Your startup employs twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a would-be enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
So where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. Instead, begin by making a few choices that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is the one required category. The other categories are added when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup running a straightforward business application, beginning with Security alone can work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, but not necessarily a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for people searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 looks at the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 covers those controls’ design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful first step, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses exploring 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 depend on completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are tied to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. Think of enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Developers should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Actual employee practice must be reflected in your policies. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Collect Evidence as You Go
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. You might be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Rebuilding these records months later is harder than gathering them as activities occur. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Know What the Independent Audit Involves
The outcome of SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help prepare and organize evidence.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Before budgeting, request an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Make Compliance Sustainable After the First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security activities. Team members 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 regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
