Your startup has twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters to everyone, but nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer suddenly requests a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to grab dozens of policies right away. The real first step is to make a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
Controls are evaluated against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. The criteria address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report must include Security. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re 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 mapped out before collecting evidence. A broader scope brings additional work, though not necessarily a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. Type 1 examines the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 covers those controls’ design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a practical starting point, if the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification starts with 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, check your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
When security controls are tied to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For instance, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by developers. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Draft policies that reflect what employees actually do. There is limited value in a beautifully written procedure that nobody follows.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before the Auditor Asks
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. Expect an auditor to ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. CertAssist assists 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. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report
Your security efforts should not end when the SOC 2 examination is completed. Employees 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 periodically against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.