SOC 2 Explained: Is Your SaaS Company Ready?
SOC 2 compliance is becoming essential for SaaS companies to win enterprise customers. Learn what SOC 2 is, when you need it, and how to achieve certification.
Why SaaS Companies Need SOC 2
SOC 2 has evolved from a nice-to-have differentiator into a fundamental requirement for SaaS companies pursuing enterprise customers. In 2025, 94% of enterprises require SOC 2 from vendors before signing contracts, making compliance a business necessity rather than just a security achievement.
For early-stage SaaS companies, understanding when to pursue SOC 2, what it entails, and how to prepare can mean the difference between winning or losing major deals. With third-party breaches costing 15% more than average incidents and vendor risk incidents up 35% in 2025, enterprise buyers are more security-conscious than ever.
What is SOC 2?
The Basics
SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is an auditing standard developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) that evaluates how service providers manage customer data based on five Trust Service Criteria.
The five criteria are Security (required), Availability (optional), Processing Integrity (optional), Confidentiality (optional), and Privacy (optional).
Unlike compliance frameworks with specific technical requirements like PCI-DSS, SOC 2 is principles-based, allowing flexibility in how you meet the criteria appropriate for your business.
SOC 2 vs. SOC 1
SOC 1 focuses on financial reporting controls for companies that impact customer financial statements.
SOC 2 focuses on security, availability, and confidentiality of customer data, making it the right choice for most SaaS companies.
For SaaS companies, SOC 2 is almost always the appropriate choice.
Type I vs. Type II
Type I Report
Type I is a point-in-time assessment that evaluates whether controls are appropriately designed. The audit period is shorter, spanning days to weeks, making it faster and less expensive.
Type I is good for initial compliance and validating your control design before pursuing Type II.
Type II Report
Type II is a period-of-time assessment, typically spanning 6-12 months, that evaluates both design and operating effectiveness. It demonstrates sustained compliance and is more valuable to customers.
Type II is the gold standard for enterprise sales and what most mature prospects will require.
Recommendation
Start with Type I to validate design, then pursue Type II for customer requirements.
When Does Your SaaS Company Need SOC 2?
Signals You're Ready
Customer Demands
Enterprise prospects request SOC 2 reports in security questionnaires. RFPs include SOC 2 as a requirement.
Deals stall in security review without certification, costing you revenue.
Company Maturity
You've raised Series A or later funding and have 20+ employees. You have established security practices and stable product infrastructure.
You have sufficient revenue to justify the average audit cost of $50,000-$150,000.
Competitive Positioning
Your competitors are SOC 2 certified. You're targeting regulated industries like healthcare or finance.
You're expanding upmarket to enterprise customers who view vendor security as critical.
When to Wait
Too Early If
You're pre-revenue or pre-product with fewer than 10 employees. Your infrastructure changes frequently and you can't sustain audit costs.
You're not yet pursuing enterprise customers, so the investment won't generate ROI.
Alternative Approach
Start with security documentation and questionnaires. Pursue SOC 2 when customer demand warrants the investment.
The Five Trust Service Criteria
Security (Required for All SOC 2)
Security criteria focus on protection against unauthorized access, use, or modification of system resources or data.
Common Controls
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all access. Role-based access control (RBAC) with least privilege.
Encryption in transit and at rest. Intrusion detection systems and vulnerability management.
Incident response procedures and security awareness training. Background checks and vendor risk management.
Availability (Optional)
Availability ensures your system or data is available for operation and use as committed or agreed.
Common Controls
Uptime monitoring and redundant infrastructure. Disaster recovery plan and backup restoration procedures.
Capacity planning and DDoS protection. Service level agreements (SLAs) with customers.
When to Include
Include Availability if uptime is critical to your value proposition or contractual SLAs.
Processing Integrity (Optional)
Processing Integrity ensures system processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized.
Common Controls
Data validation and error handling. Transaction monitoring and quality assurance testing.
Change management procedures for all system modifications.
When to Include
Include Processing Integrity if data processing accuracy is critical, such as billing, financial calculations, or data transformations.
