Your startup employs twelve team members, a live SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters, but not one person holds “compliance manager” in their job title. Then, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of choices determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
Controls are assessed using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Security is required. Include the remaining categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope adds extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls at a specified date. Over a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 can be a useful starting point, so long as the customer accepts it.
Businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 isn’t a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Begin With Everyday Security Gaps
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are tied to everyday business activities. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by engineering teams. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by leadership. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask about when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to collect these records as activities occur than to reconstruct them months later. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Involves
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help 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. The independent audit is a separate expense. 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
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
How to Get SOC 2 Certification Without a Dedicated Compliance Team
Your startup employs twelve team members, a live SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters, but not one person holds “compliance manager” in their job title. Then, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of choices determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
Controls are assessed using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Security is required. Include the remaining categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope adds extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls at a specified date. Over a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 can be a useful starting point, so long as the customer accepts it.
Businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 isn’t a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Begin With Everyday Security Gaps
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are tied to everyday business activities. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by engineering teams. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by leadership. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask about when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to collect these records as activities occur than to reconstruct them months later. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Involves
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which can help 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. The independent audit is a separate expense. 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
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security activities. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
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