Which kind of SSAE report comes with a seal of approval from a certified auditor? Response:

SOC 1 reports focus on controls relevant to a user entity's internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) and are restricted to management and user entities.

SOC 2 reports detail controls over security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy and are restricted to specific user entities and other parties.

SOC 3 reports are designed for general public use and provide a summary of a service organization's internal controls over security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy, often carrying a CPA firm's seal. Unlike SOC 1 or SOC 2, they do not provide detailed descriptions of controls or test results, making them suitable for marketing and public assurance.

SOC 4 is not a recognized report type under the AICPA's SOC framework.