With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is off to a good start. Security matters, but nobody has “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. Instead, start by making a few choices that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Defining Your Audit Scope
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Of these, only Security is required. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.
Before collecting evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. Making the scope unnecessarily broad adds extra work, and it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s value.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Type 2 evaluates their design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 can be a useful 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, usually three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not depend on completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are linked to ordinary business activities. Think of requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals inside the engineering team. Management should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Draft policies that reflect what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody follows.
Keep 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 easier than reconstructing them months afterward. With built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.
No direct integrations with company systems are required. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, 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 offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit 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
Finishing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security efforts. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers appear. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.