Think of a startup that has twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Nobody on the team has “compliance manager” in their job title, but security matters. Then, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
What exactly should you do first?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to grab dozens of policies immediately. Instead, start by making a few decisions that define what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Begin by Deciding Your Audit Scope
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they cover. Every SOC 2 report includes Security. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. As long as that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.
Before collecting evidence, map out the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. A broader scope brings additional work, though not always 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 looks at the design of controls at a specified date. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness across a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, assuming the customer accepts it.
Anyone exploring how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and then an independent examination. Type 1 is not a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Before paying for either examination, confirm your customer’s requirements.
Begin With Day-to-Day Security Gaps
SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are tied to everyday business activities. For example, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establish a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions on a regular basis.
Development teams should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be documented by leadership. Policies must reflect what employees actually do. A beautifully written procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies means demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. Expect an auditor to ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.
It’s much easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months later. Small teams can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be provided with read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Know What the Independent Audit Involves
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm performs the examination and issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are billed separately. 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
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security efforts. As time passes, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. It’s important that your controls remain relevant.
Three habits help: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly 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.
