Brave Validates Privacy Promises with SOC 2 Audit of Search API

Brave has earned a SOC 2 Type II attestation for its Search API, an independent verification that confirms the company’s security and privacy practices are not only well-designed but also consistently followed.

The attestation followed a three-month audit overseen by Prescient Security, an independent firm specializing in IT risk assessments. The auditors evaluated Brave’s internal security controls, including how the company handles code access, monitors infrastructure, and responds to incidents. Brave also conducted penetration testing through Secure Network, uncovering one minor issue that was quickly fixed.

SOC 2 is a voluntary standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that evaluates how well a company protects user data. While it’s often required by enterprise customers, it’s increasingly viewed as a mark of maturity and accountability for any online service. A Type II attestation, in particular, confirms that a company’s security practices actually work in real life, not just on paper.

Brave Search, launched as a privacy-first alternative to Big Tech search engines, is built on its own independent index and doesn’t rely on trackers or personal data to operate. The Brave Search API is an enterprise-oriented product that provides structured access to Brave’s independent search index. It’s used by developers to build applications ranging from AI models to vertical search tools, offering an alternative to APIs from dominant search providers.

While most regular users won’t interact directly with this API, the infrastructure behind it powers more than just external tools. The standards applied here reflect Brave’s broader security culture, reinforcing trust in the systems that everyday users depend on, like Brave Search itself, or features integrated into the Brave browser.

Brave noted that it didn’t need to overhaul its operations to pass the audit; instead, the attestation confirmed that its existing practices were already up to standard. The final audit report is available upon request under NDA, and Brave will undergo similar audits each year to maintain its compliance.

For the average user, this development serves as concrete reassurance rather than a direct change, confirming Brave’s security and privacy promises. For development teams, the SOC 2 Type II attestation signals that Brave’s backend systems are trustworthy and enterprise-ready without needing to build custom security wrappers or worry about risk compliance bottlenecks.