Picture a startup with twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters to everyone, though nobody holds “compliance manager” as a job title. One day, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer is not to grab dozens of policies immediately. Begin by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria include Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is mandatory. 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 start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Before collecting evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. More scope means additional work, though not always a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
Anyone asking how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. Type 1 looks at the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness across a defined period. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, if 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 1 isn’t a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Tackle the Everyday Security Gaps Before Anything Else
Tying security controls to ordinary business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation easier to manage. A sensible place to start is requiring multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Developers should hold on to evidence of production changes and approvals. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. What employees actually do must be reflected in the policies. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that nobody follows.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies comes down to 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 harder than gathering them as activities occur. Small teams that need help can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Why You Still Need an Independent Auditor
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm conducts the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, which helps prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Make the Process Sustainable After Your First Report
Security work shouldn’t stop when the SOC 2 examination is finished. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
