Picture a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but not one person has “compliance manager” in their job title. A prospective enterprise customer then requests a SOC 2 report.
So, where do you begin?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies immediately. The better move is to make a few decisions that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover
SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. There are five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is mandatory. The other categories are included when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.
Before collecting evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A needlessly broad scope creates extra work without necessarily improving the report’s value.
Choose the Report Type That Fits Your Timeline
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. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful first step, provided the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification starts with an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require a Type 1 report first. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
When security controls are tied to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establish a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by engineering teams. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be documented by leadership. What employees actually do must be reflected in the policies. If nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure has limited value.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is the heart of SOC 2 for saas companies. An auditor may well ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
Gathering these records as activities occur is easier than reconstructing them months later. CertAssist supports small teams manage this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Evidence is uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Understand the Independent Audit Requirement
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than 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.
CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate expense. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
What Happens After the First SOC 2 Report
Your security activities shouldn’t end once the SOC 2 examination is completed. Your operations keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Three habits help: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and periodically reviewing 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.
