SOC 2 Compliance

What SOC 2 is (in plain English)

SOC 2 is an independent assurance report issued by a CPA firm that evaluates how you protect customer data and operate your security program. It’s not a “certificate.” It’s a report—based on evidence—showing whether your controls are designed well and operating as described.

SOC 2 is commonly requested by enterprise customers when you sell B2B software or handle sensitive customer information.

The Trust Services Criteria (TSC)

SOC 2 is organized around the Trust Services Criteria. You select what applies to your business, and auditors evaluate the controls you implement.

Security (required): access control, authentication, monitoring, vulnerability management, incident response.
Availability (optional): uptime commitments, resilience, backups, disaster recovery, capacity planning.
Processing Integrity (optional): accuracy and completeness of processing (common in transaction-heavy systems).
Confidentiality (optional): protecting confidential data via encryption, least privilege, data handling rules.
Privacy (optional): handling personal data consistent with your privacy notice and applicable laws.

If you’re unsure, most SaaS companies start with Security and add others only when customer demands justify it.

SOC 2 Type I vs Type II

SOC 2 comes in two common report types:

Type I: evaluates whether controls are designed appropriately at a point in time.
Type II: evaluates whether controls operate effectively over a period of time (often 3–12 months).

In practice, many customers treat Type II as the expected standard. Type I can still be useful as a stepping stone when you need a near-term trust signal.

Who should pursue SOC 2 (and who shouldn’t)

SOC 2 is usually worth it if:

you sell to mid-market or enterprise buyers and security reviews are slowing deals
you host customer data (especially production data) or handle sensitive integrations
you need a repeatable way to answer vendor questionnaires

You may not need SOC 2 yet if:

you’re pre-revenue or still validating product-market fit
you don’t handle customer data beyond basic contact info
your customers are not asking for formal assurance

The goal is not “a badge.” The goal is removing friction in sales and creating operational discipline.

What auditors actually expect

Auditors don’t want promises. They want consistency: written intent, implemented controls, and evidence that the controls ran.

Expect scrutiny around:

identity and access management (MFA, least privilege, joiner/mover/leaver)
change management (version control, approvals, deployment controls)
incident response (defined steps, roles, communication, post-incident review)
risk assessment (documented risks and treatment decisions)
vendor management (who you rely on, how you assess them)
logging/monitoring (what you watch, how alerts are handled, retention)
backups and recovery (especially if you claim availability)

The documentation baseline (minimum)

SOC 2 readiness fails most often because companies start collecting evidence before they have clear documentation.

At minimum, you want:

Policies that define intent and governance
Procedures that define how work is done consistently
A risk register that ties risks to controls and decisions
A simple gap assessment that shows what’s implemented vs missing

If you want the “why” behind risk documentation, see: /knowledge-hub/why-risk-register-matters-small-business

A practical SOC 2 readiness path

A straightforward sequence that avoids rework:

Scope your system (what’s in, what’s out, where data flows).
Choose TSC categories based on customer needs (start lean).
Establish policies and procedures (clear, internally usable, not generic).
Run a gap assessment and prioritize the high-impact controls first.
Operate the controls consistently and collect evidence as you go.
Engage an auditor only when your program is stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does SOC 2 Type II take?

Type II reports require a 3–12 month observation period where controls operate consistently. Add 1–3 months for documentation, gap remediation, and the audit itself. Most companies need 6–12 months total from start to report issuance.

Is SOC 2 a certification?

No. SOC 2 is an attestation report, not a certification. You receive a report from a CPA firm describing whether your controls meet the Trust Services Criteria. There's no "certificate" to display—the report itself is the deliverable.

What's the difference between SOC 2 and ISO 27001?

SOC 2 focuses on service organizations and customer data protection, with flexible control selection. ISO 27001 is a formal management system standard with certification available. Many companies pursue both: SOC 2 for U.S. enterprise customers, ISO 27001 for international recognition.

Do I need SOC 2 Type I before Type II?

Not necessarily. Type I evaluates control design at a point in time. Type II evaluates operating effectiveness over time. Some companies start with Type I for a quick trust signal, but many customers expect Type II. If you can wait 6–12 months, Type II is often the better investment.

How much does SOC 2 cost?

Audit fees typically range from $15,000–$50,000+ depending on scope, complexity, and auditor. Add internal time for documentation, evidence collection, and remediation. The total first-year investment often falls between $30,000–$100,000+ for small to mid-size companies.

Where CyberPolicify fits

CyberPolicify is the layer before you talk to auditors—so you don't waste months writing, rewriting, and guessing what "good" looks like.

Use CyberPolicify to:

generate SOC 2-aligned policies and procedures that match your reality
map documentation to controls so gaps are visible early
keep documentation updated as your business changes (continuous compliance)
produce audit-ready artifacts without hiring a consultant to start

When you’re ready, you can bring your documentation, risk register, and gap status to an auditor with far less back-and-forth.