Your startup counts twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. People take security seriously, but nobody has “compliance manager” in their job title. A prospective enterprise customer suddenly asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do next?
Downloading dozens of policies immediately is not the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. A handful of choices defines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. The criteria cover Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is required. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether 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.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. Making the scope overly broad adds extra work, but it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s value.
Choose the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 covers. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ 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 researching how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, usually three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are linked to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For instance, 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 retained by developers. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by leadership. Write policies that reflect what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure has limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies comes down to demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Rebuilding these records months later is harder than gathering them as activities occur. CertAssist assists small teams organize this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require 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
Technically, 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 helps prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Your security efforts shouldn’t end once the SOC 2 examination is done. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls must remain relevant.
Assign 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.