Imagine a startup with twelve people, a working SaaS product, and an expanding customer base. People take security seriously, yet nobody has “compliance manager” as a job title. A potential enterprise customer next requests a SOC 2 report.

So, where do you start?

If you’re a founder researching how to get SOC 2 certification, don’t download dozens of policies immediately. A handful of choices determines what your company needs to document, implement, and prove, and that is where to start.

Begin by Defining What Your First Audit Will Cover

The AICPA Trust Services Criteria serve as the standard that SOC 2 assesses controls against. There are five categories: Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. Only Security is required. Whether the other categories are included depends on whether they’re relevant to the organization’s services and commitments. A startup running a straightforward business application may begin with Security alone, as long as that scope meets customer expectations.

The applications, infrastructure, employees, and service providers involved should be identified before anyone starts collecting evidence. A broader scope brings extra work, but not always a more useful report.

Type 1 vs. Type 2? Let the Deadline Choose

People searching for how to get SOC 2 certified often discover two reporting options. As of a specified date, Type 1 examines the design of controls. Type 2 goes further, examining both design and operating effectiveness over a defined period. When an enterprise customer needs evidence quickly, Type 1 may be a useful starting point, so long as the customer accepts it.

Businesses investigating how to get SOC 2 type 2 certification should expect an observation period, commonly three to twelve months, followed by an independent examination. Type 2 does not require completing Type 1 first. Find out what your customer requires before paying for either examination.

Tackle the Day-to-Day Security Gaps Before Anything Else

SOC 2 preparation is more manageable when security controls are linked to ordinary business activities. Good first steps include enforcing multi-factor authentication for important accounts, creating a documented employee offboarding process, and reviewing access permissions on a regular basis.

Keep evidence of production changes and approvals inside the development team. Document risk assessments and relevant supplier reviews at the management level. Draft policies that describe what employees actually do. A well-written procedure has limited value if nobody follows it.

Gather Evidence While Things Are Happening

Demonstrating that relevant controls exist and, for Type 2, operate consistently is central to SOC 2 for saas companies. You might 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 gathering them as activities occur. CertAssist supports small teams manage this work with built-in controls, editable policy templates, evidence checklists, and document storage.

The platform does not require direct integrations with company systems. Teams add evidence themselves and can give auditors read-only access.

Know Exactly What the Independent Audit Requires

The outcome of SOC 2 is technically an attestation, not a certification. The examination is performed by a licensed CPA firm, which issues the SOC 2 report. The independent auditor cannot be replaced by compliance software, though it can help prepare and organize evidence.

A US$225 monthly promotional subscription that covers SOC 2, ISO 27001, and its other supported frameworks is advertised by CertAssist. Independent audit fees are separate. Before budgeting, get an auditor’s quote based on your business size, selected criteria, and intended reporting period.

What Happens After Your First SOC 2 Report

Your security efforts should not end when the SOC 2 examination is finished. Your operations keep changing: people join and leave, applications change, and new suppliers arrive. Your controls need to stay relevant.

Three habits help: setting clear responsibilities, retaining evidence throughout the year, and regularly reviewing whether your documented procedures match reality. This discipline helps make future examinations easier for a growing startup, while also supporting the security expectations of customers who depend on your software.