Which auditing standard is focused on data management security?

The choice of SOC 2 as the auditing standard focused on data management security is appropriate because SOC 2 is specifically designed to assess an organization's controls related to data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. It is based on five Trust Services Criteria, which allow organizations to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining robust systems for managing customer data securely.

SOC 2 reports are particularly relevant for technology and cloud computing companies that handle sensitive client information, making it a vital standard in the context of data management security. Organizations often use SOC 2 compliance to build trust with their clients, indicating that they adhere to best practices in protecting data.

While ISO 27001 focuses on information security management systems more generally and NIST provides a comprehensive framework for security and risk management, SOC 2 specifically addresses criteria that are directly applicable to data management in the context of service and cloud providers. PCI DSS, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with security measures for payment card information, which is a narrower focus compared to the broad data management concerns covered by SOC 2.