System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) is one of the most widely adopted cybersecurity frameworks among service organizations. If you’ve recently founded a startup, implementing it is an effective way to set up comprehensive security controls and best practices from the get-go.
This guide will teach you how to do so by covering:
- The basics of SOC 2 for startups, including its main goals and types of reports
- Benefits of adopting the framework
- A five-step process to achieving compliance tailored to the unique needs of startups
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 is a cybersecurity framework and attestation program aimed at service organizations that collect, process, or store data. Its main goal is to help organizations build a solid security posture that ensures the responsible handling, security, and privacy of sensitive data.
To become SOC 2-compliant, you must complete an attestation engagement performed by an independent auditor. This means you should familiarize yourself with the best practices for external and internal compliance audits before beginning the compliance process.
You can choose between two types of SOC 2 attestation:
- Type 1: Evaluates the design and implementation of your controls at a specific point in time
- Type 2: Assesses and tracks the effectiveness of your controls over a longer time frame (typically 3–12 months)
Both types let you reap the benefits of SOC 2 compliance, though Type 2 might provide more assurance because it monitors how your controls and processes operate over time. You can see if your controls remain effective in different scenarios, which reduces the risk of unaddressed vulnerabilities and related disruptions.
Organizations often obtain a Type 1 attestation before proceeding to the second one, but you can skip this step and obtain a Type 2 report directly.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Why should startups adopt SOC 2?
Startups should implement SOC 2 mainly because a compliant organization has increased deal potential. The framework significantly improves your security posture, which can be a notable revenue driver that unlocks more deals and helps you close them more effortlessly.
While all organizations can benefit from this, it’s especially valuable for startups that want to scale as quickly as possible. Through the various administrative, technical, and procedural controls you’ll implement, you can position yourself as a reliable vendor and grow with less fear of security-related disruptions.
Additional advantages of SOC 2 compliance include:
- Resilience against evolving security threats: SOC 2’s principles encourage organizations to implement robust security controls that help adapt to and mitigate evolving threats more effectively
- Increased stakeholder trust: Customers, investors, and other stakeholders will put more trust in organizations that demonstrate a solid security posture, and SOC 2 compliance makes it easy to do so
- Improved operational continuity: SOC 2 helps you build a strong foundation for incident management and ensures that you can respond and recover from realized threats more efficiently and with fewer consequences
- Streamlined security workflows: SOC 2 outlines baseline requirements to address key security concerns with industry-leading best practices and structured, repeatable processes
- Competitive advantage: Showcasing your SOC 2 report to prospective customers can replace extensive security questionnaires and give you a notable competitive advantage over competitors that haven’t adopted the framework
5 steps to SOC 2 compliance for startups
To get your startup SOC 2-compliant, you should take these steps:
- Understand the SOC 2 trust service criteria (TSCs)
- Perform a gap analysis
- Develop a gap remediation plan
- Collect evidence
- Find a SOC 2 auditor and schedule the audit
Below we’ll take a closer look at each step.
1. Understand the SOC 2 trust service criteria
SOC 2 was built on five trust service criteria outlined in the following table:
Each TSC encompasses various controls you should implement to ensure your organization fulfills it without gaps. Only the security criterion is mandatory for SOC 2 compliance, while the rest are scoped according to their applicability to your organization’s security posture and data practices.
While adhering to all TSCs is ideal, it may not always be possible. Focus on prioritizing those criteria that have the greatest impact on your overall security posture.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
2. Perform a gap analysis
After reviewing the relevant SOC 2 TSCs and their controls, compare them to your current security standing to identify potential compliance gaps. The best way to do this is through a comprehensive security review guided by the framework’s controls.
Some of the key components of your security posture that you’ll review include:
- Data collection and management policies
- Access to sensitive data
- Technical security controls (firewalls, encryption, etc.)
- Risk management practices
Conducting robust security reviews can be challenging and resource-intensive without adequate guidance and well-documented procedures. To complete them more efficiently, you should consider adopting a dedicated compliance automation solution.
3. Develop a gap remediation plan
Once you’ve identified all SOC 2 compliance gaps, use the results of your security review to devise an effective gap remediation plan. If you’re unsure where to start, it’s best to prioritize gaps that fall under the security criterion, as it is the only one that’s universally mandatory.
Another factor to consider is gap size. It’s best to start with small gaps that don’t require extensive work before moving on to those that might call for significant process overhauls. This way, you can introduce changes gradually and avoid operational disruptions.
Before executing your gap remediation strategy, get the necessary buy-in from the affected teams. Doing so gets everyone on the same page and helps you make the necessary changes more efficiently.
4. Collect evidence
During a SOC 2 audit, the auditor will look for extensive evidence that your controls align with SOC 2 requirements. Besides observed evidence they’ll collect as they assess your controls, the auditor might also request documented evidence, such as:
- Administrative security policies
- Backup logs
- Service-level agreements
- Vendor agreements
T
o expedite the audit, document SOC 2 control implementation and gather all the evidence necessary to demonstrate SOC 2 compliance.
