Think of a startup with twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Nobody in the company holds “compliance manager” in their job title, although security matters. Soon, a potential enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.
Where do you begin?
For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. Begin by making a few choices that define what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove.
Define the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit
The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. The criteria are organized into five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Security is mandatory. The remaining areas are added when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup with a straightforward business application may start with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.
The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before anyone starts collecting evidence. Making the scope unnecessarily broad creates additional work, and it doesn’t necessarily increase the report’s usefulness.
Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose
Anyone wondering how to get SOC 2 certified soon runs into two reporting options. The design of controls at a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Type 2 examines their design and operating effectiveness throughout a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a practical place to start, so long as the customer accepts it.
The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification starts with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 1 isn’t a mandatory prerequisite for Type 2. Before paying for either examination, verify your customer’s requirements.
Fix Everyday Security Gaps First
If security controls are connected to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation becomes more manageable. For example, enforce multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.
Retain evidence of production changes and approvals within the engineering team. Management should document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Policies must match what employees actually do. There is limited value in a beautifully written procedure that no one follows.
Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening
In practice, 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 much easier to collect these records as activities occur than to reconstruct them months later. CertAssist assists small teams organize this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.
The platform doesn’t require direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.
Know What the Independent Audit Requires
Technically, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which then issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software helps prepare and organize evidence, but it cannot replace the independent auditor.
On the software side, CertAssist offers a US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. Independent audits are a separate expense. A quote from an auditor reflecting your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.
Make the Process Manageable After the First Report
Security work shouldn’t stop once the SOC 2 examination is done. As time passes, employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers join your operations. It’s important that your controls stay relevant.
Set 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.