Your startup has twelve employees, a live SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Nobody on the team holds “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security matters. A potential enterprise customer suddenly requests a SOC 2 report.
So, where should you start?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies immediately. Instead, start by making a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 evaluates controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every SOC 2 report must include Security. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
Map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved prior to collecting evidence. More scope means additional work, though not necessarily a more useful report.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Decide
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. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, assuming 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 finish Type 1 before Type 2. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Close the Day-to-Day Security Gaps Before Anything Else
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are connected to existing business activities. Think of enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Development teams should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. What employees actually do must be described in your policies. A well-written procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
In practice, SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You may 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. Through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist helps small teams manage this work.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are separate. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
Keep Compliance Manageable After Your First Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security efforts. Employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Three habits help: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and periodically reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. That discipline makes future examinations easier as a startup grows, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.