SOC 2 Timeline
SOC 2 Timeline for 5-10 Employees
Lean teams running focused readiness to reach Type I quickly without overloading engineers.
Timeline anchors
Lean teams running focused readiness to reach Type I quickly without overloading engineers.
- •Prep work that can be done in parallel with product delivery.
- •Where to borrow time from founders vs engineers.
- •Evidence sequencing to avoid rework.
How to stay on schedule
- Sequence pentests, policy approvals, and access reviews early.
- Hold weekly check-ins with control owners and your auditor.
- Lock observation start/end dates and keep evidence organized.
What extends the timeline
- No clear owner for access reviews or change management.
- Evidence backfill for logs and tickets.
- Scope creep from late vendor additions.
FAQ
How long does SOC 2 take for SOC 2 Timeline for 5-10 Employees?
Timelines depend on readiness, tool stack, and how quickly you can gather evidence. Smaller teams can move faster by keeping scope lean and decisions centralized.
What slows SOC 2 timelines down?
Unclear ownership, missing evidence, and last-minute scope additions create churn. Align on systems in scope and assign owners early.
When should we start readiness?
Begin at least a few weeks before you want to sign an audit letter. That gives time to close gaps and plan observation windows.
How does Type II change the calendar?
Type II adds an observation period. Plan for control operation evidence across that window and buffer extra time for sampling.
Where do pentests fit in the schedule?
Schedule pentests before the observation window ends so remediation and retests are complete. Link findings to control evidence.
What should be parallelized?
Policies, tooling, and early evidence collection can run in parallel. Keep a weekly cadence to unblock owners quickly.