Confidentiality (Optional)
Confidentiality ensures information designated as confidential is protected as committed or agreed.
Common Controls
Data classification and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). Confidentiality training and secure data disposal.
Confidentiality requirements in vendor contracts.
When to Include
Include Confidentiality if you handle proprietary business information beyond personal data.
Privacy (Optional)
Privacy ensures personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of according to privacy notice and AICPA's Generally Accepted Privacy Principles.
Common Controls
Privacy policy and consent management. Data subject rights including access and deletion.
Privacy by design and data inventory mapping. Cross-border transfer mechanisms for international data.
When to Include
Include Privacy if you handle significant personal information or need to demonstrate GDPR or CCPA compliance.
The SOC 2 Audit Process
Phase 1: Preparation (2-6 months)
Gap Assessment
Evaluate current controls against SOC 2 requirements. Identify gaps and missing controls.
Prioritize remediation efforts based on risk and audit timeline.
Control Design and Implementation
Document policies and procedures for all required controls. Implement technical controls and establish operational processes.
Assign control ownership to specific team members.
Evidence Collection
Establish audit trail for all controls. Create control matrices and document procedures.
Collect evidence of control operation throughout the preparation period.
Readiness Assessment
Conduct internal audit to validate readiness. Remediate any remaining gaps.
Complete final documentation review before engaging auditor.
Phase 2: Audit (1-3 months)
Planning and Scoping
Define audit scope including systems and criteria. Establish audit period and agree on testing approach.
Confirm timeline and deliverables with auditor.
Fieldwork
Auditor reviews documentation and conducts testing. Type I audits test control design only.
Type II audits test both design and operating effectiveness over the audit period. Expect management interviews and evidence examination.
Reporting
Auditor drafts report based on findings. Management reviews and provides responses to any exceptions.
Final report is issued after management review is complete.
Phase 3: Ongoing Compliance (Continuous)
Maintenance
Conduct quarterly control testing and evidence collection. Update policies as needed.
Implement continuous security improvements to strengthen posture.
Annual Re-audit
Type II reports must be renewed annually. Demonstrate continued compliance and update for infrastructure changes.
Plan for re-audit 2-3 months before current report expires.
Building Your SOC 2 Control Environment
Governance and Risk Management
Required Documentation
Information security policy and acceptable use policy. Risk assessment methodology and risk register.
Risk treatment plan documenting how you address identified risks.
Controls
Board or management oversight of security. Annual risk assessments covering all critical systems.
Security committee or designated security officer. Third-party risk management program for vendors.
Access Control
Identity and Access Management
Unique user accounts with no shared credentials. Multi-factor authentication for all access points.
Role-based permissions with least privilege. Quarterly access reviews to validate appropriateness.
Immediate access revocation upon termination.
Privileged Access
Separate admin accounts from standard user accounts. Just-in-time access for administrators when needed.
Privileged access management (PAM) tools for critical systems. Audit logging of all administrative actions.
Infrastructure Security
Network Security
Firewall configurations with default-deny rules. Network segmentation to isolate critical systems.
Intrusion detection and prevention systems. VPN for remote access to production systems.
Secure WiFi with WPA3 or WPA2 Enterprise.
Endpoint Security
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) on all devices. Full disk encryption for laptops and mobile devices.
Mobile device management (MDM) for company devices. Automatic security updates enabled.
Lost or stolen device procedures for rapid response.
Cloud Security
Cloud security posture management for configuration monitoring. Infrastructure as code security scanning.
Container and Kubernetes security controls. Secrets management for API keys and credentials.
Data Protection
Encryption
TLS 1.2 or higher for all data in transit. AES-256 for data at rest in databases and storage.
Database encryption for sensitive customer data. Key management procedures with rotation schedules.
Data Lifecycle
Data classification scheme for different sensitivity levels. Retention policies aligned with legal requirements.
Secure deletion procedures for end-of-life data. Backup and recovery tested quarterly.
Geographic restrictions if required by customer contracts.
Monitoring and Logging
Log Management
Centralized logging using SIEM platform. Log retention of 90 days minimum for security events.
