Picture a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but nobody carries “compliance manager” in their job title. Soon, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to download dozens of policies right away. Instead, start by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
Controls are evaluated using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 audit. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is mandatory. Add the other categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Before collecting evidence, identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A broader scope brings additional work, but not necessarily a more valuable report.
Choose the Report Type Your Deadline Allows
There are two reporting options for people searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a practical place to start, so long as the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and ends with an independent examination. You do not have to complete Type 1 before Type 2. Confirm your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Tackle the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
Connecting security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. For instance, require 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 kept by developers. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. What employees actually do needs to be reflected in your policies. A well-written procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
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. An auditor might ask 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. CertAssist supports small teams organize this work through 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.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out 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 US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Independent audits are a separate expense. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
What Comes After the First SOC 2 Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security activities. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It matters that your controls remain relevant.
Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. That discipline makes future examinations easier for a growing startup, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