While doing so, try to replace disparate systems like spreadsheets and email chains as much as possible because they might hinder your control monitoring efforts. Instead, use centralized documentation systems that create a single source of truth and streamline evidence collection and management.
5. Find a SOC 2 auditor and schedule the audit
While the main job of a SOC 2 auditor is to validate the effectiveness of your controls, the right one should go beyond it and guide you through the compliance process.
Since not all auditors provide this additional support, seek a reputable auditor who will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth compliance experience. When you do, schedule a compliance audit so that you can plan your preparation activities.
Ideally, you’ll schedule the audit well in advance to give yourself the time to complete all necessary work, including:
- Performing a final security review to ensure there aren’t any leftover gaps
- Collecting all the documentation necessary to demonstrate SOC 2 compliance
- Preparing the relevant departments and team members for the audit
These tasks might be time-consuming if done manually and can cause haphazard workflows if rushed. To maximize efficiency and reduce uncertainty, support your compliance process with a solid compliance solution.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Get SOC 2 compliant effortlessly with Vanta
Vanta is a robust compliance and trust management platform that simplifies the SOC 2 compliance process by automating related workflows to maximize efficiency. By taking over some of the most time-consuming tasks—such as evidence collection—it frees up time and resources for your team.
The platform does this through various automation features included in its dedicated SOC 2 product, the most useful of which include:
- Automated access reviews with consolidated account access data
- Automated hourly checks that simplify security reviews
- Over 375 integrations with popular software solutions
- Pre-populated system description template
- Pre-built and custom controls
These features remove the guesswork from the SOC 2 compliance process and ensure your teams don’t waste valuable resources on mundane or repetitive work. Vanta’s experts will also support you throughout the compliance process, providing actionable guidance you need to complete it effortlessly.
When you’re ready to schedule your SOC 2 audit, you can leverage Vanta’s partner network to find a trusted auditor. Vanta partners with some of the most reputable experts, so you can rest assured the audit will be completed effectively.
For more information about Vanta’s SOC 2 product and a hands-on experience, schedule a custom demo.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
Streamlining SOC 2 compliance
An actionable guide to SOC 2 compliance for startups
Streamlining SOC 2 compliance
An actionable guide to SOC 2 compliance for startups
Download the checklist
Streamlining SOC 2 compliance
System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) is one of the most widely adopted cybersecurity frameworks among service organizations. If you’ve recently founded a startup, implementing it is an effective way to set up comprehensive security controls and best practices from the get-go.
This guide will teach you how to do so by covering:
- The basics of SOC 2 for startups, including its main goals and types of reports
- Benefits of adopting the framework
- A five-step process to achieving compliance tailored to the unique needs of startups
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 is a cybersecurity framework and attestation program aimed at service organizations that collect, process, or store data. Its main goal is to help organizations build a solid security posture that ensures the responsible handling, security, and privacy of sensitive data.
To become SOC 2-compliant, you must complete an attestation engagement performed by an independent auditor. This means you should familiarize yourself with the best practices for external and internal compliance audits before beginning the compliance process.
You can choose between two types of SOC 2 attestation:
- Type 1: Evaluates the design and implementation of your controls at a specific point in time
- Type 2: Assesses and tracks the effectiveness of your controls over a longer time frame (typically 3–12 months)
Both types let you reap the benefits of SOC 2 compliance, though Type 2 might provide more assurance because it monitors how your controls and processes operate over time. You can see if your controls remain effective in different scenarios, which reduces the risk of unaddressed vulnerabilities and related disruptions.
Organizations often obtain a Type 1 attestation before proceeding to the second one, but you can skip this step and obtain a Type 2 report directly.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Why should startups adopt SOC 2?
Startups should implement SOC 2 mainly because a compliant organization has increased deal potential. The framework significantly improves your security posture, which can be a notable revenue driver that unlocks more deals and helps you close them more effortlessly.
While all organizations can benefit from this, it’s especially valuable for startups that want to scale as quickly as possible. Through the various administrative, technical, and procedural controls you’ll implement, you can position yourself as a reliable vendor and grow with less fear of security-related disruptions.
Additional advantages of SOC 2 compliance include:
- Resilience against evolving security threats: SOC 2’s principles encourage organizations to implement robust security controls that help adapt to and mitigate evolving threats more effectively
- Increased stakeholder trust: Customers, investors, and other stakeholders will put more trust in organizations that demonstrate a solid security posture, and SOC 2 compliance makes it easy to do so
- Improved operational continuity: SOC 2 helps you build a strong foundation for incident management and ensures that you can respond and recover from realized threats more efficiently and with fewer consequences
- Streamlined security workflows: SOC 2 outlines baseline requirements to address key security concerns with industry-leading best practices and structured, repeatable processes
- Competitive advantage: Showcasing your SOC 2 report to prospective customers can replace extensive security questionnaires and give you a notable competitive advantage over competitors that haven’t adopted the framework
5 steps to SOC 2 compliance for startups
To get your startup SOC 2-compliant, you should take these steps:
- Understand the SOC 2 trust service criteria (TSCs)
- Perform a gap analysis
- Develop a gap remediation plan
- Collect evidence
- Find a SOC 2 auditor and schedule the audit
Below we’ll take a closer look at each step.
