If your company runs on Microsoft 365 and Azure, you already have most of the infrastructure needed to satisfy SOC 2 — the gap is usually configuration and evidence, not missing tooling. Here's how the pieces map together.
Entra ID → Access control criteria
Entra ID (Azure AD) directly satisfies SOC 2's logical access control requirements when configured correctly: MFA enforcement, conditional access policies, and Privileged Identity Management for just-in-time admin access all generate the audit trail evidence auditors request. Access reviews can be scheduled directly within Entra ID's Identity Governance module, producing exportable evidence automatically.
Microsoft Defender → Vulnerability and threat management
- Defender for Endpoint covers endpoint detection and response requirements
- Defender for Cloud provides continuous vulnerability assessment for Azure infrastructure, directly mapping to SOC 2's risk assessment criteria
- Defender for Office 365 covers phishing and malware protection for your email environment
Microsoft Purview → Data governance
Sensitivity labels and data loss prevention policies in Purview satisfy SOC 2's confidentiality criteria (if you've scoped your audit to include it) — labeling sensitive customer data and enforcing handling restrictions gives auditors concrete evidence of your data classification program.
Azure Monitor and Sentinel → Logging and monitoring
SOC 2 requires evidence of continuous monitoring and log retention. Azure Monitor combined with Sentinel (Microsoft's SIEM) provides centralized logging across your infrastructure with configurable retention periods — set retention to at least 12 months to comfortably cover a Type 2 observation window.
Mapping table
| SOC 2 Criteria | Microsoft Tool |
|---|---|
| Logical access controls | Entra ID Conditional Access, PIM |
| Vulnerability management | Defender for Cloud |
| Monitoring and logging | Azure Monitor, Sentinel |
| Data classification | Microsoft Purview |
| Endpoint protection | Defender for Endpoint |
Bottom line
A well-configured Microsoft stack can satisfy the large majority of SOC 2's technical control requirements without adding a separate point-solution for every category. The work is in configuration, consistent operation, and exporting the right evidence — not procurement.