How long does a SOC 2 audit take?
A SOC 2 Type 1 usually takes one to three months end to end, while a Type 2 adds an observation window of three to twelve months. Readiness prep, not the audit itself, is often the longest phase.
The full answer
The honest answer splits by report type. Per AICPA guidance and common market practice, a SOC 2 Type 1 examines your controls at a single point in time and typically runs one to three months from kickoff to report. A Type 2 tests whether those controls operated effectively across an observation window, so it takes longer overall: the window itself is usually three to twelve months, plus prep and fieldwork on either side.
Most of the calendar time is not the auditor's testing — it is readiness. Writing policies, standing up controls, and gathering evidence can take a few weeks to several months depending on how mature your security program already is. GRC platforms such as Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, and Sprinto automate much of that evidence collection and can meaningfully shorten prep.
Fieldwork — the auditor's actual review and testing — is comparatively short, often a couple of weeks, followed by report drafting. When your auditor has a confirmed integration with your GRC platform, they can pull evidence directly, which trims back-and-forth during this phase.
To plan realistically, work backward from the date a customer needs your report. If you have a hard deadline, a Type 1 first (then a Type 2) is a common way to show progress quickly. SOC 2 Type 2 audits through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a network offer.
Go deeper
Short answer not enough? These pages cover the full picture:
Map out your SOC 2 timeline
Tell the estimator where you are today and see a realistic month-by-month path to your report.
Open the timeline estimator →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 BDO USA
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
#4 Cherry Bekaert
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
#5 Eide Bailly
Directory fact: active provider record. Relevance to this specific question and engagement scope must be confirmed directly.
Related questions
Can I speed up a SOC 2 audit?
Yes, partly. You can compress readiness and fieldwork with a GRC platform, a Type 1 or 3-month Type 2 first, and fast evidence responses — but a Type 2 observation window still has to run its full length.
Can a SOC 2 Type 2 observation period be 3 months?
Yes. Three months is the shortest observation window most auditors will accept for a SOC 2 Type 2, so a 3-month period is valid and common for a first report. Longer windows give buyers more assurance.
Do SOC 2 audits happen on-site or remotely?
Almost always remotely. Most SOC 2 audits are conducted entirely over video calls, screen shares, and secure evidence uploads, since the evidence is digital. On-site visits are rare and usually only relevant if you run your own physical data centers.
How long does the SOC 2 report take after fieldwork ends?
Most SOC 2 reports are drafted and delivered within a few weeks of fieldwork ending, though timing varies by firm and how quickly you clear any open evidence items. There is no AICPA-set deadline for delivery.
How many internal hours does a SOC 2 audit take my team?
There is no official figure. Most internal effort is front-loaded during readiness, not the audit itself. Expect a designated owner to spend meaningful part-time hours over the prep window, plus lighter time answering auditor questions during fieldwork.
How often do I need a SOC 2 audit?
Once a year in practice. No AICPA rule sets a frequency, but buyers treat a SOC 2 report as current for twelve months from its period end, so most companies renew annually with a rolling Type 2 to avoid gaps.
Sources: AICPA SOC 2 / SSAE No. 18 attestation guidance; AuditNex network rate card (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.