What a SOC 2 Audit Costs
SOC 2 has three separate costs that are often quoted as one: getting ready, the audit itself, and staying compliant afterwards. Providers listed here support the readiness half; the audit must be performed by an independent CPA firm.
What moves the price
Type I vs Type II
Type I assesses design at a point in time. Type II assesses operation over a period, usually three to twelve months, and costs meaningfully more. Most enterprise customers asking for SOC 2 mean Type II.
Trust services criteria
Security alone is the cheapest scope. Adding availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, or privacy expands both readiness work and audit fees.
Starting point
A company with documented processes and centralised identity gets to audit far faster than one starting from nothing. Readiness work, not the audit, is where the cost varies most.
Recurring cost
SOC 2 is not one-off. Type II requires an audit each period, plus continuous evidence collection. Budget it as an annual line, not a project.
Common questions
Can our managed IT provider issue the report?
No. The report has to come from an independent CPA firm. A provider can prepare you for it, implement controls, and gather evidence, but cannot audit work it performed itself.
How long does it take?
Readiness commonly takes two to four months. A Type II observation window then runs three to twelve months on top. If a customer needs proof sooner, Type I is the usual interim answer.
Is compliance automation software enough on its own?
It removes a large amount of manual evidence collection, which is real value. It does not decide what your controls should be, and it does not talk to the auditor for you.
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