Think of a startup that has twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. Security matters, but no one has “compliance manager” in their job title. Then a would-be enterprise customer requests a SOC 2 report.

What exactly should you do first?

For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the first step is not to download dozens of policies straight away. A handful of decisions defines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.

Start by Defining Your Audit Scope

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. Every report includes Security. Inclusion of the other categories depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup offering a straightforward business application may start with Security alone.

The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be listed before collecting evidence. More scope means extra work, though not always a more valuable report.

Pick the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows

Anyone wondering how to get SOC 2 certified quickly finds two reporting options. Type 1 looks at the design of controls as of a specified date. Type 2 covers their design and operating effectiveness across a defined period. Type 1 may be a useful starting point when an enterprise customer needs evidence fast, provided 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. Type 2 doesn’t require a Type 1 report first. Before paying for either examination, check your customer’s requirements.

Begin With Everyday Security Basics

Linking security controls to ordinary business activities helps make SOC 2 preparation more manageable. Consider enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, establishing a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.

Evidence of production changes and approvals should be retained by development teams. Risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews should be documented by leadership. Actual employee practice needs to be reflected in the policies. When nobody follows it, even a well-written procedure offers limited value.

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. Expect an auditor to ask about when a former employee’s access was removed or whether a production deployment received appropriate approval.

Gathering these records as activities occur is far easier than reconstructing them months later. Small teams can organize this work with CertAssist’s built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.

There’s no need for direct integrations with company systems. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.

Understand the Independent Audit Requirement

SOC 2 is in fact an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that conducts the examination. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, yet it can’t replace the independent auditor.

A monthly promotional subscription of US$225 covering SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is offered by CertAssist. Fees for the independent audit are charged separately. Get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period before budgeting.

What Comes After Your First SOC 2 Report

Finishing a SOC 2 examination shouldn’t be the end of your security efforts. People join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers become part of your operations. Your controls need to remain relevant.

Define clear responsibilities, retain evidence throughout the year, and periodically review whether your documented procedures match reality. For a growing startup, keeping this up will make future examinations easier and helps meet the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.