With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is well on its way. Nobody at the company holds “compliance manager” in their job title, but security matters. Then, a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
So where do you begin?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to grab dozens of policies right away. A handful of decisions decides what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. The criteria cover Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is required. The remaining areas are added when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Before collecting evidence, list the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. An overly broad scope brings extra work without necessarily improving the report’s value.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 examines those controls’ design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, provided the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are linked to existing business activities. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establish a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by development teams. Leadership should keep records of risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Write policies so they describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that no one follows.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may ask for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Reconstructing these records months later is far harder than gathering them as activities occur. CertAssist helps small teams organize this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Why You Still Need an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
On the software side, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth getting before budgeting.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security efforts. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers join your operations. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Three habits help: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and periodically 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.