1. Understand the SOC 2 trust service criteria
SOC 2 was built on five trust service criteria outlined in the following table:
Each TSC encompasses various controls you should implement to ensure your organization fulfills it without gaps. Only the security criterion is mandatory for SOC 2 compliance, while the rest are scoped according to their applicability to your organization’s security posture and data practices.
While adhering to all TSCs is ideal, it may not always be possible. Focus on prioritizing those criteria that have the greatest impact on your overall security posture.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
2. Perform a gap analysis
After reviewing the relevant SOC 2 TSCs and their controls, compare them to your current security standing to identify potential compliance gaps. The best way to do this is through a comprehensive security review guided by the framework’s controls.
Some of the key components of your security posture that you’ll review include:
- Data collection and management policies
- Access to sensitive data
- Technical security controls (firewalls, encryption, etc.)
- Risk management practices
Conducting robust security reviews can be challenging and resource-intensive without adequate guidance and well-documented procedures. To complete them more efficiently, you should consider adopting a dedicated compliance automation solution.
3. Develop a gap remediation plan
Once you’ve identified all SOC 2 compliance gaps, use the results of your security review to devise an effective gap remediation plan. If you’re unsure where to start, it’s best to prioritize gaps that fall under the security criterion, as it is the only one that’s universally mandatory.
Another factor to consider is gap size. It’s best to start with small gaps that don’t require extensive work before moving on to those that might call for significant process overhauls. This way, you can introduce changes gradually and avoid operational disruptions.
Before executing your gap remediation strategy, get the necessary buy-in from the affected teams. Doing so gets everyone on the same page and helps you make the necessary changes more efficiently.
4. Collect evidence
During a SOC 2 audit, the auditor will look for extensive evidence that your controls align with SOC 2 requirements. Besides observed evidence they’ll collect as they assess your controls, the auditor might also request documented evidence, such as:
- Administrative security policies
- Backup logs
- Service-level agreements
- Vendor agreements
T
o expedite the audit, document SOC 2 control implementation and gather all the evidence necessary to demonstrate SOC 2 compliance.
While doing so, try to replace disparate systems like spreadsheets and email chains as much as possible because they might hinder your control monitoring efforts. Instead, use centralized documentation systems that create a single source of truth and streamline evidence collection and management.
5. Find a SOC 2 auditor and schedule the audit
While the main job of a SOC 2 auditor is to validate the effectiveness of your controls, the right one should go beyond it and guide you through the compliance process.
Since not all auditors provide this additional support, seek a reputable auditor who will go the extra mile to ensure a smooth compliance experience. When you do, schedule a compliance audit so that you can plan your preparation activities.
Ideally, you’ll schedule the audit well in advance to give yourself the time to complete all necessary work, including:
- Performing a final security review to ensure there aren’t any leftover gaps
- Collecting all the documentation necessary to demonstrate SOC 2 compliance
- Preparing the relevant departments and team members for the audit
These tasks might be time-consuming if done manually and can cause haphazard workflows if rushed. To maximize efficiency and reduce uncertainty, support your compliance process with a solid compliance solution.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Get SOC 2 compliant effortlessly with Vanta
Vanta is a robust compliance and trust management platform that simplifies the SOC 2 compliance process by automating related workflows to maximize efficiency. By taking over some of the most time-consuming tasks—such as evidence collection—it frees up time and resources for your team.
The platform does this through various automation features included in its dedicated SOC 2 product, the most useful of which include:
- Automated access reviews with consolidated account access data
- Automated hourly checks that simplify security reviews
- Over 375 integrations with popular software solutions
- Pre-populated system description template
- Pre-built and custom controls
These features remove the guesswork from the SOC 2 compliance process and ensure your teams don’t waste valuable resources on mundane or repetitive work. Vanta’s experts will also support you throughout the compliance process, providing actionable guidance you need to complete it effortlessly.
When you’re ready to schedule your SOC 2 audit, you can leverage Vanta’s partner network to find a trusted auditor. Vanta partners with some of the most reputable experts, so you can rest assured the audit will be completed effectively.
For more information about Vanta’s SOC 2 product and a hands-on experience, schedule a custom demo.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
Explore more SOC 2 articles
Introduction to SOC 2
Preparing for a SOC 2 audit
SOC 2 reporting and documentation
Streamlining SOC 2 compliance
SOC differences and similarities
Additional SOC 2 resources
Get started with SOC 2
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