Your startup employs twelve people, a working SaaS product, and a steadily growing customer base. Everyone cares about security, but no one holds “compliance manager” as a job title. Then, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies right away. The real first step is to make a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 evaluates controls against. The criteria are organized into five areas: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Every SOC 2 report includes Security. The other categories are included when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, so long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before anyone starts collecting evidence. More scope means extra work, but not necessarily a more useful report.
Pick the Report Type That Fits Your Timeline
People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often learn about two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 examines. Type 2 examines those controls’ design and operating effectiveness over 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 do not have to complete Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Find out what your customer requires before you pay for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are tied to everyday business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. Think of enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Engineering teams should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Company leadership should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a well-written procedure that nobody follows.
Keep Your Evidence Organized Before the Auditor Asks
Demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is what lies at the core of SOC 2 for saas companies. You may be asked for records showing 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. CertAssist assists small teams structure this work through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
There is no need for direct integrations with company systems. Teams upload evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Requires
The outcome of SOC 2 is formally an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help 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. The independent audit is a separate cost. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.
Keep Compliance Manageable After Your First Report
Completing a SOC 2 examination isn’t the end of your security work. Employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls have to stay relevant.
Make sure each responsibility has a clear owner, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed periodically against reality. For a growing startup, that discipline makes future examinations easier while supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.