Your startup employs twelve team members, a live SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters, but nobody has “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
Downloading dozens of policies immediately isn’t the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. What matters is to make a few decisions that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is mandatory. Add the remaining areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
Map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. Making the scope overly broad creates additional work, but it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s value.
Pick the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
Anybody wondering how to get SOC 2 certified will soon meet two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Over a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 can be a practical place to start, if the customer accepts it.
For businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You do not have to finish Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Find out what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Begin With Everyday Security Basics
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are tied to ordinary business activities. For instance, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals within the development team. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must match what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody 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. Expect an auditor to ask about 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 later. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. 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. Independent audits are a separate expense. Before budgeting, request an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Your operations keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers appear. Controls must remain relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
