With twelve people, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is well on its way. People take security seriously, but no one holds “compliance manager” as a job title. A potential enterprise customer suddenly asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. What matters is to make a few choices that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Only Security is required. Add the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone can work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. More scope means additional work, though not always a more valuable report.
Choose the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
Anybody wondering how to get SOC 2 certified soon runs into two reporting options. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 evaluates their design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, as long as the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 1 isn’t a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Start With Everyday Security Basics
If security controls are tied to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For example, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by developers. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Write policies so they describe what employees actually do. A beautifully written procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
In practice, SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You might be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Reconstructing these records months later is far harder than collecting them as activities occur. CertAssist supports small teams manage this work through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security activities. Over time, people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls stay relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, that discipline will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.