Your startup employs twelve team members, a live SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Nobody in the company has “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security matters. Then a potential enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.
So, where should you start?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to grab dozens of policies immediately. Instead, start by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Begin by Defining What Your First Audit Will Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Security is the one required category. The remaining categories are included when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before anyone starts collecting evidence. Keeping the scope unnecessarily broad creates extra work, and it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s value.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified usually learn about two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, examining design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, as long as 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. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are connected 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.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by development teams. Leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor could ask 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 far easier than reconstructing them months later. CertAssist assists small teams structure this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Requires
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist promotes a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit are separate. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep Compliance Sustainable After the First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Three habits help: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.