Is Your Digital Business Card SOC 2 Compliant?

secure digital business card with soc 2 type 2 badge
Last Updated: February 2026 | Written By: George El-Hage | Reading Time: 9 min
George El-Hage
Founder, Wave Connect | Trusted by 10,000+ teams globally

I've deployed digital business cards for enterprises with strict compliance requirements, including organizations in healthcare, finance, and legal. This guide is based on real security audits and vendor risk assessments.

Finding a SOC 2 compliant digital business card platform isn't optional anymore - it's a baseline requirement for any enterprise deployment. If your team is sharing contact data through a tool that hasn't passed a SOC 2 Type II audit, you've got an unmanaged risk sitting in your security stack. 🔐

In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly what SOC 2 Type II means for digital business cards, how to evaluate whether your current vendor meets the standard, and how Wave Connect's enterprise platform is built from the ground up to pass enterprise security reviews. I've sat through enough vendor risk assessments to know what IT teams actually care about - so let's cut to what matters.

What You'll Learn

  • SOC 2 Type II explained simply: What it is, how it works, and why Type II matters more than Type I
  • 8-point compliance checklist: Exactly what to ask your digital business card vendor before approving them
  • Wave's full security stack: Every certification, encryption standard, and access control built into Wave Connect
  • Why browser-based is more secure: How fewer attack vectors protect your enterprise data

Is Your Digital Business Card SOC 2 Compliant? (And Why It Matters)

Two phones exchanging data with shield protection for SOC 2 compliance

Here's the thing most people don't think about: every time an employee shares a digital business card, they're transmitting contact data through a third-party platform. Names, emails, phone numbers, job titles, company information - sometimes even meeting notes and CRM data.

For a 10-person startup, that's manageable. For a 500-person enterprise in financial services or healthcare? That's a data liability. And if your digital business card vendor doesn't have SOC 2 Type II certification, you've essentially given an unaudited third party access to your contact pipeline.

I've seen this play out firsthand. A healthcare organization I worked with had their compliance team flag a consumer-grade card app that employees had adopted on their own. No SOC 2 report. No data processing agreement. No SSO. Just an app that collected contact data with zero visibility into where it went.

🔐 From My Experience: The #1 question I get from IT directors during enterprise evaluations isn't about features or design - it's "Can you send us your SOC 2 Type II report?" If you can't answer that immediately, you're out of the running.

What Is SOC 2 Type II Certification? (A Simple Explanation)

SOC 2 Type II certification timeline from audit to compliance badge

SOC 2 stands for System and Organization Controls 2. It's a compliance framework developed by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) that defines how service providers should handle customer data.

The framework covers five Trust Services Criteria:

  • Security: Protection against unauthorized access (firewalls, encryption, intrusion detection)
  • Availability: System uptime and disaster recovery
  • Processing Integrity: Data accuracy and completeness
  • Confidentiality: Restricted access to sensitive information
  • Privacy: How personal data is collected, used, and retained

Now here's the critical distinction. SOC 2 Type I is a point-in-time snapshot - it says "on this date, our controls were in place." SOC 2 Type II covers a sustained period (usually 6-12 months) and proves those controls were consistently operational. Type II is what enterprise procurement teams require, and it's what you should demand from any digital business card vendor.

Think of it this way: Type I is like passing a single pop quiz. Type II is like maintaining a 4.0 GPA for a full year. Big difference.

How to Evaluate if Your Digital Business Card Is SOC 2 Compliant

Security evaluation checklist for digital business card SOC 2 compliance

I've been on both sides of security questionnaires - filling them out for Wave and reviewing them as a vendor. Here's the 8-point checklist I'd give any IT director evaluating a digital business card platform for their team:

8-Point Security Evaluation Checklist

  1. Request the SOC 2 Type II report directly. Not a summary - the full report. If they can't produce it, that's your answer.
  2. Verify encryption standards. Look for AES-256 at rest and TLS 1.3 in transit. Anything less is outdated.
  3. Check SSO support. Can they integrate with your identity provider (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace)? Manual logins for 500 users is a security gap.
  4. Confirm MFA is available. Multi-factor authentication should be standard, not a premium add-on.
  5. Ask about RBAC. Role-Based Access Control means admins, managers, and users don't all have the same permissions. Essential for team deployments.
  6. Review data residency options. Where is contact data stored? Can you specify regions for GDPR compliance?
  7. Evaluate app permissions. Does the platform require a native app? If so, what device permissions does it request? Camera, contacts, location? Every permission is an attack vector.
  8. Check for additional compliance. SOC 2 is the baseline. Look for GDPR compliance, VPAT accessibility certification, and whether the platform supports your industry-specific requirements.
💡 From My Experience: Point #7 is the one most teams overlook. When a digital business card platform requires a native app, that app needs permissions on every employee's device. I've reviewed competitor apps that request access to contacts, camera, and storage - all potential vectors if the app is ever compromised.

