a competitive differentiator and a prerequisite for winning enterprise clients. Many organizations, particularly in healthcare, finance, and technology sectors, require their vendors to be SOC 2 Type II compliant before sharing sensitive data or establishing business relationships. The certification gives customers confidence that their service providers have been audited by qualified third parties and meet industry-recognized standards for protecting information assets.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification

Origin and Creation

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification was created by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) in 2003. EC-Council, founded by Jay Bavisi, developed this certification in response to the growing need for standardized training in ethical hacking and penetration testing methodologies. The program was designed to legitimize the practice of "white hat" hacking by establishing a professional framework for security professionals who need to think like malicious hackers in order to better defend their organizations' systems and networks.

Industry Value and Importance

The CEH certification is widely recognized and valued in the cybersecurity industry because it validates a professional's knowledge of current hacking techniques, tools, and methodologies from an attacker's perspective. Many government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, and numerous private sector organizations recognize CEH as meeting their information assurance training requirements. The certification demonstrates that holders understand how to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems, making them valuable assets for organizations seeking to strengthen their security posture through proactive testing and assessment.

Origins of CISSP

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification was created by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, known as (ISC)², in 1994. It was developed in response to the growing need for a standardized credential that could validate the knowledge and expertise of information security professionals. The certification was designed to establish a common body of knowledge for the cybersecurity field and provide organizations with a reliable way to identify qualified security practitioners during a time when information security was becoming increasingly critical to business operations.

Industry Value and Importance

The CISSP is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious and valued credentials in the cybersecurity industry. It demonstrates that holders possess comprehensive knowledge across eight security domains, including security architecture, risk management, and software security. Many government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, and Fortune 500 companies either require or strongly prefer CISSP certification for senior security positions. The certification's rigorous requirements—including five years of professional experience and passing a challenging exam—combined with mandatory continuing education, ensure that CISSP holders maintain current, relevant expertise, making it a trusted benchmark for cybersecurity competence worldwide.

Security+ Certification Overview

Origin and Creation

The Security+ certification was created by CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association), a non-profit trade association, and was first introduced in 2002. CompTIA developed this certification in response to the growing need for a vendor-neutral, baseline security credential that could validate foundational cybersecurity skills across various platforms and technologies. The certification was designed to establish a standardized measure of competency for IT professionals entering security roles, addressing the increasing importance of information security in organizations worldwide.

Industry Value and Importance

Security+ is widely recognized as one of the most important entry-level cybersecurity certifications in the IT industry. It meets the ISO 17024 standard and is approved by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as one of the required certifications for information assurance positions under DoD Directive 8570.01-M, making it essential for many government contractors and military personnel. Employers value Security+ because it demonstrates that holders possess practical, hands-on skills in network security, risk management, cryptography, and threat detection—core competencies needed in today's security-conscious business environment. The certification serves as a solid foundation for cybersecurity careers and is often a prerequisite for more advanced security credentials.