Your startup counts twelve people, a live SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. People take security seriously, though no one holds “compliance manager” as a job title. Then, a potential 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. Begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
Your controls are assessed against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 audit. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Only Security is required. The other areas are included when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before anyone starts collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, but not always a more valuable report.
Pick the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often learn about two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 covers. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a practical starting point, so 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 does not depend on completing Type 1 first. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are connected to everyday business activities. Good first steps include requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by developers. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a polished procedure has limited value.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies involves 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. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help prepare and organize evidence.
A monthly promotional subscription of US$225 that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Get an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Three habits help: 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 while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.