How long does it take to get SOC 2 compliant?

For most companies, SOC 2 compliance usually takes around six months to a year. Specifically, if you’re going for a SOC 2 Type 1 Report, it could take up to six months. But if you’re aiming for a SOC 2 Type 2 Report, it will often take at least six months and sometimes a whole year or even more.

Here’s the breakdown of the process:

Pre-Audit Phase (2 weeks – 9 months)

• Choose your report type and Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
• Check on the number of systems you’re running
• Assess your systems’ current state and find where to improve to meet SOC 2 requirements.
• Close the gaps and gather necessary documentation. You might also have to do a readiness assessment to ensure you’re ready for the audit.

Audit Window Phase (Type II Report – 3, 6, 9, or 12 months)

• This is the time frame your audit will cover, depending on your chosen audit duration.
• During this period, you’ll gather evidence and document how well your controls work.

Audit Phase (1-3 months)

• Your auditor will have a checklist of things to do and will test your controls based on the TSCs you picked.
• They’ll collect evidence, review documents, and talk to your team members to understand your security measures.
• Once they have everything, they’ll put together your official SOC 2 report, which will say if you passed the audit.

Generally, the actual SOC 2 audit takes between 5 weeks and 3 months. How long exactly depends on factors like the audit’s size (scope) and how many controls are involved.