With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. People take security seriously, yet no one holds “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a potential enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do first?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies right away. What matters is to make a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria are organized into five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Among them, only Security is required. The other categories are added when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be mapped out before collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope brings additional work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Pick the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Type 2 goes further, evaluating both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a practical place to start, if the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. You don’t have to finish Type 1 before Type 2. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable when security controls are tied to everyday business activities. For instance, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establish a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Development teams should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Company leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Actual employee practice must be described in the policies. When nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure provides limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. Expect an auditor to ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild 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. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
What SOC 2 produces is technically an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that performs the examination. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audits are a separate cost. Request an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security work. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Controls must stay relevant.
Set clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline makes future examinations easier for a growing startup, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.