With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. Security matters, but nobody carries “compliance manager” in their job title. Then, a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.
What exactly do you do next?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. The better move is to make a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 assesses controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. There are five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is required. Include the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before anyone starts collecting evidence. An unnecessarily broad scope creates additional work without necessarily increasing the report’s usefulness.
Pick the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified frequently learn about two reporting options. Type 1 examines the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 evaluates their design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, assuming the customer accepts it.
For businesses researching how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You do not have to get Type 1 before Type 2. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.
Fix the Everyday Security Gaps Before Anything Else
SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable when security controls are tied to existing business activities. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by developers. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the leadership level. Policies must describe what employees actually do. When nobody follows it, even a polished procedure offers limited value.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. Expect an auditor to ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to collect these records as activities occur than to reconstruct them months later. With built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist helps small teams organize this work.
There is no need for 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 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 cannot replace the independent auditor.
On the software side, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Audit fees are separate. Request an auditor’s quote that reflects your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
Make the Process Sustainable After Your First Report
Finishing 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. Your controls need to stay relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.