With twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base, your startup is moving in the right direction. People take security seriously, though no one has “compliance manager” in their job title. A prospective enterprise customer next requests a SOC 2 report.
So, where should you begin?
Downloading dozens of policies right away isn’t the answer for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. A handful of decisions decides what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 evaluates controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they address. Only Security is required. Include the other categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is offering a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone can work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before anyone starts collecting evidence. A broader scope brings additional work, but not always a more valuable report.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often learn about two reporting options. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Type 2 goes further, examining design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful place to start, so long as the customer accepts it.
Businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before paying for either examination.
Begin With Everyday Security Gaps
If security controls are linked to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, setting up a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions regularly.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the engineering team. Management should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. A polished procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.
Collect Evidence While Things Are Happening
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. You might be asked for records showing when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Collecting these records as activities occur is easier than reconstructing them months later. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Involves
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.
For the software, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before budgeting.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security work. Team members 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 periodically reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. As your startup grows, that discipline will make future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.