SOC 2 Cost
SOC 2 Cost for Startups
Estimate audit, tooling, and internal effort with lean scope assumptions. Built for early-stage teams moving quickly toward a first SOC 2.
Cost range and timeline snapshot
- •Typical first-year range: ~$25k–$70k depending on scope and tooling choices.
- •Recurring tooling (SSO/MFA, logging, vuln mgmt) often $8k–$25k/yr for small teams.
Timeline bands
- •Readiness: 6–12 weeks if scope is tight and owners are responsive.
- •Type I: 2–6 weeks once controls and evidence are ready.
- •Type II: add 3–9 months of observation depending on maturity.
Assumptions
- •Small team with shared owners and faster decisions.
- •Limited systems in scope; some logging/access gaps to close.
- •Type I first; Type II once evidence is steady.
Common scope
- •Product and infra in one cloud (single region).
- •Core SaaS stack: CI/CD, ticketing, source control, monitoring.
- •Key vendors: cloud, auth/SSO, payments, email, analytics.
Top cost drivers
- •Scope clarity (systems/vendors) and evidence quality.
- •Tooling maturity: logging/monitoring and access reviews.
- •Type I vs Type II decision and observation length.
- •Pentest scope and remediation needs.
What auditors focus on
- •Access control and offboarding proof.
- •Change management with approvals and testing evidence.
- •Logging/monitoring coverage and alert handling.
- •Vendor risk tracking for critical suppliers.
What changes cost most
- •Rushed timelines that add auditor hours and internal overtime.
- •Late vendor additions expanding scope and sampling.
- •Backfilling missing logs or access reviews.
Example scenarios
Seed-stage, single product
Lean Type I, limited vendors, minimal evidence backfill. Lowest cost band if scope stays tight.
Series A with customer security asks
Type I followed by planned Type II; add logging/monitoring and tighten access reviews to avoid rework.
Audit under a tight deal deadline
Accelerated prep increases auditor and advisor hours; prioritize scope freeze and change control evidence.
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