How do I prepare for my first SOC 2 audit?
Start by choosing your report type and scope, defining the Trust Services Criteria you will cover, writing core security policies, enabling controls like MFA and logging, then collecting evidence through a GRC platform before your auditor begins fieldwork.
The full answer
First, decide what you are actually buying. A Type 1 report tests whether your controls are designed correctly at a single point in time and usually takes one to three months end to end; a Type 2 tests whether they operated over a window that runs three to twelve months, with three months being the shortest window most auditors accept, per AICPA guidance and market practice. Your buyers' requirements usually drive this choice — enterprise security questionnaires commonly ask for a Type 2.
Next, set scope. Security (the common criteria) is mandatory; add availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, or privacy only if your customers need them. Then write the core policies auditors expect and stand up controls such as MFA, access reviews, change management, encryption, logging, and vendor management.
Evidence is where first-timers stall. GRC platforms like Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, and Sprinto automate collection by connecting to your cloud and identity providers, and auditors with confirmed integrations pull evidence directly from the platform, which shortens fieldwork. For a Type 2, start generating that evidence early because the observation window has to elapse before the audit can finish.
Finally, budget and book. SOC 2 Type 2 audits through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a network offer. Map your observation window backward from your target report date so your timeline and evidence line up.
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Related questions
Can a two-person startup get SOC 2?
Yes. SOC 2 has no minimum headcount; a two-person startup can earn a report. Controls simply scale to your size — the auditor assesses whether your controls fit your operations, not whether you have a large team.
Do I need a penetration test for SOC 2?
Not strictly. The AICPA's SOC 2 framework never names a penetration test as a required control, but most auditors and enterprise buyers expect one as evidence of vulnerability management, so in practice it is nearly standard.
Does SOC 2 cover remote work and BYOD?
Yes. SOC 2's Security criteria apply wherever your team works, so remote work and BYOD fall in scope. Auditors expect controls like endpoint protection, encryption, MDM or access policies, and secure authentication regardless of device location.
Does SOC 2 require MFA?
Effectively yes, though not by name. SOC 2's Trust Services Criteria require strong logical access controls without naming MFA, but auditors and customers treat multi-factor authentication as the baseline, so nearly every SOC 2 program enables it.
Does SOC 2 require a vendor management program?
Yes, in practice. SOC 2's Common Criteria include managing risks from vendors and subservice organizations, so auditors expect a vendor management process — inventory, risk-based due diligence, and monitoring — even though no single rule dictates its exact form.
Does SOC 2 require annual security training?
Not by a named rule. SOC 2's Trust Services Criteria require security awareness training but never specify a frequency; auditors and customers treat training at onboarding plus at least annually as the standard, so most companies run it yearly.
Sources: AICPA Trust Services Criteria (2017, rev. 2022); AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards; AuditNex network rate card, 2026; Vanta and Drata 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.