SOC 2 exceptions refer to control failures or deviations noted by auditors during the examination period. These are instances where the organization did not meet one or more of its stated controls under the applicable trust principles—such as a missed security patch or unreviewed access logs. While not always severe, exceptions can impact the final SOC 2 report rating, especially if they suggest systemic issues. Organizations should investigate and remediate exceptions quickly to avoid repeated findings. A clean SOC 2 report—with no exceptions—strengthens customer trust, while a report with well-managed exceptions can still reflect strong overall compliance.