With twelve people, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. No one on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, but security is important. Then a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
What should you do next?
Downloading dozens of policies right away is not the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. A handful of choices defines what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove, and that is where to start.
Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 evaluates controls against. The criteria are organized into five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is required. Whether the other categories are included 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 begin with Security alone.
Before you collect any evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. An unnecessarily broad scope brings extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often learn about two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, evaluating design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, as long as the customer accepts it.
Anyone investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t require completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
Connecting security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. For example, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, create a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by development teams. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a beautifully written procedure that no one follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may request records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Gathering these records as activities occur is easier than reconstructing them months afterward. Through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
On the software side, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are billed separately. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Keep Compliance Sustainable After the First Report
Security work shouldn’t stop once the SOC 2 examination is completed. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers appear. Controls have to stay relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review 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.