Trust, verified: How Rebuy’s SOC 2 compliance raises the bar for data security

Security isn’t the flashiest topic in ecommerce, but it is one of the most important.

Every Shopify merchant who uses Rebuy entrusts us with customer data like purchase history, personal details, and browsing behavior. That trust is sacred, and now it’s verified.

Rebuy recently achieved SOC 2 compliance, an independent certification that confirms our systems, infrastructure, and processes meet the highest standards for data security and privacy.

To unpack what that means for merchants, I sat down with Ryan Prall, Rebuy’s Director of Security and Compliance, to talk about why SOC 2 matters, how it protects merchants, and what comes next.

What exactly is SOC 2, and what does it mean for Rebuy customers?

Prall: SOC 2 is essentially an independent verification that we’re doing what we say we’re doing. We hired an external auditor who spent weeks examining our security controls, infrastructure, and processes, everything from how we encrypt data to who has access to internal systems.

It’s not something you can fake or fast-track. You have to demonstrate consistent, rigorous security practices across the entire organization. Think of it as a trust badge proving we’ve built security into the foundation of our business, and not as an afterthought.

Why should the average Shopify brand care about SOC 2?

Prall: When a merchant integrates Rebuy, we’re handling sensitive customer data like purchase histories, personal info, and behavioral insights. SOC 2 proves we treat that data with the same care merchants would themselves.

But there’s a bigger picture here: major breaches in recent years often start with third-party vendors, not the companies themselves. Security is only as strong as the weakest vendor.

When something goes wrong with a vendor and your brand is still facing the backlash and the regulatory scrutiny and the loss of customer trust, you want to be sure that your vendors are reputable, that they're secure, and that they're doing the things that they say they're doing.

And so, SOC 2 compliance demonstrates that we take our role in the supply chain seriously. It's not just about protecting our own system; it's about protecting the merchant's business from becoming the next headline due to a vendor vulnerability.

“Platforms want to protect their ecosystems, and they’ll demand vendors meet these standards.”

So what sets Rebuy apart now that we’re SOC 2 compliant?

Prall: Before SOC 2, we could tell you our security was strong, but we were grading our own homework. Now, an independent third party has verified it. They examined every aspect of our security, from access controls to incident response, data encryption, and change management.

What really sets us apart is that many vendors our size skip this step because it's expensive, it's time-consuming, and it's invasive. Some people don't want others to look under the hood. It requires a level of organizational maturity and commitment that goes beyond just checking boxes.

We've essentially opened up our system to scrutiny because we want to prove to ourselves and to our customers that security is embedded in how we operate.

For enterprise merchants or anyone doing their due diligence, SOC 2 means they can start vetting Rebuy with a degree of confidence. It shifts the conversation from "trust us" to "here's the proof."

Is SOC 2 becoming table stakes in the ecommerce industry, or is Rebuy ahead of the curve here?

Prall: I’d say Rebuy’s ahead of the curve, but the curve’s catching up fast. Shopify has ramped up its partner security requirements, including independent third-party evaluations. Atlassian has done the same, partnering with Vanta to validate app security.

Right now, SOC 2 gives us a clear advantage, especially with enterprise merchants. But within the next 12–24 months, I expect it to become table stakes. Platforms want to protect their ecosystems, and they’ll demand vendors meet these standards.

What was the toughest part of achieving SOC 2 compliance?

Prall: The hardest part wasn’t technical, it was cultural. We already had strong security practices, but they were scattered. SOC 2 required us to unify everything into one consistent framework.

We used Vanta as the backbone of our compliance program, which automated much of the process. Instead of spending months figuring out what controls we needed and how to document them and how to collect them, we were able to pull in a roadmap from Vanta that showed everything that we needed to accomplish.

But the real challenge was getting every department aligned around a security-first mindset. SOC 2 has definitely forced us to mature as an organization, and we're better for it.

“Enterprise merchants are continually raising the bar with their security demands, and our commitment is to stay ahead of those expectations.”

How has SOC 2 changed day-to-day operations at Rebuy?

Prall: SOC 2 now defines how we operate. Everything — access requests, code deployments, vendor evaluations — follows a documented, repeatable, auditable process. There’s no ambiguity anymore.

And the thing is, SOC 2 marks just the beginning of our security and compliance journey. We're already preparing to adopt additional frameworks and certifications that enterprise merchants increasingly expect and request. Each new milestone will further strengthen our organizational maturity and operational discipline.

As both Rebuy and the broader ecommerce landscape evolve, so do our compliance requirements. Enterprise merchants are continually raising the bar with their security demands, and our commitment is to stay ahead of those expectations. Achieving SOC 2 has equipped us with the infrastructure and operational rigor necessary to scale securely and confidently.

How does AI factor into compliance and security?

Prall: AI is absolutely part of the conversation. Vanta, our GRC platform, uses AI tools that help small teams like ours manage complex compliance programs efficiently.

We’re also seeing new standards emerge, like ISO 42001, which focuses on responsible AI management systems. As machine learning becomes more integrated into ecommerce, having frameworks that govern safe and ethical AI use will become essential.

For merchants who are skeptical about data security in general, what’s your message?

Prall: It all comes down to trust. When you choose Rebuy, you’re giving us access to your most valuable asset: your customer data. SOC 2 is our way of proving we’re worthy of that trust. It means we've subjected ourselves to independent scrutiny. We've formalized how we protect your data and we've committed to maintaining those standards continuously.

I want merchants to know that security isn't a checkbox for us. It's a partnership commitment. When you ask us hard questions about our practices, when you need documentation for your own compliance efforts, when you want to understand how we handle incidents, we're here to be transparent. Your success depends on your customers trusting you, and your customers' trust depends on you choosing partners who take security as seriously as you do. 

What’s next for Rebuy’s security and compliance roadmap?

Prall: We’re already compliant with major privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA, and we’re actively scoping out ISO 27001 as our next major certification milestone.

ISO 27001 is more of an international standard of information security management and it would further demonstrate our commitment to security on a global scale.

We’re also evaluating ISO 42001 for AI management systems. The key is that the certifications aren't like Pokemon. We're not out to catch them all. They're strategic investments and we're building a security and compliance program that scales with our business and meets the evolving needs of enterprise merchants.

Bonus question: what are you watching, reading, or listening to these days?

Prall: I’m currently buried in the study guide for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam. It's thrilling, trust me.

Outside of work, I'm actually working my way through The Witcher series, and I'm genuinely enjoying it. I'm an avid fan of the games. I'm anxiously awaiting the fourth installment. I'm even cautiously optimistic about season 4 coming to Netflix later this month. My man Henry Cavill stepped out, so the aura of Geralt will shift a little, but I've got high hopes.

I know some folks didn't approve of Henry Cavill's performance. What's your take on his role as Geralt?

Prall: I loved it. But my Geralt is from The Witcher 3, which is my favorite game in the series. And so he's got a bit more of a dark, ominous tone to him. And I think Henry did that fantastically.

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