Think of a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. No one on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, but security is important. Then, a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
So, where do you start?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to grab dozens of policies immediately. The real first step is to make a few choices that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Begin by Defining What Your First Audit Will Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. There are five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report includes Security. Include the remaining areas only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is running a straightforward business application, beginning with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. Keeping the scope overly broad adds additional work, and it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s value.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Decide
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. Type 1 examines the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, assuming the customer accepts it.
Businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You don’t have to get Type 1 before Type 2. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are linked to everyday business activities. A sensible place to start is requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals within the engineering team. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. What employees actually do needs to be described in the policies. If nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure has limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You may be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s easier to collect these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months later. Through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. The independent audit is a separate expense. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Happens After Your First SOC 2 Report
Security work shouldn’t stop when the SOC 2 examination is completed. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly 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.