We implement the policies, controls, and evidence your auditor will expect — so you walk into the SOC 2 examination ready, not scrambling.
SOC 2 readiness means having the policies, controls, and evidence in place before your auditor begins their examination. A readiness programme identifies the gap between your current state and what the AICPA Trust Services Criteria require — then closes it systematically, so your audit observation period produces clean evidence from day one.
A prospect sends you a security questionnaire. Or an enterprise deal stalls because you don't have a SOC 2 report. You Google "how to get SOC 2" and discover it requires 50+ policies, continuous evidence collection, access reviews, vulnerability management cadence, vendor assessments, and an auditor relationship you have no idea how to manage.
Then you look at your team: three engineers, one part-time ops person, and a founder who is already wearing every hat. No one has done this before. The compliance platforms cost £12,000+ per year before you even start. And every consultant quote you get is hourly — with no commitment to the outcome.
That is the exact problem ProtectifyAI was built to solve. We have been on both sides of the table — we have led SOC 2 examinations at Big 4, and we have built compliance programmes inside startups. We implement the programme for you, sit across from the auditor, and charge a fixed fee tied to your certificate landing.
Full set of policies aligned to the Trust Services Criteria — tailored to your stack and team, not renamed templates.
RBAC design, joiners/movers/leavers process, MFA enforcement, and quarterly access review cadence.
Scanning cadence, remediation SLAs, penetration test scoping, and evidence packaging for auditors.
Vendor inventory, risk tiering, due diligence questionnaires, and annual review process.
Automated and manual evidence workflows, mapped to each control, ready for auditor export.
IR policy, tabletop exercise, notification procedures, and post-incident review process.
Change control process, approval workflow, and evidence trail for infrastructure and code changes.
Auditor selection support, kick-off facilitation, PBC list management, and response drafting throughout the examination.
| Phase | Duration | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Weeks 1–2 | Gap assessment, scope definition, auditor shortlisting, control mapping to Trust Services Criteria |
| 02 | Weeks 3–6 | Policy library creation, access control implementation, vendor management setup, evidence collection infrastructure |
| 03 | Weeks 7–10 | Vulnerability management cadence, incident response tabletop, change management wiring, remaining control gaps closed |
| 04 | Weeks 11–12 | Pre-audit readiness review, PBC list preparation, auditor kick-off facilitation |
| 05 | Months 3–9 | Type 2 observation period — ProtectifyAI monitors evidence quality, manages auditor queries, supports any remediation needed |
| 06 | Certificate | Examination complete, SOC 2 report issued. Outcome fee payable on certificate landing. |
| Factor | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Controls designed appropriately at a point in time | Controls operating effectively over 3–12 months |
| Time to complete | 8–12 weeks from readiness | 12–18 months from readiness |
| Accepted by enterprise buyers | Provisionally (often a stepping stone) | ✓ Standard requirement |
| Useful for early deals | ✓ Shows commitment | ✓ Full trust signal |
| ProtectifyAI recommendation | Start here if you need a report within 3 months | Target this from the outset if your timeline allows |
The 47-point checklist we use internally before every SOC 2 readiness engagement. Covers policies, controls, evidence, vendor management, and pre-audit review. Enter your email to receive it.
Outcome-based pricing — aligned to the same model on our homepage. Fixed fee, no hourly meters, no scope-creep change orders.
No hidden fees. Auditor costs are separate and quoted independently. We are vendor-neutral — Vanta, Drata, Sprinto, or no platform.
SOC 2 readiness means having the policies, controls, and evidence in place before your auditor begins their examination. A readiness assessment identifies gaps between your current state and what the AICPA Trust Services Criteria require — and a readiness programme closes those gaps before the audit clock starts.
For most AI startups starting from scratch, SOC 2 readiness takes 8–12 weeks. The observation period for SOC 2 Type 2 then runs for a further 3–12 months depending on your target audit window. The full journey from engagement start to Type 2 certificate is typically 12–18 months.
ProtectifyAI charges a fixed outcome-based fee tied to your certificate — not hourly rates. This means the price is agreed upfront and does not change regardless of how many rounds of remediation the auditor requires. Auditor fees are separate and typically range from £8,000–£25,000 depending on scope and firm.
SOC 2 Type 1 confirms controls are designed appropriately at a point in time. SOC 2 Type 2 covers an observation period (typically 3–12 months) and confirms controls operated effectively throughout. Most enterprise buyers require Type 2, but Type 1 is a useful stepping stone if you need a report urgently.
US-headquartered or US-market-focused startups typically prioritise SOC 2 first. UK and European startups often pursue ISO 27001 first. AI startups targeting both markets frequently do both — the control overlap is significant, making the second certification faster and cheaper once the first is complete.
Yes. A compliance platform automates evidence collection and reduces manual effort, but it is not required. ProtectifyAI is entirely vendor-neutral. We will recommend whether a platform makes sense based on your team size, infrastructure, and budget — and we work with whichever platform you choose, or none.
Security (Common Criteria) is mandatory. Most AI startups also include Availability and Confidentiality, as these address the questions enterprise buyers ask most often about AI systems — uptime commitments and data handling. Processing Integrity and Privacy are less common but relevant if your AI processes financial transactions or personal data at scale.
45 minutes on your actual situation. No follow-up sequences if we're not the right fit.
Book a working session →