With twelve team members, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is well on its way. No one at the company has “compliance manager” in their job title, but security is important. Then a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
Downloading dozens of policies immediately is not the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. What matters is to make a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Deciding What Your First Audit Will Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. The criteria include Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is required. Include the other categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup running a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved prior to collecting evidence. A broader scope brings additional work, though not necessarily a more useful report.
Pick the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows
There are two reporting options for anyone researching how to get SOC 2 certified. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a useful first step, assuming the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and ends with an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t require a Type 1 report first. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.
Fix the Day-to-Day Security Gaps Before Anything Else
Linking security controls to ordinary business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation more manageable. For instance, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should hold on to evidence of production changes and approvals. Company leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Actual employee practice must be reflected in your policies. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
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 could request records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Reconstructing these records months later is much harder than gathering them as activities occur. CertAssist assists small teams manage this work through 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 What the Independent Audit Requires
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Audit fees are separate. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report
Your security work should not end when the SOC 2 examination is finished. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It matters that your controls stay relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier as a startup grows, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.