Picture a startup that has twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. People take security seriously, yet no one has “compliance manager” as a job title. Then, a prospective enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
So where do you start?
Grabbing dozens of policies immediately is not the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. The better move is to make a few decisions that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they address. Every report includes Security. Include the other categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Before you collect any evidence, list the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A broader scope brings additional work, but not always a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 goes further, evaluating design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, provided the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Find out what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Start With Day-to-Day Security Basics
If security controls are linked to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. Good first steps include requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, creating a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by engineering teams. Management 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.
Collect Evidence as You Go
SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor might request 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 easier than reconstructing them months afterward. With built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.
No direct integrations with company systems are required. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
What SOC 2 produces is technically an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist promotes a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate cost. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report
Your security work shouldn’t end once the SOC 2 examination is finished. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.