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SOC 2 checklist for startups

Last checked: 2026-10-16

This is an editorial checklist, not an AICPA document, and your auditor decides which controls apply. unverified

Before you start

1. Confirm what the customer asked for: Type 1 or Type 2, and which criteria. See Type 1 vs Type 2.
2. Pick scope: systems, people, and the Trust Services Criteria (Security is the base).
3. Set a budget: SOC 2 cost for startups.
4. Choose a platform or go manual: best SOC 2 software for small teams.

Controls to put in place

5. Written security policies and an owner for each.
6. Access control: single sign-on, MFA, least privilege, and quick offboarding. A business password manager with SSO/SCIM helps here.
7. Employee onboarding, background checks as your policy requires, and security training.
8. Change management and code review for production.
9. Logging, monitoring and an incident response plan.
10. Vendor risk reviews: ask your key vendors for their own SOC 2 reports.
11. Backups and a tested recovery plan if Availability is in scope.

Evidence and audit

12. Connect integrations for automated evidence collection (check each vendor's integrations against your stack).
13. Select an auditor and get quotes; confirm whether your platform includes audit or just introduces auditors.
14. Run the observation period (Type 2) and keep evidence continuous.
15. Fieldwork, then report; see timeline.

Platforms to start from: Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Sprinto.

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