Imagine a startup with twelve people, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, but nobody has “compliance manager” as a job title. Soon, a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer is not to grab dozens of policies immediately. Begin by making a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Define the Scope of Your First Audit
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Of these, only Security is required. 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 begin with Security alone.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, though not necessarily a more useful report.
Choose the Report Type That Fits Your Timeline
Anyone wondering how to get SOC 2 certified soon runs into two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, if the customer accepts it.
Businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You do not have to get Type 1 before Type 2. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are linked to existing business activities. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, creating a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be documented by management. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. A well-written procedure offers limited value if nobody follows it.
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 could ask for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months later. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
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 performs the examination. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which helps prepare and organize evidence.
On the software side, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are billed separately. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Comes After the First SOC 2 Report
Your security work should not end when the SOC 2 examination is completed. As time passes, people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.