Think of a startup with twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters, but not one person carries “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you start?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer is not to collect dozens of policies straight away. The better move is to make a few choices that decide what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.
Start by Defining Your Audit Scope
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 evaluates controls against. There are five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is required. Include the remaining categories only when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is offering a straightforward business application, beginning with Security alone can work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before anyone starts collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, though not necessarily a more valuable report.
Type 1 or Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
Anyone asking how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. At a specified date, Type 1 evaluates the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a practical starting point, 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. You do not have to complete Type 1 ahead of Type 2. Check your customer’s requirements before paying for either examination.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
Tying security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. A sensible place to start is enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, creating a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.
Evidence of production changes and approvals should be kept by engineering teams. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. Write policies so they describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that nobody follows.
Get Your Evidence Organized Before Problems Start
SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. 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 easier to collect these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. Small teams can manage this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Teams add evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.
Understand What the Independent Audit Requires
Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, which can help prepare and organize evidence.
CertAssist promotes a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audit fees are not included. A quote from an auditor based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period should come first.
What Happens After the First SOC 2 Report
A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security efforts. Your operations keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers appear. It matters that your controls remain relevant.
Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed periodically against reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier for a growing startup, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.