Log review procedures conducted weekly or monthly. Alerting on critical security events with 24-hour response.
Security Monitoring
Intrusion detection for network and host-based threats. File integrity monitoring for critical system files.
Anomaly detection for unusual access patterns. Security incident tracking system for all events.
Change Management
Development Practices
Separate dev, staging, and production environments. Code review requirements for all production changes.
Testing procedures including security testing. Deployment approvals from designated approvers.
Infrastructure Changes
Change request and approval process for all modifications. Testing in staging before production deployment.
Rollback procedures for failed changes. Change documentation maintained in ticketing system.
Incident Response
Plan Components
Incident classification by severity levels. Response team and roles clearly defined.
Escalation procedures to management and legal. Communication plan for customers and stakeholders.
Forensic procedures for evidence preservation. Post-incident review within 30 days.
Testing
Annual tabletop exercises with response team. Simulated incident response drills.
Plan updates based on lessons learned from exercises and real incidents.
Vendor Management
Vendor Assessment
Security review before engagement with any vendor. SOC 2 reports required from critical vendors.
Annual vendor reassessment for ongoing vendors. Vendor inventory maintained and reviewed quarterly.
Contracts
Data processing agreements for all vendors handling customer data. Security requirements documented in contracts.
Audit rights to review vendor controls. Incident notification obligations within 24-48 hours.
Human Resources Security
Hiring
Background checks for all employees before start date. NDA signing on or before first day.
Security training during onboarding covering policies and acceptable use.
Ongoing
Annual security awareness training for all employees. Role-specific security training for developers and administrators.
Phishing simulations conducted quarterly. Security policy acknowledgment annually.
Termination
Access revocation checklist executed on termination date. Equipment return procedures tracked.
Exit interviews to recover credentials. Post-termination restrictions documented in agreements.
Choosing a SOC 2 Auditor
Auditor Selection Criteria
Industry Experience
Look for SaaS and technology focus in auditor's client base. Verify relevant trust service criteria experience.
Ensure they work with companies of similar size and complexity.
Reputation
Confirm AICPA member in good standing. Request references from similar companies.
Require transparent timeline and pricing with no hidden fees.
Service Model
Understand if they offer advisory or audit-only approach. Ask about readiness assessment services.
Confirm ongoing support availability after audit completion.
Cost
Type I audits typically cost $15,000-40,000. Type II audits range from $50,000-$150,000 or more.
Factors affecting cost include company size, scope, and infrastructure complexity.
Common SOC 2 Auditing Firms
Big Four
Deloitte, EY, PwC, and KPMG represent the highest cost option. They're most recognized by enterprise buyers.
Best for large or pre-IPO companies with complex infrastructures.
Regional Firms
Moderate cost with specialized SaaS expertise. Strong relationships and personalized service.
Good for mid-market companies with established revenue.
SaaS-Focused Firms
Competitive pricing with deep SaaS understanding. Faster timelines due to streamlined processes.
Good for startups and growth-stage companies prioritizing efficiency.
SOC 2 Automation and Tools
Compliance Platforms
Vanta
Automated evidence collection from 100+ integrations. Continuous monitoring of control effectiveness.
Policy templates and employee training management. Pricing starts at $20,000+ annually.
Drata
Similar feature set to Vanta with strong automation. Competitive pricing with transparent tiers.
Good customer support and implementation. Pricing starts at $15,000+ annually.
Secureframe
Automated compliance with multiple framework support. Good for early-stage companies.
Streamlined implementation process. Pricing starts at $15,000+ annually.
Strike Graph
Affordable option focused on SaaS companies. Strong support team to guide implementation.
Good balance of features and cost. Pricing starts at $10,000+ annually.
Benefits of Automation Platforms
Continuous evidence collection eliminates manual scrambling before audits. Real-time compliance posture visibility for management.
Reduced audit costs through faster fieldwork. Multiple framework support including ISO 27001 and GDPR.
Policy and procedure templates accelerate documentation. Employee training management with tracking and reminders.
