With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. 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?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. The better move is to make a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Define the Scope of Your First Audit
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report includes Security. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether 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.
Before you collect any evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A broader scope brings additional work, though not always a more valuable report.
Choose the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows
Anyone wondering how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Over a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 can be a practical starting point, so long as the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You don’t have to get Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
When security controls are connected to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. Good first steps include requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Leadership should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. A polished procedure has 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. You could be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Gathering these records as activities occur is far easier than reconstructing them months later. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Audit fees are separate. A quote from an auditor 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
Finishing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security efforts. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Controls must 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.