Your startup employs twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Security matters, but no one holds “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a would-be enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step isn’t to collect dozens of policies straight away. Instead, start by making a few decisions that decide 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 assesses controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Of these, only Security is mandatory. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved prior to collecting evidence. More scope means extra work, though not always a more useful report.
Type 1 or Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
There are two reporting options for anyone researching how to get SOC 2 certified. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, evaluating design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses exploring 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. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Close the Everyday Security Gaps First
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are connected to ordinary business activities. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, create a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by engineering teams. Management should record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. When nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure provides limited value.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor could request 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.
There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Involves
What SOC 2 produces is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it can’t replace the independent auditor.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Independent audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Make Compliance Sustainable After Your First Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security efforts. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Three habits help: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline makes future examinations easier as a startup grows, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.