Your startup counts twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, yet nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer then requests a SOC 2 report.
What do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to download dozens of policies right away. Begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. The other areas are included 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, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. More scope means additional work, though not always a more valuable report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are connected to everyday business activities. Think of requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that no one follows.
Collect Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies comes down to demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask about 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 reconstruct them months afterward. Small teams can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
The outcome of SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Audit fees are charged separately. A quote from an auditor based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period should come first.
Keep the Process Sustainable After the First Report
Your security work shouldn’t end once the SOC 2 examination is done. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
Why SOC 2 Readiness and Independent Audit Fees Are Separate
Your startup counts twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, yet nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer then requests a SOC 2 report.
What do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to download dozens of policies right away. Begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. The other areas are included 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, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. More scope means additional work, though not always a more valuable report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are connected to everyday business activities. Think of requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that no one follows.
Collect Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies comes down to demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask about 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 reconstruct them months afterward. Small teams can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
The outcome of SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Audit fees are charged separately. A quote from an auditor based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period should come first.
Keep the Process Sustainable After the First Report
Your security work shouldn’t end once the SOC 2 examination is done. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
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