You’re a founder.
You’re ambitious.
And you’ve got a fast-growing company.
But are you dealing with SOC 2 compliance?
Whether you’re chasing that big enterprise deal or scaling your SaaS, FinTech, or HealthTech startup, you need SOC 2 – and fast.
I’m Christian Khoury, former Deloitte compliance expert turned founder.
We’ve helped dozens of startups nail their SOC 2 in record time.
In this guide, I’ll share the 4 critical steps that will get you SOC 2 certified in half the usual time.
These aren’t just theories – they’re battle-tested strategies that have unlocked millions in revenue for our clients.
Let’s cut through the complexity and get you that SOC 2 report.
Step 1: Determine Your Compliance Needs
Before you dive into the SOC 2 process, it’s crucial to understand exactly what you need. SOC 2 isn’t a one-size-fits-all certification.
It’s based on five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Identify which criteria are relevant to your business. At a minimum, you’ll need to address the Security criterion, but depending on your services, you might need to include others.
- Decide between a Type I or Type II report. Type I assesses your systems at a single point in time, while Type II evaluates them over a period (usually 3-12 months). You’ll probably eventually need a Type II, but a Type I is a good starting point if it’s your first SOC 2 report.
- Define the scope of your audit. This includes which systems, processes, and data will be covered.
Action item: Sit down with your team and map out which Trust Services Criteria apply to your business and what type of report you need (you can have a conversation with ChatGPT about this, and it’s usually pretty accurate).
This will be your roadmap for the rest of the process.
Step 2: Conduct a Readiness Assessment
Now that you know what you need, it’s time to figure out where you stand.
A readiness assessment is like a practice run for your actual audit.
Here’s how to approach it:
- Review your current policies and procedures. Do they align with the SOC 2 criteria you identified in Step 1?
- Assess your current security controls. This includes everything from how you manage access to your systems to how you handle incident response.
- Identify gaps between your current practices and SOC 2 requirements. This is crucial – it’s your to-do list for the next step.
- Document everything. Trust me, thorough documentation will save you countless headaches down the line.
Action item: Conduct an honest, thorough assessment of your current practices. Don’t sugarcoat anything – the goal here is to identify areas for improvement, not to pat yourself on the back.
Pro Tip: If you’re feeling overwhelmed by this step, book a demo with a tool like EasyAudit.
It automates a lot of this process by using AI to learn about your company and generate customized security controls, tailored to your business.
Which saves you tons of time and ensures you don’t miss any critical areas in your assessment.
Step 3: Implement SOC 2 Controls
This is where the rubber meets the road.
Based on your readiness assessment, you now need to implement or improve controls to meet SOC 2 requirements.
This step can be time-consuming, but it’s absolutely critical. Here’s what you need to focus on:
- Develop or update policies and procedures to address all relevant Trust Services Criteria.
- Implement technical controls. This might include things like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and regular security assessments.
- Establish processes for monitoring and managing these controls over time.
- Train your team on these new policies and procedures. Remember, SOC 2 compliance is a company-wide effort.
Action item: Create a detailed action plan for implementing each necessary control.
Assign responsibilities and set deadlines.
Step 4: Engage a CPA Firm Auditor
You’re in the home stretch now. It’s time to bring in a certified public accountant (CPA) firm to conduct your official SOC 2 audit. Here’s what this involves:
- Research and select a reputable CPA firm with experience in SOC 2 audits for companies like yours.
- Prepare all your documentation for the auditor. Remember that thorough documentation I mentioned earlier? This is where it pays off.
- Facilitate the audit process. This might involve providing access to systems, answering questions, and potentially addressing any issues the auditor identifies.
- Review the draft report and address any findings.
Action item: Start researching CPA firms well in advance. Get quotes, check references, and make sure you’re comfortable with their process before you commit.
PS: If you used EasyAudit in Step 2, they’ll connect you with a reputable CPA firm so you don’t have to look for one yourself.
TLDR
Getting your SOC 2 report is a big undertaking, but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen your security posture and show your commitment to protecting your clients’ data (which results in bigger deals).
By breaking the process down into these 4 steps – determining your needs, conducting a readiness assessment, implementing controls, and engaging an auditor – you can approach SOC 2 compliance methodically and confidently.
Remember, this process isn’t just about checking a box.
It’s about building trust with your clients and setting your business up for long-term success.
Yes, it takes time and effort, but the payoff – in terms of client trust, market opportunities, and overall security – is well worth it.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry.
That’s completely normal. SOC 2 compliance is complex, and there’s no shame in seeking help.
Whether it’s bringing in a consultant, using a compliance automation tool like EasyAudit, or simply reaching out to peers who’ve been through the process, don’t hesitate to leverage all the resources at your disposal.
Good luck on your SOC 2 journey!
Remember, every step you take is bringing you closer to not just compliance, but to being a more secure, trustworthy, and ultimately successful business.
By Christian Khoury, Founder & CEO at EasyAudit