What is SOC 2 readiness?

SOC 2 readiness is the process of building the controls, policies, and evidence collection practices required to pass a SOC 2 Type II audit. Readiness involves defining scope, implementing security and governance controls, and operating those controls consistently over an observation period so that an auditor can verify they ran.

How long does SOC 2 readiness take?

For most small SaaS teams, reaching audit-ready status takes three to six months. The observation period for a Type II audit typically runs six to twelve months after controls are in place. Teams that already have some controls implemented may move faster. Teams that need to build from scratch typically need more time.

What is the difference between SOC 2 readiness and SOC 2 certification?

Readiness is the preparation phase. It involves building the controls and processes required to pass an audit. Certification refers to the SOC 2 report issued by a licensed CPA firm after completing an audit. GetComply supports the readiness phase. The audit itself is performed by an independent auditor.

Do early-stage startups need SOC 2?

Not always, but increasingly yes. Enterprise customers and mid-market buyers routinely require SOC 2 reports before finalizing vendor contracts. If your sales pipeline includes those buyers, SOC 2 readiness is a prerequisite for closing deals. Starting early avoids the situation where a deal is blocked while readiness work happens under deadline pressure.

How much internal work is required for SOC 2 readiness?

Some internal involvement is always required. Access reviews, change management approvals, and security training need participation from your team. The goal of working with GetComply is to handle the advisory, coordination, and operational work so that internal time is focused on decisions and approvals rather than running the program from scratch.

FAQ | GetComply

GetComply is built for B2B SaaS companies that need SOC 2 readiness and ongoing governance support but do not have a full time GRC team. In many cases, compliance currently sits with a CTO, founder, engineering leader, or operations lead.

No. GetComply is designed specifically for teams that do not have a dedicated compliance function. We provide structure, guidance, and advisor support so the work can move forward without requiring you to build an internal GRC department first.

There is no honest fixed timeline for every company. Most first-time SOC 2 Type I readiness efforts are measured in weeks to a few months, while Type II also requires an observation period set by the auditor. Your timeline depends on scope, current maturity, infrastructure complexity, vendor footprint, and internal responsiveness. GetComply does not promise dates it cannot control. We provide a clear starting point, weekly next steps, and a direction your team can follow.

No. SOC 2 audits must be performed by an independent CPA firm. GetComply helps your team prepare for readiness and supports the governance work around that process, but we do not issue SOC 2 reports.

Your advisor helps define the scope, identify gaps, assign next steps, review evidence, and keep the SOC 2 work from stalling. They do not replace your internal team. They handle the parts your team should not have to figure out from scratch.

Some work will always stay with your team because only your company can confirm internal processes, approve changes, and provide certain evidence. The goal of GetComply is to reduce confusion, reduce wasted effort, and make that internal work as clear and manageable as possible.

No. GetComply operates as a readiness advisor. Your team keeps control of your systems and infrastructure.

That is not a problem. GetComply can still support scope definition, gap analysis, remediation guidance, governance structure, and ongoing program support. Tools do not remove the need for ownership and decision making.

Many teams continue with ongoing governance support so the program stays active as the company grows. That can include recurring reviews, roadmap updates, and guidance as systems, vendors, and responsibilities change.

Schedule an intro call. We will help you understand your current state, whether GetComply is the right fit, and what the most practical next step looks like.

Those tools can be useful. They help with integrations, monitoring, and evidence collection. The hard part is that someone still has to decide scope, assign owners, fix weak controls, review evidence, and keep the work moving. GetComply is for teams that need that human layer, not just another dashboard.

You can. For some teams, that is the right move. The problem is that a report does not fix the gaps by itself. GetComply is built for teams that need help after the findings are known: weekly direction, evidence review, and help preparing materials for the CPA firm.

No. Audit fees are paid directly to the CPA firm. GetComply helps prepare the work and organize the materials, but the audit itself is separate. We do not mark up audit fees or require you to use a specific auditor.

It means we look at the evidence before it is packaged for the CPA firm. If a screenshot is missing the date, scope, system name, reviewer, or proof that the control actually ran, we tell you what is missing. See evidence examples →

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