Wave Connect's Full Security & Compliance Stack

Wave Connect security compliance features with shield and checkmarks

Let's get specific about what's actually built into Wave Connect's security infrastructure. Here's the complete breakdown:

Security Layer Wave Connect Why It Matters
SOC 2 Type II ✓ Certified Independently audited security controls over 6-12 months
GDPR Compliant ✓ Compliant Full EU data protection compliance with DPA available
VPAT (Accessibility) ✓ Certified Voluntary Product Accessibility Template - ensures cards are accessible to all users
AES-256 Encryption (At Rest) Military-grade encryption for all stored contact data, designs, and analytics
TLS 1.3 (In Transit) Latest transport layer security for every API call, card share, and admin action
Browser-Based (No App) Zero executable code on employee devices - no app permissions, no shadow IT risk
SSO (Okta, Azure AD, Google) Enterprise identity provider integration - centralized access control
MFA Support Multi-factor authentication for all user accounts
RBAC (Role-Based Access) Granular admin/manager/user permissions for team deployments
White-Label Domains Cards served from your own domain (cards.yourcompany.com) - under your DNS controls
Audit Logging Full trail of who accessed what, when, from which device
Zero Recipient Solicitation Wave never contacts, markets to, or adds branding when sharing cards with recipients
Bulk Excel Import Deploy hundreds of cards securely without manual data entry

Wave Connect security features verified as of February 2026. For enterprise security documentation, visit Wave Enterprise.

A few things to highlight. The combination of SOC 2 Type II + GDPR + VPAT covers the three main compliance requirements enterprise procurement teams ask about: security auditing, data privacy, and accessibility.

The browser-based architecture is where Wave really separates from typical digital business card platforms. No native app means no app permissions on employee devices, no update management headaches, and no shadow IT risk. And white-label domains mean your card URLs live on your own domain, under your security infrastructure.

Why Browser-Based Digital Business Cards Are More Secure

Browser-based digital business card security versus app-based comparison

This is the point I always come back to in enterprise security conversations, and it's one that doesn't get enough attention.

When a digital business card platform requires a native app, that app needs to be installed on every employee's device. And every installed app creates attack surface:

  • App permissions: Camera, contacts, storage, sometimes location. Each one is a potential data exposure point.
  • Update management: If the app vendor pushes a compromised update, every employee device is affected.
  • Shadow IT risk: Employees install the app before IT has a chance to vet it. By the time security reviews it, hundreds of contacts are already in a third-party system.
  • Offboarding gaps: When someone leaves the company, you need to revoke app access separately from revoking their SSO. Another thing to forget.
🔐 From My Experience: I've talked to IT directors who didn't even know their sales team had installed a digital business card app until a security scan flagged it. With a browser-based platform like Wave Connect, there's nothing to install - cards are delivered via URL, Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet. Zero footprint on the device.

Wave's browser-first approach means: no executable code on the device, no persistent app permissions, no background data collection, and nothing for your MDM to manage. Your IT team controls access through SSO and RBAC in the admin dashboard - that's it.

Plus, with white-label domains, your digital business cards are served from your own domain (like cards.yourcompany.com) instead of a third-party URL. That means your card sharing stays within your DNS and security infrastructure.

Wave's SOC 2 Type II Compliance: What It Means for Your Enterprise

Let me be specific about what Wave's compliance stack actually includes and why it goes beyond what most digital business card platforms offer.

SOC 2 Type II + GDPR + VPAT accessibility. That's not a checkbox exercise - it's a comprehensive security posture that covers:

  • Data at rest: AES-256 encryption for all stored contact data, card designs, and analytics
  • Data in transit: TLS 1.3 for every API call, card share, and admin action
  • Access control: SSO via Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace. RBAC with granular admin/manager/user permissions
  • Audit logging: Full trail of who accessed what, when, from which device
  • Data ownership: Your contacts are your data. Wave doesn't solicit, market to, or resell recipient contact information. Ever.

