Your startup counts twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, though no one holds “compliance manager” as a job title. Then a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
So where do you begin?
Downloading dozens of policies right away is not the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. Instead, start by making a few decisions that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First Audit
Your controls are evaluated against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. These include Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report must include Security. The remaining categories are added when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
Before collecting evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A broader scope brings extra work, but not necessarily a more valuable report.
Type 1 or Type 2? Let the Deadline Decide
Anybody asking how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Over a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both their design and operating effectiveness. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
When security controls are linked to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. Good first steps include requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. What employees actually do needs to be reflected in your policies. If nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure has limited value.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You could 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. CertAssist supports small teams manage this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
The outcome of SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Independent audits are a separate expense. Get an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Make Compliance Sustainable After the First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to remain relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. This discipline makes future examinations easier as a startup grows, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.