Your startup employs twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters to everyone, yet no one holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer next asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do next?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t grab dozens of policies immediately. The real first step is to make a few decisions that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Defining Your Audit Scope
Controls are evaluated against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 audit. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Every report includes Security. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Before you collect any evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. More scope means extra work, though 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. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a practical place to start, if the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not depend on completing Type 1 first. Make sure you know what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
Linking security controls to ordinary business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. Good first steps include requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Development teams should hold on to evidence of production changes and approvals. Company leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Actual employee practice needs to be described in your policies. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody follows.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before the Auditor Asks
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may 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 much easier than reconstructing them months later. CertAssist supports small teams structure this work through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
No direct integrations with company systems are required. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it cannot replace the independent auditor.
A monthly promotional subscription of US$225 that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, request an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Comes After the First SOC 2 Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.