Think of a startup that has twelve employees, a functioning SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Nobody at the company has “compliance manager” in their job title, although security is important. A potential enterprise customer next asks for a SOC 2 report.
So, where should you start?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of decisions determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.
Decide What Your First Audit Should Cover
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the areas they cover. Of these, only Security is required. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup offering a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
Before you collect any evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. An overly broad scope creates additional work without necessarily increasing the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for people searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. As of a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both the controls’ design and operating effectiveness. Where an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a practical place to start, if the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, and ends with an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t depend on completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.
Start With Day-to-Day Security Gaps
When security controls are tied to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For instance, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Engineering teams should hold on to evidence of production changes and approvals. Leadership should keep records of risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Write policies that describe what employees actually do. A beautifully written procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
Demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. You could be asked 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 far easier than reconstructing them months afterward. CertAssist helps small teams structure this work using built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
Direct integrations with company systems aren’t required. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be given read-only access.
Understand Exactly What the Independent Audit Requires
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Nothing replaces the independent auditor, not even compliance software, though it helps prepare and organize evidence.
A US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. A quote from an auditor reflecting your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period should come first.
Make Compliance Manageable After the First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers appear. It matters 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.