Picture a startup with twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, though no one has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then, a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
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 SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
Your controls are assessed using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 audit. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is the one required category. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved prior to collecting evidence. An overly broad scope adds extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report Type That Fits Your Timeline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. Type 1 looks at the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 examines those controls’ design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, as long as the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. You don’t have to finish Type 1 before Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Fix the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
If security controls are tied to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. Consider enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Development teams should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. Policies must describe what employees actually do. A beautifully written procedure offers limited value if nobody follows it.
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 may 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. 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. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Why You Still Need an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, which helps prepare and organize evidence.
For the software, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. A quote from an auditor based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth getting before budgeting.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security activities. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls stay relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up makes future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.