Question 1

How much does SOC 2 compliance actually cost for an SMB?

Accepted Answer

First-time SOC 2 Type II: $30K-$100K total (gap assessment $10K-$20K, remediation $20K-$60K depending on gaps, audit $20K-$40K). Annual renewals: $20K-$50K (less remediation, mostly audit costs). Breakdown: auditor fees ($15K-$35K), GRC platform ($3K-$12K/year for evidence automation), security tools to close gaps (varies—$10K-$40K for EDR, SIEM, etc. if you don't have them), consultant help ($10K-$30K for gap remediation). Timeline: 9-12 months from start to SOC 2 report. Type I (point-in-time) cheaper and faster: $20K-$50K, 3-6 months. Type II (proves ongoing compliance, what customers want) requires 3-6 month audit period minimum. ROI: unlocks enterprise sales (typical enterprise deal: $100K-$1M, justifies $50K SOC 2 investment).

Question 2

Can we do SOC 2 ourselves or do we need a consultant?

Accepted Answer

Possible to DIY but requires: security expertise (know what controls to implement), time (100-200 hours internal effort over 6-12 months), project management (coordinate across teams). DIY saves $20K-$50K in consultant fees but takes 2x longer. Use consultant when: lack security expertise (don't know where to start), need it fast (consultant compresses 12-month DIY to 6-9 months), want to pass first time (consultant knows what auditors look for). Middle ground: consultant for gap assessment ($5K-$10K, identify what's missing), implement gaps internally (save consultant hours), consultant for audit prep ($5K-$10K, organize evidence, prep team). Fully DIY: use free frameworks (AICPA SOC 2 criteria), GRC platform for evidence ($3K-$12K/year), expect 1-2 failed audits before passing (learning curve).

Question 3

What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Accepted Answer

Type I: point-in-time audit (controls exist and are designed properly as of specific date). Type II: period audit (controls operated effectively over 3-12 months). Type I: faster (3-6 months), cheaper ($20K-$50K), proves you have controls. Type II: longer (9-12 months minimum), more expensive ($30K-$100K), proves controls actually work over time. Customers prefer Type II (proves ongoing compliance, not just passed audit once). Some accept Type I initially, require Type II for renewal. Timeline: can't skip to Type II—need 3-6 months of evidence collection period. First SOC 2: many companies get Type I (faster time to market), then pursue Type II after 6 months. Or jump straight to Type II if you have time (9-12 months before you need report).

Question 4

What are the most common SOC 2 audit failures?

Accepted Answer

Top failures: incomplete evidence (policy says quarterly access reviews, only have 2 out of 4 quarters—finding), untested backups (backup policy exists, never restored from backup—finding), access controls not enforced (MFA policy, half the accounts don't have MFA—finding), documentation gaps (incident response plan, but no evidence of testing—finding). Also: poor change management (production changes without documentation), vendor management gaps (critical vendors without security assessment), monitoring gaps (logs not reviewed, alerts not investigated). Prevention: document what you actually do (don't write policies you don't follow), collect evidence continuously (GRC platform automates this), test everything (backups, incident response, access reviews). Auditors test controls—saying you do something without evidence = finding.

Question 5

How long does SOC 2 certification stay valid?

Accepted Answer

SOC 2 report is valid for period covered (Type I: moment in time, Type II: 3-12 months), but expires after 1 year typically. Most companies: annual re-audit to keep report current (customers want report <1 year old). After first SOC 2: annual renewal audits are cheaper ($20K-$50K vs $30K-$100K initial) and faster (3-6 months vs 9-12 months). Some companies: get 6-month report, then 12-month (maintain continuous coverage—old report expires, new one ready). Continuous compliance: enable GRC platform, maintain controls year-round (don't let security slide between audits), annual audits are smoother. SOC 2 isn't one-and-done certification (like ISO)—it's annual report demonstrating ongoing compliance. Budget for annual renewals, not just initial certification.

SOC 2 Compliance Services - Get Certified in 3-6 Months

Why SOC 2 Is Non-Negotiable for B2B Growth

73%

$156K

12-18

Your Path to SOC 2 Certification

Step 1: Readiness Assessment

Step 2: Control Implementation

Step 3: Type I Audit & Beyond

SOC 2 Compliance Services Pricing

Self-Service Compliance

Starting at $4,499/year

Includes:

SOC 2 Implementation

Starting at $2,995/mo

Everything in Assessment, plus:

Enterprise

Custom Pricing

Includes:

Stop Losing Enterprise Deals to Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

Simplify Your Compliance Journey

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SOC 2 Compliance Services - Get Certified in 3-6 Months

Why SOC 2 Is Non-Negotiable for B2B Growth

73%

$156K

12-18

Your Path to SOC 2 Certification

Step 1: Readiness Assessment

Step 2: Control Implementation

Step 3: Type I Audit & Beyond

SOC 2 Compliance Services Pricing

Self-Service Compliance

Starting at $4,499/year

Includes:

SOC 2 Implementation

Starting at $2,995/mo

Everything in Assessment, plus:

Enterprise

Custom Pricing

Includes:

Stop Losing Enterprise Deals to Compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

Simplify Your Compliance Journey

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