INSIGHT

Building investor confidence through third-party attestations 

Daniel Figueredo • December 17, 2025

Industries: Blockchain & Digital Assets

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Investor confidence doesn’t happen by accident or luck. It’s built through consistent demonstration of transparency, accountability, and robust internal controls. One of the most powerful tools your organization can leverage to foster this confidence is third-party attestation services. 

These independent validations serve as a bridge between your company’s internal assertions and external stakeholder trust, providing the objective assurance that investors, lenders, and business partners increasingly demand. 

The foundation of trust in modern business 

Your stakeholders are operating in an environment where trust is both precious and fragile. High-profile corporate failures and financial scandals have made investors more cautious about where they place their confidence—and their capital. This heightened scrutiny isn’t just reserved for public companies; private enterprises seeking investment, loans, or strategic partnerships face similar expectations for transparency and accountability. 

Third-party attestations address this trust gap by providing independent verification that your organization has established mature internal controls and operates with the transparency stakeholders expect. Rather than relying solely on management’s representations, these services offer objective validation from qualified professionals who have no vested interest in your company’s outcomes. 

Understanding the attestation landscape 

The most familiar form of third-party attestation is the financial statement audit. Financial audits provide a third-party opinion on financial statement accuracy and integrity, offering invaluable insight to help you make the right decisions for impactful change and support company growth. 

Beyond financial statement audits, reviews and compilations offer different levels of assurance depending on your needs: 

• Reviews offer limited assurance through analytical procedures and inquiries, suitable when full audit rigor isn’t necessary

• Compilations present financial information in proper format without providing assurance, often appropriate for smaller businesses

System and Organization Controls (SOC) reporting 

SOC reports instill trust and assurance to customers, investors, and stakeholders that companies have effective controls and processes in place to protect their data and comply with regulatory requirements. These reports have become increasingly valuable as businesses rely more heavily on technology and outsourced services and mandate these type of reports as part of their new vendor or partnership due diligence process.  

SOC 1 reports focus on internal controls relevant to financial reporting, particularly valuable when your organization provides services that impact your clients’ financial statements. By providing a SOC 1 report, companies can effectively communicate information about their risk management and controls framework to multiple stakeholders. 

SOC 2 reports address controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy—critical areas for any organization handling sensitive data or providing technology services. 

Specialized attestation services 

Beyond traditional financial and operational attestations, specialized services address specific industry needs: 

• Compliance attestations verify adherence to regulatory requirements specific to your industry  
• Cybersecurity attestations validate your information security controls and risk management practices through penetration testing services required by certain laws like HIPAA and GLBA 
• Sustainability reporting assurance provides credibility to environmental and social responsibility disclosures

Learn more about our Blockchain and Digital Assets Consulting Services

How third-party attestations drive investor confidence 

Objective validation of management assertions 

Your management team naturally believes in your company’s controls and processes, but external stakeholders need independent confirmation. Attestation impacts stakeholder trust by providing an independent review of financial reports, building confidence among investors, creditors, and other stakeholders who rely on credible financial data for decision-making. 

This objective validation becomes particularly valuable during critical business moments like fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, or loan applications. Potential investors and lenders can rely on third-party verification rather than solely trusting internal representations. 

Proactive risk identification and management 

Attestation services don’t just verify current controls—they help identify potential weaknesses before they become problems. SOC reports can help organizations lower inherent risks by identifying and addressing potential weaknesses in their systems and proactively identify efficiency issues and duplicate controls. 

This proactive approach demonstrates to stakeholders that your organization takes risk management seriously and continuously works to strengthen its operational foundation. 

Enhanced transparency and communication 

Third-party attestations provide a standardized way to communicate complex information about your controls and processes. Rather than each stakeholder conducting their own evaluation, you can provide comprehensive, professional reports that address common concerns and questions. 

This transparency is critical to advancing your competitive advantage when reliance on outsourced parties grows, helping to deliver comfort and assurance to customers, shareholders, suppliers, regulators, and other stakeholders. 

