How long does it take to get SOC 2 certified?

How Long Does SOC 2 Take?

The total timeline depends on your starting point and which type of report you need. A cloud-native startup with basic security practices can get a Type I report in 6–8 weeks. A company starting from scratch needs 10–16 weeks.

Timeline Breakdown

Phase	Type I	Type II
Gap assessment	1–2 weeks	1–2 weeks
Policy writing	1–3 weeks	1–3 weeks
Control implementation	1–4 weeks	1–4 weeks
Evidence collection	1–2 weeks	Continuous (3–12 months)
Auditor fieldwork	2–4 weeks	3–6 weeks
Report delivery	1–2 weeks	1–2 weeks
Total	6–16 weeks	6–18 months

What Slows Things Down

The most common delays:

1. Policy writing — Startups without compliance experience spend weeks writing policies from scratch
2. Missing controls — Implementing MFA, access reviews, or logging from scratch adds time
3. Auditor availability — Popular audit firms book 4–8 weeks out
4. Evidence gaps — Discovering during fieldwork that evidence is missing or insufficient
5. Scope creep — Adding Trust Services Criteria or systems mid-process

What Speeds Things Up

• Start with Security-only scope
• Use AI tools to generate policies from your actual infrastructure
• Choose a startup-friendly auditor who moves quickly
• Collect evidence as you implement controls, not after
• Keep your system boundary small and focused

The Fastest Path

For maximum speed: use Screenata to generate policies and collect evidence (days, not weeks), scope to Security only, choose a small audit firm, and target a Type I first. Some startups get from kickoff to report in under 6 weeks.