Reference / Practitioner questions
SOC 2 cost: 12 questions practitioners actually ask.
Twelve recurring questions, each answered with the figure or framework you would expect from a practitioner. Each answer references the relevant detail page in plain text without navigational links, on the principle that FAQ cross-linking tends toward manipulation.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 in cost terms?+
Type 1 is a point-in-time attestation; Type 2 is a period attestation across a 3 to 12 month observation window with sample testing. Audit fees on Type 2 typically run 30 to 50 percent above Type 1 for the same scope. The strategic question is rarely the fee delta. It is whether the customer or investor deadline can wait the longer Type 2 timeline. The full math is on the Type 1 vs Type 2 page.
How long does SOC 2 take?+
Type 1: 3 to 6 months end-to-end. Type 2: 9 to 12 months for first-time programmes (readiness 2 to 3 months, observation 3 to 6 months, fieldwork and reporting 1 to 2 months). Subsequent annual cycles compress to 6 to 9 months because readiness drops out. Acceleration to 4 to 5 months adds 20 to 30 percent to the audit fee. The full timeline shape, with month-by-month spend, is on the timeline page.
Is SOC 2 legally required?+
SOC 2 is not legally mandated. It is customer-required in B2B SaaS, particularly where the buyer is regulated, and investor-required at series A or B fundraises. Compare with HIPAA or PCI DSS, which are obligation-driven. SOC 2 is an AICPA-administered attestation, performed by licensed CPA firms.
Do I need ISO 27001 or SOC 2?+
Market-driven. US-leaning customer base: SOC 2 is the dominant signal. EU/UK/international: ISO 27001 is the structured ISMS expectation. Both within 12 months: concurrent programmes save 30 to 40 percent on combined fees. The combined budget math is on the SOC 2 vs ISO 27001 page.
How much does SOC 2 cost for a startup?+
For a 10 to 50 employee SaaS pursuing first-time SOC 2, year-one budgets typically sit at £20,000 to £50,000 via the platform-led path (Sprinto, Comp AI, or similar entry-tier) and £30,000 to £70,000 via the manual path. The dominant cost lines are the audit fee, readiness, and either platform fee or equivalent senior-engineering hours. Three sub-brackets by headcount are on the startup cost page.
What does a SOC 2 readiness assessment cost?+
Standalone readiness from a consultant typically runs £8,000 to £20,000 for a 25 to 50 employee SaaS. Platform-included gap analysis is often £0 incremental. Where the readiness reveals significant gaps, remediation can run 5 to 10x the readiness fee itself, ranging £10,000 to £85,000 depending on starting maturity. The three workstreams (gap analysis, readiness proper, remediation) are separated on the readiness cost page.
How much does a Big 4 SOC 2 audit cost?+
Big 4 SOC 2 audits typically start at £100,000 for a contained scope and run well into six figures for multi-entity programmes. Mid-tier and regional CPA firms run £25,000 to £60,000 for typical SaaS scope. Boutique CPAs specialising in SOC 2 run £12,000 to £35,000 at startup stage. The premium for Big 4 pays back only where downstream buyers require the signatory by name.
Does SOC 2 expire?+
A SOC 2 report covers a stated period (typically 12 months for Type 2). Customers expect annual renewal. SOC 2 has no formal surveillance audit unlike ISO 27001. Each annual report is essentially a re-audit, with year-2 audit fees typically 80 to 90 percent of year 1. Lapsed reports beyond 12 months are typically rejected by enterprise procurement.
How many trust services criteria do I need?+
Security is mandatory. The other four (Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy) are optional and customer-driven. Each adds roughly 18 percent to audit fees and proportionate readiness time. Most B2B SaaS reports include Security plus Confidentiality (about 70 percent), with Availability added where uptime SLAs are contractual (about 30 to 40 percent). Privacy and Processing Integrity are less common.
Can I do SOC 2 without Vanta or Drata?+
Yes. The audit firm is non-negotiable, but the platform is not. DIY means in-house readiness, in-house evidence collection, in-house policy work plus a CPA audit. Total all-in cost lands comparable to a platform-led path. The trade-off is FTE concentration on a senior security or engineering lead. Below 20 to 30 employees, DIY usually wins on cash; above 50, the platform path usually pays back.
How much does SOC 2 cost in year 2?+
Year 2 typically runs at 60 to 70 percent of year 1 all-in cost. Audit fee runs 80 to 90 percent of year 1. Readiness drops out entirely. Remediation drops out unless scope creep adds new controls. Platform subscription persists. Internal time falls to 150 to 250 hours from 300 to 500. Year-3 budgets often blow out 15 to 20 percent due to scope expansion at renewal.
When does this page update?+
Cost ranges on this site update only when the underlying reality changes. Triggers include AICPA SOC 2 standards revision, audit-firm fee inflation greater than 10 percent across a 12- month sample, GRC platform pricing tier changes, or new market entrants at a different price point. We do not perform cosmetic date bumps. Each substantive revision is logged with the date on the updated page.