Your startup has twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters to everyone, yet nobody has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
So, where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step isn’t to download dozens of policies right away. The real first step is to make a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Deciding Your Audit Scope
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. Add the remaining areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Before you collect any evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. Keeping the scope overly broad adds additional work, and it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s usefulness.
Pick the SOC 2 Report That Fits Your Timeline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified usually find two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both their design and operating effectiveness. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, provided the customer accepts it.
Businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t require a Type 1 report first. Make sure you know what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Fix the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
If security controls are tied to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. A sensible place to start is requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals within the engineering team. Company leadership should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Draft policies that reflect what employees actually do. A polished procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You could be asked for 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 later. CertAssist assists small teams organize this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm conducts the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, though it helps prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are billed separately. Get an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
What Comes After the First SOC 2 Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security work. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers join your operations. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline makes future examinations easier as a startup grows, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.