SOC 2 readiness for SaaS and tech companies that need to actually pass
We run end-to-end SOC 2 readiness programs for SaaS, fintech, and B2B technology companies — gap analysis, control implementation, evidence-collection automation, audit coordination with the auditor of your choice, and the ongoing program work that keeps the Type 2 window clean. AICPA Trust Services Criteria aligned, SSAE-18, no template compliance theater.
For a buyer's overview of Type 1 vs Type 2 selection, see our blog: SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2 — which audit do you actually need?
Who we work with
- Pre-revenue SaaS closing their first enterprise contracts that require a SOC 2.
- Mid-market technology companies renewing or expanding scope on existing reports.
- Fintech and HealthTech running SOC 2 alongside HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or state-level requirements.
- Acquirers running SOC 2 due-diligence on target companies.
- MSPs and security firms who refer SOC 2 work to a specialist partner.
What we deliver
- Gap analysis. Mapped against the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy). Output is a remediation roadmap with effort estimates and ownership assignments — not a 200-page generic checklist.
- Control implementation. We write the actual controls — access provisioning, change management, vendor risk, incident response, monitoring — and stand up the operating cadence.
- Policy library. Written, signed, version-controlled. The 20-30 policies your auditor will sample, drafted to your environment rather than copy-pasted.
- Evidence collection. We configure Drata, Vanta, Secureframe, or Tugboat — or run continuous-compliance monitoring without one if your stack is small enough that a tool would be overkill.
- Auditor selection and coordination. We have working relationships with multiple AICPA-licensed auditors at varying price points. We help you pick the right one and run the audit on your behalf.
- Audit prep and PBC fulfillment. Walkthrough rehearsal with your team, pre-audit evidence review, and answering the auditor's "Provided by Client" requests in your voice without dragging your engineering team into months of compliance distraction.
- Type 2 program operations. The 6-12 month observation window is where most first-time companies fail. We run the controls, fix the exceptions, and prepare the production case before the auditor walks back in.
Realistic timelines
- Type 1: 8-12 weeks from kickoff to issued report (assuming clean readiness)
- Type 2 (first): 9-14 months total — readiness + 3 / 6 / 12 month observation window + audit fieldwork
- Type 2 (renewal): 4-6 months once steady-state
Realistic costs (US, 2026)
- Type 1 audit fee: $15K–$35K + readiness work
- Type 2 first audit fee: $30K–$70K + readiness + ongoing program cost
- Compliance tooling (Drata, Vanta, Secureframe): $7K–$30K/year
- Our readiness fee: $35K–$95K depending on scope, complexity, and starting maturity
Where projects actually slip
- Auditor selection takes longer than the audit. Get an auditor under contract before you finish readiness.
- Sub-service organization scoping. Cloud, payroll, identity provider — needs to be in scope or carved out with proper CUEC language.
- Access provisioning vs deprovisioning. Provisioning is easy. Deprovisioning at termination plus quarterly access reviews is where Type 2s get exception findings.
- Production change management. Auditors will sample tickets and look for the request → review → deploy paper trail.
What we will not do
- Pretend that compliance tooling alone is a control program
- Pass a Type 1 with controls we know will fail in the Type 2 window
- Write policies that copy-paste from another client
- Take a SOC 2 engagement when you should actually be doing ISO 27001 or HITRUST instead
Referral partnerships welcome
We work with audit firms placing technical readiness leads, MSPs whose SaaS clients need attestation, law firms whose clients are facing diligence, and VC firms running SOC 2 diligence across portfolios. You introduce the client, we sign a mutual NDA and a referral agreement, and we deliver under our own brand directly to the client.
Compensation is negotiated per partnership, calibrated to volume, scope, and ongoing co-marketing. Recurring referral partners earn richer terms than one-off introductions.
Related
- ISO 27001 certification — international counterpart, often pursued together with SOC 2
- Penetration testing — recurring requirement for SOC 2 Type 2 attestation
- vCISO — for SaaS companies that need program ownership beyond the audit