ROI Consideration
Platform cost of $15,000-30,000 per year is often offset by significant savings. Reduced audit fees from faster fieldwork can save $20,000-50,000.
Internal time savings of hundreds of hours valued at $50,000-100,000. Continuous readiness eliminates year-end scramble.
Additional framework coverage provides more customer options. Improved security posture reduces breach risk valued at millions.
Common SOC 2 Challenges
Challenge 1: Resource Requirements
Problem
SOC 2 preparation is time-intensive, often requiring 500-1,000+ hours of internal effort. Small teams struggle to balance compliance work with product development.
Solution
Hire dedicated compliance or security resource early in process. Use automation platform to reduce manual work by 60-70%.
Engage consultant for gap assessment and remediation guidance. Start early, ideally 6+ months before target audit date.
Challenge 2: Evidence Collection
Problem
Gathering evidence for all controls is overwhelming without systems in place. Manual evidence collection is error-prone and time-consuming.
Solution
Implement automation platform for continuous evidence collection. Establish evidence collection procedures early in preparation.
Assign control owners responsible for their evidence. Use ticketing systems for tracking control execution.
Challenge 3: Control Gaps
Problem
Discovering significant gaps late in preparation delays audit timeline. Some gaps require months to remediate properly.
Solution
Conduct gap assessment early, ideally 8-12 months before audit. Prioritize critical controls that auditors focus on.
Accept some findings if they're low risk and documented. Plan multi-audit journey if gaps are too significant.
Challenge 4: Organizational Resistance
Problem
Teams view compliance as bureaucratic burden slowing them down. Resistance from engineering delays implementation.
Solution
Frame SOC 2 as customer requirement enabling revenue, not checkbox. Show business value through deals won or pipeline accelerated.
Integrate into existing workflows rather than creating new processes. Celebrate milestones and recognize team contributions.
Challenge 5: Maintaining Compliance
Problem
Passing first audit is easier than maintaining continuous compliance. Controls drift over time without ongoing attention.
Solution
Use automation platform for ongoing monitoring and alerting. Conduct quarterly internal reviews of control effectiveness.
Assign ongoing ownership with accountability. Integrate compliance into company culture and values.
SOC 2 Report Usage
What You Receive
Report Components
Auditor's opinion on control effectiveness. System description of your infrastructure and processes.
Control objectives and controls tested. Testing results and any exceptions found.
Management's assertion of responsibility for controls.
Restrictions
SOC 2 reports are confidential and cannot be publicly shared. Distribution requires NDA from receiving party.
Unauthorized sharing violates AICPA standards.
Sharing with Customers
Best Practices
Require NDA before sharing report with prospects. Track distribution to know who has access.
Use secure sharing platform like virtual data room. Include cover letter with context about your system.
Highlight relevant criteria they care about. Explain any findings proactively with remediation plans.
Marketing Your SOC 2
Allowed
Display "SOC 2 Type II Certified" badge on website. Mention certification in sales materials and RFP responses.
Include in security questionnaire responses to demonstrate compliance.
Not Allowed
Sharing full report publicly on website or social media. Detailed discussion of findings or exceptions publicly.
Using report for purposes beyond customer due diligence.
Key Takeaways
SOC 2 is now essential for SaaS companies, with 94% of enterprises requiring it from vendors in 2025. The certification demonstrates commitment to security in an environment where third-party breaches cost 15% more than average incidents.
Average audit costs range from $50,000-$150,000, but this investment unlocks enterprise deals and builds customer trust. Vendor risk incidents are up 35% in 2025, making enterprise buyers more security-conscious than ever.
Start preparing 6-12 months before you need the report to allow adequate time for control implementation. Use automation platforms to reduce burden by 60-70% and maintain continuous compliance.
Choose an auditor with SaaS experience who can guide you through the process efficiently. View SOC 2 not as a compliance checkbox but as an opportunity to build a strong security foundation.
With global average breach costs at $4.44 million in 2025, investing in SOC 2 compliance protects both your business and your customers.
Get a free security assessment to understand your SOC 2 readiness and identify gaps