Picture a startup with twelve people, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer next asks for a SOC 2 report.
What should you do next?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to download dozens of policies immediately. Instead, begin by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Among them, only Security is required. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is offering a straightforward business application, beginning with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope adds 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 find two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a useful first step, provided the customer accepts it.
For businesses researching 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 doesn’t depend on completing Type 1 first. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Start With Everyday Security Basics
If security controls are tied to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. A sensible place to start is requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals within the engineering team. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Actual employee practice needs to be reflected in your policies. If nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure has limited value.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. Expect an auditor to ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Rebuilding these records months later is much harder than gathering them as activities occur. CertAssist helps small teams structure this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Requires
SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that performs the examination. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
On the software side, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit are separate. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Make the Process Sustainable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. As time passes, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: assigning 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 and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.