Your startup employs twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but no one carries “compliance manager” in their job title. Soon, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do first?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies straight away. A handful of decisions decides what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Define the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. The criteria address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report includes Security. The other categories are added when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may be enough, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. An overly broad scope creates extra work without necessarily improving the report’s value.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Throughout 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 useful place to start, so 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, followed by an independent examination. You don’t have to finish Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Start With Everyday Security Basics
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are linked to everyday business activities. Think of enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Engineering teams should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Company leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Draft policies that reflect what employees actually do. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Gather Evidence as You Go
At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor might 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 far 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. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm conducts the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help 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. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep Compliance Sustainable After the First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. Over time, people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Controls have to stay relevant.
Three habits help: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing 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.
