Think of a startup with twelve people, a working SaaS product, and a growing customer base. Nobody in the company holds “compliance manager” in their job title, but security matters. One day, a prospective enterprise customer asks for a SOC 2 report.

So where do you start?

For founders researching how to get SOC 2 certification, the answer isn’t to download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of decisions defines what your company needs to document, put in place, and prove, and that is where to start.

Define the Scope of Your First SOC 2 Audit

The AICPA Trust Services Criteria are what SOC 2 assesses controls against. Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy are the categories they address. Security is mandatory. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. Provided that scope meets customer expectations, a startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone.

Before collecting evidence, list the applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved. An unnecessarily broad scope brings extra work without necessarily improving the report’s value.

Pick the SOC 2 Report Your Deadline Allows

There are two reporting options for people researching how to get SOC 2 certified. As of a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Throughout a defined period, Type 2 examines both their design and operating effectiveness. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 can be a useful place to start, if the customer accepts it.

The process for how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification begins with an observation period, typically three to twelve months, and ends with an independent examination. You do not have to get Type 1 before Type 2. Find out what your customer requires before paying for either examination.

Start With Everyday Security Gaps

Connecting security controls to everyday business activities makes SOC 2 preparation more manageable. For instance, require multi-factor authentication for important accounts, set up a documented employee offboarding process, and review access permissions regularly.

Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Write policies that reflect what employees actually do. When nobody follows it, even a beautifully written procedure provides limited value.

Organize Evidence Before It Becomes a Problem

At its core, SOC 2 for saas companies means 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.

Rebuilding these records months later is much harder than collecting them as activities occur. Through built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage, CertAssist supports small teams organize this work.

No direct integrations with company systems are required. Auditors can be given read-only access, while teams upload evidence themselves.

Why SOC 2 Requires an Independent Auditor

SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The SOC 2 report is issued by a licensed CPA firm that performs 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 billed separately. An auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period is worth requesting before you budget.

Make the Process Sustainable After Your First Report

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

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