Strategic benefits beyond compliance 

Competitive differentiation 

In competitive markets, third-party attestations can set your organization apart. They signal to potential customers, partners, and investors that you operate at a higher standard of transparency and control maturity. This differentiation becomes particularly valuable in industries where trust and reliability are key competitive factors. 

Operational improvements 

The attestation process itself often reveals opportunities for operational enhancement. These reports help in identifying potential weaknesses in the organization’s controls and processes and enable management to make decisions regarding risk mitigation. 

Many organizations find that preparing for attestation engagements leads to stronger internal processes, better documentation, and more consistent control execution—benefits that extend far beyond the attestation itself. 

Stakeholder efficiency 

Rather than responding to multiple individual requests for information about your controls and processes, comprehensive attestation reports allow you to address stakeholder inquiries efficiently. These processes offer a cohesive, repeatable approach so you can assess once and then report out to many stakeholders. 

Choosing the right attestation approach 

Assess your stakeholder needs 

Start by understanding what your key stakeholders need. Different types of investors, lenders, and business partners may have varying expectations for the level and type of assurance they require. 

Consider these questions:  

• What specific concerns do your stakeholders have about your organization?  
• Are there industry-specific requirements or expectations you need to meet?  
• How do your competitors approach third-party validation?

Align with your business strategy 

Your attestation strategy should support your broader business objectives. If you’re planning to raise capital, certain types of attestations may be expected or required. If you’re expanding into new markets or launching new services, attestations can help establish credibility with new stakeholders. 

Consider timing and resources 

Attestation engagements require investment in both time and resources. However, the most successful organizations view this as an investment in stakeholder confidence rather than simply a compliance cost. Plan attestation timing to align with your business calendar and key stakeholder communications. 

Building a culture of transparency 

Internal preparation and buy-in 

Successful attestation engagements start with strong internal preparation. Your team needs to understand not just what controls exist, but why they matter and how they support broader business objectives. This understanding helps create a culture where transparency and accountability are valued, not just mandated. 

Ongoing commitment 

Third-party attestations are most effective when they represent ongoing commitment to transparency rather than one-time exercises. Regular attestations demonstrate consistent attention to control effectiveness and continuous improvement. 

Communication strategy 

Don’t let your attestation efforts go unnoticed. Develop a communication strategy that highlights your commitment to transparency and the specific steps you’ve taken to validate your controls and processes. This communication should be tailored to different stakeholder groups and integrated into your broader business development and investor relations activities. 

The long-term value proposition 

Investing in third-party attestations creates compound benefits over time. As your organization builds a track record of successful attestations, stakeholder confidence grows, potentially leading to: 

• Better terms on financing arrangements  
• Faster due diligence processes in transactions  
• Enhanced reputation in your industry  
• Competitive advantages in new business opportunities  
• Reduced insurance premiums and risk-related costs

These reports offer potential buyers assurance that your organization has established mature internal controls, serving as a valuable tool for evaluating company health and independently validating the adequacy of your control environment. 

Moving forward with confidence 

Third-party attestations represent more than compliance requirements or stakeholder expectations—they’re strategic tools for building the kind of transparency and accountability that drives long-term business success. In an increasingly complex business environment, organizations that proactively demonstrate their commitment to robust controls and transparent operations will have distinct advantages in attracting investment, securing partnerships, and achieving sustainable growth. 

The key is approaching attestations not as burdens to be minimized, but as opportunities to showcase your organization’s commitment to operational excellence and stakeholder service. When done thoughtfully and strategically, third-party attestations become powerful assets in building and maintaining the investor confidence that fuels business success. 

Ready to strengthen stakeholder confidence through strategic third-party attestations? BPM’s experienced assurance team can help you develop and implement an attestation strategy that supports your business objectives while demonstrating your commitment to transparency and accountability. Contact us today to discuss how our services can help build the investor confidence that drives your organization’s growth and success.