@donaldball @calamari I don't know SOC2 that well but I do work on critical infrastructure that is certified (with 0 findings!) to a similar German standard despite not using any of these scary products.
Yes you need to explain to your auditor how you intend to meet your security objectives despite not having bought the proprietary appliance that claims to magically make you do that. But you'll manage.
@donaldball @calamari "If you don't buy XYZ you'll surely fail your audit" is repeated across the industry as a truism but barely ever put to the test.