SOC 2 exceptions refer to instances where a company fails to fully meet the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) during an audit. These exceptions are identified in the auditor’s report and indicate deviations from established controls, such as inadequate access controls, incomplete logging, or missing security policies. While some exceptions may be minor and do not impact overall compliance, significant exceptions can lead to a qualified or adverse SOC 2 report, affecting an organization’s reputation and trustworthiness. Addressing SOC 2 exceptions requires remediation efforts, such as strengthening security policies, improving monitoring, and implementing corrective measures before the next audit.