With twelve people, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is off to a good start. Nobody on the team holds “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security matters. Then, a prospective enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to grab dozens of policies right away. What matters is to make a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Start by Defining Your Audit Scope
Controls are evaluated against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. There are five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. Add the remaining categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Before collecting evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. An overly broad scope brings additional work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Pick the SOC 2 Report That Fits Your Timeline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 covers. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, as long as the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification starts with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and ends with an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Tackle the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
Connecting security controls to everyday business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation more manageable. A sensible place to start is enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, creating a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals inside the engineering team. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. What employees actually do must be described in your policies. A well-written procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
Demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. An auditor could request 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 reconstruct them months afterward. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
No direct integrations with company systems are required. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than 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 covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate cost. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. Employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls must remain relevant.
Set 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.