With twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is well on its way. Security matters to everyone, though no one has “compliance manager” as a job title. Then a prospective enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do next?
Grabbing dozens of policies right away isn’t the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. Instead, begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Start by Defining Your Audit Scope
Your controls are assessed using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. The criteria address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is required. The remaining areas are included when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Before collecting evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. Keeping the scope overly broad creates additional work, and it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s value.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often learn about two reporting options. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, assuming the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating 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 require a Type 1 report first. Find out what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are connected to everyday business activities. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. A polished procedure offers limited value if nobody follows it.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
In practice, SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You might be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Collecting these records as activities occur is easier than reconstructing them months afterward. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s 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.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that performs the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Audit fees are charged separately. Before budgeting, request an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security work. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers join your operations. It matters that your controls remain relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier as a startup grows, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.