How do I choose a SOC 2 auditor?
Choose a licensed CPA firm (SOC 2 is a CPA attestation), check its current AICPA peer review, confirm experience with your industry and stack, and compare fixed quotes. SOC 2 Type 2 audits through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a network offer.
The full answer
Start with credentials. SOC 2 was created by the AICPA, and reports are attestations issued under SSAE No. 18 by licensed CPA firms, so any auditor you shortlist should be a CPA firm in good standing. Ask when it last completed AICPA peer review, which attestation firms undergo roughly every three years, and request the most recent report.
Next, weigh fit. Look for an auditor that has tested companies with your industry, size, and technology stack, because someone fluent in your cloud environment and controls will ask sharper questions and waste less of your time. If you use a GRC platform such as Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, or Sprinto, confirm the auditor has a working integration so it can pull evidence directly rather than making you export screenshots.
Then compare price and scope on equal terms. A typical US SOC 2 audit runs $5,000 to $60,000 or more depending on scope, per published pricing guides from Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe. SOC 2 Type 2 audits through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a network offer. Get fixed quotes that spell out Trust Services Criteria, the observation window, and what a re-test costs.
Finally, mind independence. Under AICPA rules, the firm that audits your controls cannot design or operate them, so an auditor who also sells your remediation or penetration test may create a conflict. Confirm the engagement partner's availability, the delivery timeline, and how questions get answered before you sign.
Go deeper
Short answer not enough? These pages cover the full picture:
How AuditNex verifies auditors › · Best SOC 2 auditors ranked ›
Browse audit firms
Browse directory listings and select firms to compare for your audit scope.
Browse auditor directory →Audit service and provider options
AuditNex is listed first as our own featured quote-comparison service, not an auditor or an independently earned auditor ranking. Auditsuisse Assurance is a featured general option when active; its placement does not establish suitability for this page's framework, industry, platform or location. Other firms retain the directory's stated ordering. Featured placement does not change verification, reviews or pricing data. Ordinary providers follow in a stable directory selection; an active listing is not a claim that credentials or relevance to this question have been independently confirmed.
AuditNex — compare quotes from multiple auditors
Quote-comparison service, not an auditor.
Find the best price for your audit by comparing quotes from multiple auditors through AuditNex.
Compare the same scope, timing and final fees. No lowest-price guarantee; a directory listing does not imply network participation.
Auditsuisse Assurance
Contact Auditsuisse Assurance to confirm its services, current qualifications, scope, availability and fees.
Featured inclusion is not confirmation of a particular framework, industry, platform relationship or local presence. Credentials and suitability must be checked directly.
Official website: AuditSuisse.com
#3 Hancock Askew & Co
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
#4 MGO
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
#5 Rehmann
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
Related questions
Are cheap SOC 2 audits legit?
Sometimes. A low price is legitimate only if a licensed CPA firm issues the report under SSAE No. 18. Suspiciously cheap 'audits' that skip fieldwork, use non-CPA reviewers, or auto-generate reports are not real SOC 2 attestations.
Can my SOC 2 auditor also do my penetration test?
Usually no. Under AICPA independence rules, the CPA firm that audits your controls cannot design or operate them, and a penetration test it then relies on can compromise that independence. Use a separate provider for the pentest.
Can my SOC 2 auditor help me remediate issues they find?
Not directly. Under AICPA independence rules your attestation firm cannot design or operate the controls it audits, so it cannot fix your gaps. It can flag deficiencies, but remediation must come from you or a separate advisor.
Do I need a local SOC 2 auditor?
No. SOC 2 audits run remotely, so your auditor's location rarely matters. What matters is that a licensed CPA firm signs the report under SSAE No. 18. Time-zone overlap and industry experience help more than being in your city.
Does my SOC 2 auditor need to be a CPA firm?
Yes. A SOC 2 report is an AICPA attestation issued under SSAE No. 18, so it must be signed by a licensed CPA firm. Readiness prep can come from anyone, but only a CPA firm can issue the report.
Does the auditor's brand name matter to enterprise buyers?
Less than founders expect. Most enterprise buyers accept any SOC 2 report signed by a licensed CPA firm; they check the scope, opinion, and exceptions, not the auditor's logo. A recognizable name can smooth procurement but seldom decides it.
Sources: AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards; AuditNex network rate card, 2026; Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe SOC 2 pricing guides, 2024-2026. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.