SOC 2 Compliance: The Complete Guide
AICPA Trust Services Criteria attestation for SaaS, fintech, health-tech, and B2B vendors subject to enterprise vendor security assessments.
What is SOC 2?
AICPA Trust Services Criteria attestation for SaaS, fintech, health-tech, and B2B vendors subject to enterprise vendor security assessments.
Who needs SOC 2?
Organizations that process customer data and face SOC 2 requirements in enterprise procurement, including SaaS platforms, fintech and payment companies, health technology vendors, and RegTech providers serving regulated institutions. Typical company size: 10–500 employees with a dedicated or part-time GRC function.
Cost & timeline
SOC 2 Type I: typically $15,000–$40,000 in audit fees plus internal labor (100–300 hours). Type II adds six to twelve months of operating evidence. AuditOak reduces preparation time with scoped checklists, actionable control guidance, and cross-framework evidence reuse.
Control categories
| Category | Controls | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Common Criteria (Security) | ~33 | Example control → |
| Availability | ~3 | N/A |
| Confidentiality | ~2 | N/A |
| Processing Integrity | ~5 | N/A |
| Privacy | ~8 | N/A |
The honest answers
No. Security is mandatory. Most early-stage SaaS start with Security only and add Availability or Confidentiality when customers require them.
Type I can be achieved in 2–4 months with focused effort. Type II requires 3–12 months of sustained evidence collection.
No. AuditOak helps you prepare, organize evidence, and track readiness. Your auditor still performs the independent attestation.
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