Your startup counts twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Nobody on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, even though security is important. A potential enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step isn’t to download dozens of policies right away. Instead, begin by making a few decisions that determine what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 assesses controls against. These address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is mandatory. The remaining areas are included when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. For a startup running a straightforward business application, beginning with Security alone may work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, but not necessarily a more useful report.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. Type 1 evaluates the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 goes further, evaluating design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, as long as the customer accepts it.
Anyone investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. You do not have to complete Type 1 before Type 2. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Start With Day-to-Day Security Gaps
When security controls are connected to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. A sensible place to start is enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Development teams should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Leadership should keep records of risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Actual employee practice must be described in your policies. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that no one follows.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor could ask for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Gathering these records as activities occur is much easier than reconstructing them months afterward. With built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
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. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist promotes a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before you set a budget.
What Happens After Your First SOC 2 Report
Finishing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security efforts. Team members join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls have to remain relevant.
Set clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier as a startup grows, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.