Your startup employs twelve team members, a live SaaS product, and a growing customer base. No one on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, although security matters. Then a would-be enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do first?
Downloading dozens of policies immediately isn’t the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. Instead, begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Begin by Defining What Your First Audit Will Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 evaluates controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. Include the remaining areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before anyone starts collecting evidence. A needlessly broad scope creates extra work without necessarily increasing the report’s value.
Choose the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
There are two reporting options for anyone researching how to get SOC 2 certified. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 can be a useful starting point, if the customer accepts it.
For businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You don’t have to complete Type 1 before Type 2. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
Connecting security controls to everyday business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation more manageable. Consider requiring 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 developers. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. What employees actually do needs to be described in your policies. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You might be asked for records showing 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 rebuild 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 doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Why You Still Need an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm conducts the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.
On the software side, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security work. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Controls have to stay relevant.
Set clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline makes future examinations easier for a growing startup, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
