How should a 10-person startup prepare for SOC 2?
Your Size Is an Advantage
A 10-person startup has fewer systems, fewer users, and simpler processes than a 500-person company. That means fewer controls to implement, less evidence to collect, and a smaller audit scope. Don't let the process intimidate you.
The SOC 2 Prep Checklist for Small Teams
Week 1-2: Security Foundations
| Task | Time | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Enforce MFA on all systems | 2 hours | Required for CC6.1, easy win |
| Enable GitHub branch protection | 30 minutes | Required for CC8.1 |
| Set up an MDM (Kandji, Mosyle) | 2-3 hours | Endpoint security evidence |
| Enable CloudTrail (if using AWS) | 30 minutes | Audit logging evidence |
Week 3-4: Policies
Write seven core documents describing what you actually do:
- Information Security Policy
- Access Control Policy
- Change Management Policy
- Incident Response Plan
- Risk Assessment
- Vendor Management Policy
- System Description
Week 5-6: Evidence Collection
Start collecting evidence for each control area. Screenshot configurations, export user lists, document your quarterly access review.
Week 7-8: Readiness Assessment
Review everything against Trust Services Criteria. Identify gaps and fix them before engaging an auditor.
What 10-Person Startups Usually Have Already
- GitHub with PRs (change management ✓)
- Google Workspace with MFA (access controls ✓)
- Cloud provider with encryption defaults (data protection ✓)
- Slack for communication (incident response channel ✓)
What You Probably Need to Add
- MDM for company devices
- Formal access review process (quarterly)
- Security awareness training
- Background checks for new hires
- A written incident response plan
Where Screenata Helps
Screenata handles the hardest parts for small teams: writing policies from your codebase, collecting application-level evidence, and providing the compliance expertise that 10-person startups don't have in-house — starting at $299.