Think of a startup that has twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters, but nobody holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer next requests a SOC 2 report.
What do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to grab dozens of policies immediately. Begin by making a few choices that determine what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 evaluates controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria cover Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is required. The remaining categories are added when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before collecting evidence. Making the scope overly broad creates extra work, but it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
Anyone wondering how to get SOC 2 certified soon runs into two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, assuming the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not depend on a Type 1 report first. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Close the Everyday Security Gaps First
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.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by engineering teams. Company leadership should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a polished procedure provides limited value.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies means 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.
It’s easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. CertAssist assists small teams organize this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
The outcome of SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.
A monthly promotional subscription of US$225 that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Audit fees are charged separately. Ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security work. Things keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls must remain relevant.
Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.