Imagine a startup with twelve people, a functioning SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Security matters, but not one person has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a potential enterprise customer wants to see a SOC 2 report.

Where do you begin?

If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, resist the urge to download dozens of policies immediately. Begin by making a few choices that determine what your company needs to document, implement, and prove.

Decide What Your First SOC 2 Audit Should Cover

The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. The criteria address Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Of these, only Security is required. The remaining categories are included when they are relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone may be enough, provided that scope meets customer expectations.

Identify the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. Keeping the scope unnecessarily broad creates extra work, and it doesn’t necessarily improve the report’s value.

Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Decide

Anyone asking how to get SOC 2 certified will soon meet two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 covers. Over a defined period, Type 2 evaluates both their design and operating effectiveness. Type 1 may be a useful first step when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, as long as the customer accepts it.

For businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification, the process includes an observation period, usually three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 doesn’t require completing Type 1 first. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.

Start With Day-to-Day Security Basics

If security controls are linked to ordinary business activities, SOC 2 preparation gets more manageable. A sensible place to start is requiring 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. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be recorded by management. Write policies so they describe what employees actually do. If nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure provides limited value.

Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem

SOC 2 for saas companies involves demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently. An auditor may well ask when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.

It’s easier to gather these records as activities occur than to rebuild them months afterward. Small teams that need help can manage 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. Teams upload evidence themselves and can provide auditors with read-only access.

Why You Still Need an Independent Auditor

What SOC 2 produces is technically an attestation, not a certification. A licensed CPA firm carries out 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 includes SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks. The independent audit is a separate expense. Before budgeting, ask for an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.

What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report

A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark the end of your security work. Things keep changing: employees join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. It’s important that your controls stay relevant.

Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and regularly review whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier as a startup grows, and it supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.