SOC2 Compliance

Overview

SOC2 Type II is the standard security compliance framework for B2B SaaS. Enterprise customers will ask for it. Security questionnaires without it take weeks to complete. With it, you send the SOC2 report and the conversation ends.

This skill covers the complete path: readiness assessment, control implementation, auditor selection, evidence collection, and the ongoing monitoring that keeps you compliant between audits. Budget ~$20-50K for first-year audit. Timeline: 4-6 months for Type I, 6-12 months observation period for Type II.

Authoritative Foundations

• AICPA — Trust Services Criteria — Security is required; add Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy only when customers need them.
• AICPA — SOC 2 Type I vs Type II — Type I tests control design at a point in time; Type II tests operating effectiveness over a 3-12 month window, which enterprise buyers expect.
• Jason Lemkin (SaaStr) — SOC 2 as an enterprise sales gate — Start SOC 2 before the first large enterprise deal requires it; the audit window takes months.
• Vanta and Drata — Compliance automation — Automate evidence collection and control monitoring to shorten readiness and keep controls passing between audits.