Your startup employs twelve employees, a live SaaS product, and a growing customer base. People take security seriously, but no one has “compliance manager” as a job title. Then a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What should you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. The real first step is to make a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Begin by Defining Your Audit Scope
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria are organized into five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is mandatory. Add the remaining areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is offering a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before anyone starts collecting evidence. An overly broad scope creates additional work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Over a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, assuming the customer accepts it.
Businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t depend on a Type 1 report first. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Close the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
Tying security controls to everyday business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation more manageable. For instance, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Developers should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Leadership should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Draft policies so they describe what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure has limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
At its core, 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.
Reconstructing these records months later is much harder than collecting them as activities occur. CertAssist helps small teams organize this work through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
For the software, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audits are a separate expense. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security activities. Over time, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls must stay relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. That discipline makes future examinations easier for a growing startup, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.