With twelve employees, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base, your startup is off to a good start. Security matters, but not one person has “compliance manager” in their job title. A potential enterprise customer suddenly requests 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. A handful of choices defines what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove, and that is where to start.

Settle the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit

SOC 2 measures controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The criteria are organized into five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Only Security is mandatory. Add the other areas only when they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. If a startup is running a straightforward business application, starting with Security alone can work, provided that scope meets customer expectations.

List the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved before collecting evidence. More scope means extra work, though not necessarily a more useful report.

Pick the SOC 2 Report That Fits Your Timeline

People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. The design of controls as of a specified date is what Type 1 evaluates. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. If an enterprise customer needs evidence in a hurry, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, provided 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, followed by an independent examination. You do not have to finish Type 1 before Type 2. Make sure you know what your customer requires before paying for either examination.

Fix Everyday Security Gaps First

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

Development teams should keep evidence of production changes and approvals. Management should keep records of risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews. Write policies so they describe what employees actually do. There is limited value in a polished procedure that no one follows.

Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening

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 rebuild them months afterward. Small teams 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. Evidence gets uploaded by the team, and auditors can be provided with read-only access.

Understand the Independent Audit Requirement

Strictly speaking, SOC 2 is an attestation rather than a certification. The examination is conducted by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. Compliance software can help prepare and organize evidence, but it can’t replace the independent auditor.

For the software, 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 expense. An auditor’s quote reflecting your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth getting before budgeting.

Keep the Process Manageable After Your First Report

A completed SOC 2 examination shouldn’t mark 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.

Make sure responsibilities are clearly assigned, evidence is retained throughout the year, and documented procedures are reviewed regularly against reality. As your startup grows, that discipline makes future examinations easier and supports the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.