# What You Should Do the First Time You're Tackling SOC 2 Compliance You’ve just started a new job at a SaaS startup. You’re excited. Motivated. Ready to crush it… And then— **bam**—you get hit with this: > **“New hire at a B2B SaaS. My first task is helping them get SOC 2 compliant. HELP!!!”** > _So I just started at a scaling startup. My first task is getting the ball rolling on SOC 2 compliance. The only thing is this is my first time hearing about SOC 2. I really don’t know much about this framework and it seems complicated and like a lot to manage. Anyone got tips or tools for streamlining this process? Am I cooked? I really want to impress and I know you guys can point me in the right direction!”_ Cue internal panic. This Reddit post perfectly captures a situation we’ve seen _again and again_ with small businesses and scaling startups: A well-meaning, capable new hire is thrown into the world of **SOC 2 audits** and compliance frameworks without training, experience, or support. It’s a rough spot, but it’s _way_ more common than people admit. At BEMO, we hear versions of this same story **every week** from prospects reaching out to us for help. And we get it. SOC 2 can feel overwhelming at first. But the good news? There’s a better, smarter way to approach it, especially if it’s your first time. ## Table of Contents - [What Is SOC 2 Compliance and Why It Matters for Startups](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#what-is-soc-2-why-is-soc-2-important) - [Why First-Time SOC 2 Compliance Is Overwhelming](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#first-time-soc-2-compliance) - [Options for Startups Without a Dedicated Compliance Team](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#dedicated-compliance-team) - [Why BEMO Is a Proven SOC 2 Compliance Partner for Small Businesses](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#compliance-partner) - [Final Thoughts: Build the Right Compliance Strategy](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#soc-2-advice) - [FAQS- How to Succeed at SOC 2](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/what-to-do-the-first-time-you-face-soc-2-compliance#how-to-succeed-at-soc-2) ## Why First-Time SOC 2 Compliance Is Overwhelming Many first-time compliance officers or operations team members are handed SOC 2 responsibilities without clear instructions, a budget, or any training. That’s not a failure on your part, it’s a **resourcing and strategy issue**. Startups move fast. Everyone wears a dozen hats. And when investors or prospects start asking about compliance, leadership often turns to whoever seems smart and resourceful (you!) and says, “Figure out SOC 2.” No training. No roadmap. Just vibes. But here’s the truth: **SOC 2 isn’t something you “figure out” on your own with a few Google searches.** Not easily, anyway. It’s a complex audit process that requires: - Policy creation and documentation - Risk management - Technical control mapping - Evidence collection - Ongoing security practices - Vendor management - Employee training - External auditor coordination...and more Without guidance, the **time cost** alone can skyrocket, especially when you're also juggling your _actual_ job. So if you're new and feeling overwhelmed, you’re _not cooked_. You’re just being asked to do a job that’s way outside most people’s scope. ## What Is SOC 2 Compliance and Why It Matters for Startups **Quick recap, in case you’re still Googling:** [**SOC 2** is a security and data privacy framework designed for tech companies that store customer data in the cloud](https://www.bemopro.com/soc-2-compliance). If you're in B2B SaaS, your customers will likely ask for a **SOC 2 report** before signing contracts, especially if they’re mid-market or enterprise. SOC 2 covers [five trust services criteria](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): - **Security** - **Availability** - **Processing integrity** - **Confidentiality** - **Privacy** To be considered compliant, your company needs to pass a third-party audit: **Type 1** evaluates controls at a point in time, while **Type 2** looks at their effectiveness over a monitoring period (usually 3–12 months). SOC 2 compliance isn’t just a checklist you can knock out in a few hours or even weeks. It can take **hundreds of hours** and **thousands of dollars** to get it right, **especially** if you don’t have a compliance officer, an internal IT/security team, or previous audit experience. That’s why tossing it to the new hire (with zero guidance) is setting them up to failure. And as a company? That’s not just risky, it’s inefficient. ## Options for Startups Without a Dedicated Compliance Team So what are your options if you're a small team or a new hire managing this for the first time? You have two realistic paths forward: #### 1. **Hire compliance consultants for SOC 2 Support** You can bring in experts to support your team internally and walk you through the controls, help with documentation, and prepare you for your SOC 2 audit. This option gives you flexibility, but it still requires a lot of hands-on work from your team. #### 2. **Outsource SOC 2 compliance completely** Hire a **compliance provider** (like BEMO 👋) to take care of everything so you you don’t have to piece it all together. At BEMO we provide **Compliance as a Service,** taking care of everything from: - Building your security program - Handling the audit prep and documentation - Automating evidence collection - Working directly with your auditors Both options are better than handing off compliance to someone without the time or resources to succeed. And outsourcing doesn’t mean giving up control. It means buying peace of mind while your team focuses on what they _do_ best. ## Why BEMO Is a Proven SOC 2 Compliance Partner for Small Businesses We’re not just helping clients through SOC 2, we’ve **been through it ourselves!** [BEMO is](https://trust.bemopro.com/) **[SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 compliant](https://trust.bemopro.com/). We know exactly what auditors are looking for, what controls are necessary, and how to streamline the entire process for you.** That means we can help you: - Avoid the common pitfalls of a first-time SOC 2 journey - Understand what auditors actually care about - Build a compliance roadmap - Automate evidence collection - Understand **SOC 2 compliance costs** and timelines - Save time, stress, and budget Most importantly, we take the compliance burden **off your shoulders** so you can get back to your real job. ## Final Thoughts: Build the Right Compliance Strategy If this sounds like your current situation (or your company's strategy), take a step back and rethink how you're handling compliance. Whether you're a new hire, founder, or head of operations, the key is to stop treating compliance like a one-person project. Instead, treat it like what it is: a **company-wide priority** that deserves real strategy, tools, and support. ### If You’re the New Hire… #### Take a breath. You’re not alone. This isn’t an intelligence test, it’s a resourcing problem. #### So send this blog post to your boss. Let them know there’s a better way. #### And if your company’s serious about getting compliant without burning you out, we’re ready to help. ## FAQS- How to Succeed at SOC 2 #### How Much Does SOC 2 Compliance Cost for Startups? Here’s a rough breakdown: - **Auditor fees:** $15K–$40K+ - **Compliance tools (like Drata or Vanta):** $5K–$20K/year - **Internal time spent:** 100–300+ hours - **Possible consulting costs:** Variable If you're DIY-ing without the right support, the real cost becomes your team’s time and lost focus on strategic work. ### [How Long Does SOC 2 Certification Take to Complete?](https://www.bemopro.com/cybersecurity-blog/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-soc-2-compliance) Most organizations complete initial certification (Type 1) in 3 to 6 months, though timelines vary based on readiness, company size, and other factors. For a Type 2 attestation, you need to allocate at least 6 months, conservatively. ### How Do I Determine the Start Date of My Audit Window? Your audit window should start once your organization becomes fully "audit-ready." This means all necessary remediation steps identified in your readiness assessment have been completed, and your controls are fully operational. Keep in mind that auditors can examine any activities, accesses, or changes starting from the very first day of your audit period, so don’t begin until your organization is fully prepared. ### Is There a Better Certification Than SOC 2? That really depends on your industry, your customers, and your business goals. **SOC 2 isn’t better or worse than other attestations, it’s just one of several frameworks**. The right one for you depends on what your prospects or partners expect. It’s true that some organizations today are asking for certifications like [**ISO 27001**](https://www.bemopro.com/iso-27001-compliance), which is more complex(but not necessarily better). For a growing business, **SOC 2 is a solid starting point**. It helps you build the foundation needed to eventually pursue other frameworks with more confidence and less friction.