Your startup has twelve team members, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but no one has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a would-be enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of decisions determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Start by Defining Your Audit Scope
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 assesses controls against. These cover Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is the one required category. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup running a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. More scope means additional work, but not always a more valuable report.
Choose the SOC 2 Report That Fits Your Timeline
There are two reporting options for people researching how to get SOC 2 certified. As of a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both their design and operating effectiveness. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, provided 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. You do not have to get Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Close the Day-to-Day Security Gaps Before Anything Else
Connecting security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation easier to manage. A sensible place to start is enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by development teams. Management should keep records of risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. A well-written procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before the Auditor Asks
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 reconstruct them months later. With built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams manage this work.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help prepare and organize evidence.
For the software, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, request an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security efforts. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, that discipline makes future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.