That last point matters more than you'd think. Some digital business card platforms treat recipients as their own leads - they'll add "Powered by [Platform]" branding and then email your contacts with promotional content. From a security and compliance perspective, that's a data processing activity your legal team should know about.

Wave doesn't do that. Zero branding on recipient-facing cards. Zero solicitation of your contacts. Your data stays yours.

💡 From My Experience: During a vendor risk assessment for a financial services firm, the CISO specifically asked: "Does the platform contact or market to the people we share cards with?" It was a disqualifying question. Platforms that solicit recipients were eliminated immediately. Wave passed because we don't touch recipient data for our own marketing.

For teams evaluating how to create digital business cards at enterprise scale, the compliance stack is what determines whether your deployment gets approved by IT - or blocked. Wave's built to get through that approval process.

The Bottom Line

Here's my honest take. In 2026, SOC 2 Type II is the baseline - but it's not enough on its own. The real differentiators for enterprise security are what sits on top of SOC 2: GDPR compliance, VPAT accessibility certification, browser-based architecture that eliminates app-based attack vectors, white-label domains for DNS-level control, and zero recipient solicitation.

If you're an IT director or CISO evaluating any digital business card vendor, use the 8-point checklist above and run them through it. Don't just ask "Are you SOC 2 compliant?" - ask about the full stack.

And if you want a platform that's already built to pass enterprise security reviews, Wave's enterprise platform is designed specifically for organizations where compliance isn't optional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SOC 2 Type II certification for digital business cards?

SOC 2 Type II is an independent audit that verifies a platform's security controls have been consistently operational over 6-12 months. It covers data security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

Is Wave Connect SOC 2 compliant?

Yes, Wave Connect maintains SOC 2 Type II certification along with GDPR compliance and VPAT accessibility certification. Wave also uses AES-256 encryption at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit, and supports SSO/MFA for enterprise access control.

What certifications does Wave Connect hold?

Wave Connect holds SOC 2 Type II, GDPR compliance, and VPAT accessibility certification. The platform also features browser-based architecture (no app required), white-label domains, SSO integration, and zero recipient solicitation.

Why is browser-based more secure than app-based digital business cards?

Browser-based platforms don't require native app installations, which eliminates app permissions, reduces attack surface, and removes shadow IT risk. There's no executable code sitting on employee devices.

What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Type I is a point-in-time assessment, while Type II audits controls over a sustained period (6-12 months). Enterprise procurement teams typically require Type II because it proves consistent security operations.

Does Wave Connect support SSO and MFA?

Yes, Wave supports SSO via Okta, Azure AD, and Google Workspace, plus multi-factor authentication for all user accounts.

What is a white-label domain for digital business cards?

White-label domains let you serve digital business cards from your own URL (e.g., cards.yourcompany.com) instead of a third-party domain. This keeps card sharing within your DNS and security controls.

Does Wave Connect solicit or market to card recipients?

No. Wave doesn't add branding to recipient-facing cards and never contacts, solicits, or markets to the people you share cards with. Your contacts stay your contacts.

What is VPAT accessibility certification?

VPAT (Voluntary Product Accessibility Template) documents how a product meets accessibility standards. Wave Connect's VPAT certification means digital business cards are accessible to users with disabilities, which is increasingly important for enterprise compliance.

How do I evaluate if my current digital business card is SOC 2 compliant?

Request the vendor's SOC 2 Type II report directly, verify encryption standards (AES-256, TLS 1.3), confirm SSO/MFA support, and review app permissions. Use the 8-point checklist in this guide.

Enterprise-Grade Security. Zero Compromise.

SOC 2 Type II + GDPR + VPAT. Browser-based. No app permissions. White-label domains. Built for IT teams who don't cut corners on compliance.

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About the Author: George El-Hage is the Founder of Wave Connect, a browser-based digital business card platform trusted by 10,000+ teams globally. With 6+ years deploying digital business cards for enterprises in healthcare, finance, legal, and technology, George has deep expertise in what security and compliance requirements actually matter for enterprise deployments. Wave Connect is SOC 2 Type II certified, GDPR compliant, VPAT certified for accessibility, and integrates with Okta, Azure AD, Salesforce, HubSpot, and Pipedrive.