With twelve team members, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is well on its way. People take security seriously, but no one has “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do next?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of choices determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Begin by Defining What Your First Audit Will Cover
SOC 2 evaluates controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria are organized into five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report includes Security. Include the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. An unnecessarily broad scope brings additional work without necessarily improving the report’s value.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
Anyone asking how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. Type 1 looks at the design of controls at a specified date. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both their design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful first step, provided the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Start With Everyday Security Basics
When security controls are connected to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. Consider requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals within the development team. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by leadership. Policies must describe what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure provides limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You might be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. Small teams can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams add evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Requires
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that performs the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate expense. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.