With twelve team members, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is off to a good start. Security matters, but nobody has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then, a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to grab dozens of policies right away. Begin by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Start by Deciding Your Audit Scope
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 assesses controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Security is mandatory. Include the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope adds extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Choose the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, examining design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, assuming the customer accepts it.
Businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. You don’t have to get Type 1 before Type 2. Find out what your customer requires before paying for either examination.
Begin With Everyday Security Basics
Tying security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. Think of requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. When nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure has limited value.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
Demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is the heart of SOC 2 for saas companies. An auditor might request records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s easier to collect these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. CertAssist assists small teams manage this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm conducts the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it can’t replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist promotes a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate cost. Request an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before budgeting.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security activities. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed periodically against reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier for a growing startup, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.