Picture a startup with twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters, but not one person holds “compliance manager” in their job title. A prospective enterprise customer then asks for a SOC 2 report.
So where should you start?
Downloading dozens of policies immediately is not the first step for founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification. A handful of choices defines what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove, and that is where to start.
Start by Deciding What Your First Audit Will Cover
Controls are assessed against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria in a SOC 2 examination. The criteria are organized into five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every report must include Security. The remaining categories are added when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before collecting evidence. Keeping the scope overly broad adds additional work, but it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s usefulness.
Choose the Report That Matches Your Deadline
There are two reporting options for anyone searching for how to get SOC 2 certified. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 evaluates those controls’ design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. If an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, as long as the customer accepts it.
For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. You don’t have to finish Type 1 before Type 2. Verify your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix the Day-to-Day Security Gaps First
When 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, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the engineering team. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by leadership. What employees actually do must be described in your policies. A well-written procedure provides limited value if nobody follows it.
Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem
Showing that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is what lies at the core of SOC 2 for saas companies. 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 collect these records as activities occur than to reconstruct them months later. Small teams that need help can organize 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 add evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.
Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor
SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
For the software, CertAssist advertises a US$225 monthly promotional subscription covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. An auditor’s quote reflecting your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Your operations keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. It matters that your controls stay relevant.
Three habits keep things on track: assigning clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and periodically reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. That discipline helps make future examinations easier for a growing startup, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.