Imagine a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. No one at the company has “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security is important. Then a prospective enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.
What do you do first?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. Instead, start by making a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
Your controls are assessed using the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Among them, only Security is required. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. More scope means additional work, but not always a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for people searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, provided the customer accepts it.
For businesses exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You do not have to complete Type 1 before Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before committing to either examination.
Close the Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are connected to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For example, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, create a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Development teams should hold on to evidence of production changes and approvals. Record risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Draft policies so they describe what employees actually do. A polished procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
In practice, SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask about when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Reconstructing these records months later is harder than collecting them as activities occur. Through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams manage this work.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams add evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it can’t replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audits are a separate cost. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
Keep Compliance Manageable After the First Report
Your security activities shouldn’t end when the SOC 2 examination is finished. Employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Assign clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.
