Question 1

What is SOC 2 compliance?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 is an attestation report issued by an independent CPA firm under AICPA standards that evaluates a service organization's controls against the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Most SaaS and B2B vendors pursue SOC 2 because enterprise buyers require it before signing master services agreements.

Question 2

How much does SOC 2 cost?

Accepted Answer

Readiness consulting for a Type I typically ranges $20,000 to $45,000 for a small SaaS company depending on scope. The CPA audit fee is separate and usually runs $10,000 to $25,000 for Type I, and $25,000 to $60,000 for Type II. Tooling (a compliance platform, log retention, MDM) adds $10,000 to $40,000 annually.

Question 3

What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Accepted Answer

Type I tests whether controls are designed correctly at a single point in time. Type II tests whether those same controls operated effectively over a period (typically 3 to 12 months). Type I is faster and cheaper, but enterprise buyers increasingly require Type II before signing. Most companies pursue Type I first, then transition into a Type II observation window the same year.

Question 4

How long does SOC 2 readiness take?

Accepted Answer

Three to four months from kickoff to a Type I attestation for a small SaaS team that does not already have a security program. If you have policies, MDM, EDR, log aggregation, and access reviews in place, the readiness window compresses to six to ten weeks.

Question 5

Do you perform the SOC 2 audit yourself?

Accepted Answer

No. SOC 2 attestation must be issued by an independent CPA firm, and consulting firms are prohibited from auditing their own readiness work. We prepare you for the audit, walk you through it, and can recommend several CPA firms we have worked with.

Question 6

Do I need a compliance platform like Vanta or Drata for SOC 2?

Accepted Answer

Not strictly required. A compliance platform automates evidence collection and saves time, especially for Type II observation windows. Smaller teams can pass Type I with a well-organized evidence binder. We are platform-agnostic; we work with whichever tool fits your stack and budget.

Question 7

What controls does SOC 2 require?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 maps to the AICPA Trust Services Criteria, which include access controls, change management, risk assessment, vendor management, encryption in transit and at rest, logging and monitoring, incident response, business continuity, and personnel security. The exact control set depends on which Trust Services Criteria are in scope; security is mandatory and the others are optional.

SOC 2 readiness.

Why companies pursue SOC 2

What's included

Engagement phases

Common questions

Do we need a compliance platform like Vanta or Drata?

Can we use existing policies we already have?

What if the auditor finds gaps?

Next step