With twelve team members, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. Nobody in the company has “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security is important. A prospective enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies immediately. What matters is to make a few decisions that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 evaluates controls against. These include Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is mandatory. The other areas are included when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup offering a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. More scope means additional work, but not necessarily a more valuable report.
Choose the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 can be a practical place to start, 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, and then an independent examination. Type 2 does not depend on completing Type 1 first. Find out what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Close the Day-to-Day Security Gaps Before Anything Else
If security controls are connected to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. For instance, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, create a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Developers should retain evidence of production changes and approvals. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a beautifully written procedure that nobody follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is the heart of SOC 2 for saas companies. 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 supports small teams manage this work through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Requires
What SOC 2 produces is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
On the software side, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Audit fees are charged separately. A quote from an auditor reflecting your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
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. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed periodically against reality. That discipline makes future examinations easier for a growing startup, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.