Your startup employs twelve team members, a working SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters, but nobody carries “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a prospective enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
So where should you start?
Grabbing dozens of policies immediately isn’t the first step for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. The better move is to make a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Start by Deciding What Your First Audit Will Cover
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they address. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup with a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. A broader scope brings additional work, but not always a more valuable report.
Choose the Report Type That Fits Your Timeline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified usually discover two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, evaluating design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, assuming the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require a Type 1 report first. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Begin With Everyday Security Basics
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are connected to ordinary business activities. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establish a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by developers. Management should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. What employees actually do must be described in the policies. There is limited value in a beautifully written procedure that no one follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may ask for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Reconstructing these records months later is far harder than collecting them as activities occur. Small teams that need help can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Independent audit fees are not included. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth getting before budgeting.
What Comes After the First SOC 2 Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security activities. Your operations keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Controls have to remain relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.