SOC 2 Type 1 and SOC 2 Type 2 are two ways of answering the same question from your customers. Can they trust you with their data. Type 1 proves that your controls are designed well at a specific moment in time. Type 2 proves that those same controls keep working in real life, month after month. For a modern SaaS or service provider, both matter at different stages of growth and Certifyi helps you move from a one off snapshot to a continuous, automated compliance program that actually supports sales instead of slowing it down.
Why SOC 2 Matters More Than Ever
Security reviews are now a standard part of almost every B2B deal. Customers know that incidents are not rare events, they are a question of when and how bad. SOC 2 gives them an independent view of how seriously you manage that reality.
SOC 2 was created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to answer a simple but hard question. Does this service organization protect data according to the Trust Services Criteria for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. A SOC 2 report is not a logo you paste in a footer, it is a detailed attestation from an independent auditor that looks at how you design and run your controls, and that is why buyers, regulators and insurers rely on it.
SOC 2 Type 1: Your Security Blueprint Snapshot
SOC 2 Type 1 focuses on your control design at a single point in time. An auditor looks at your policies, procedures, architecture and configurations on a specific date and asks a clear question. Are these controls suitably designed to meet the chosen Trust Services Criteria right now. There is no requirement yet to show that you have been following these controls for months, only that they exist and are implemented sensibly.
This makes Type 1 faster and lighter than Type 2. Once your policies and systems are ready, the formal engagement often takes a matter of weeks, and many organizations complete the whole journey in one to three months, depending on size and scope. Costs are typically lower as well, because auditors are testing a snapshot instead of months of operational evidence. For an early stage team, or for a company that has recently overhauled its security stack, Type 1 is often the first meaningful proof of seriousness that can be shared with customers.
Think of Type 1 as your security blueprint review. The house is on paper, the structure makes sense, and an expert has signed off that the design is sound. What it does not yet prove is how that house behaves when people move in, when the weather turns bad, or when something breaks at three in the morning.
SOC 2 Type 2: Proving Real World Discipline
SOC 2 Type 2 goes further by answering a harder question. Not only are your controls well designed, but do they actually work as intended over time. Instead of a single date, the report covers a period, usually three to twelve months, during which the auditor samples real evidence like access reviews, change management tickets, log data, incident records and monitoring alerts
Because a Type 2 report shows how your controls perform under real conditions, it provides a higher level of assurance and carries more weight with risk conscious buyers. Enterprise security teams and procurement departments increasingly expect a recent Type 2 report before they will approve a vendor for sensitive or business critical workloads. The tradeoff is effort. You need sustained discipline, continuous evidence and more auditor time, which is why Type 2 usually takes longer and costs more than Type 1.
If Type 1 is a blueprint check, Type 2 is the long term inspection. It looks at whether the alarms stay armed, whether doors remain locked after midnight and whether your team responds consistently when something looks wrong.
Type 1 vs Type 2: What Really Changes
Both report types use the same Trust Services Criteria and both come from independent auditors, but they answer different needs at different points in your growth.
Time frame is the first key difference. Type 1 is a snapshot at one point in time while Type 2 is a movie of your environment over several months. As a result, the evidence story changes from showing design and configuration to showing patterns and consistency. A well written Type 2 report will highlight how regularly you review access, how quickly you respond to incidents and whether you follow your own procedures when things change.
Buyer perception changes as well. A Type 1 report is a strong signal for smaller customers, early adopters or partners who just want assurance that your foundation is not improvised. For sophisticated buyers, especially in finance, healthcare and critical SaaS infrastructure, a Type 2 report is often treated as the price of admission. Many will accept Type 1 only as an interim step if there is a clear plan and timeline for achieving Type 2.
Cost and effort scale accordingly. Type 1 is usually less expensive and easier on your team. Type 2 requires months of internal work, more involvement from engineering, security and operations and a higher audit fee. The upside is that a strong Type 2 can shorten security reviews, reduce follow up questions and unlock deals that would otherwise stall.
How Certifyi Turns SOC 2 Into A System, Not A One Off Project
Most of the pain in SOC 2 comes from the manual work. Gathering screenshots, exporting logs, keeping track of who did what and when and then repeating the same effort every year. Certifyi exists to remove that friction and turn compliance into an automated, continuous capability.
Certifyi connects to your cloud platforms, identity providers and business tools so that evidence collection happens in the background instead of through ad hoc requests. Controls are mapped to SOC 2 and to other frameworks you care about, such as ISO 27001, HIPAA, NIST AI RMF and the Secure AI Framework from Google, so every improvement can serve multiple standards at once. Real time dashboards show the health of your controls, highlight drift, and give your team time to fix issues before an auditor or customer sees them.
For organizations aiming for Type 1, this means getting from zero to audit ready quickly with guided policy templates, task lists and automated checks that confirm key controls are in place. For those targeting Type 2, continuous monitoring is critical. Certifyi supports ongoing evidence capture throughout the observation period, helping you build a clean, consistent story of operational effectiveness without overwhelming your team.
As your program matures, Certifyi also helps you communicate your posture through a dedicated trust center, making it easy for customers and partners to see up to date information without waiting for someone to reply to a long security questionnaire.
Where To Go Deeper
If you want to dig into the underlying standards and expectations behind SOC 2, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants publishes the official Trust Services Criteria and guidance that auditors use. For a more cloud centric view of how large platforms manage SOC 2 and related frameworks, providers such as Google Cloud and other major vendors maintain public trust centers that show how they handle audits, scope and shared responsibility.
Bringing those ideas into your own environment is where Certifyi makes a difference. Instead of stitching together guidance, spreadsheets and screenshots every year, you can use an AI powered, unified GRC platform to design your controls once, monitor them continuously and share your progress with customers in a way that builds real trust.
If you are deciding between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 right now, or if you want to turn your existing attestations into a repeatable engine for growth, the next step is simple. Bring your sales timeline, your current control set and your target customers to a conversation with the Certifyi team and design a path that works for where you are today and where you want to be in a year.
SOC 2 Type 1: Point‑In‑Time Snapshot Of Your Security Design
A SOC 2 Type 1 report evaluates whether your security controls are suitably designed as of a particular date (for example, “as of December 1, 2025”). Auditors review your policies, system description, and configurations to determine if your environment, on that audit date, is set up to meet the relevant Trust Services Criteria.
Key characteristics of SOC 2 Type 1
- Time frame: Single point in time (“as of” a specific date) rather than months of operation.
- Focus: Design and implementation of controls—do appropriate policies, procedures, and configurations exist right now?
- Effort & duration: Once controls and documentation are ready, a Type 1 audit usually takes 2–4 weeks, and organizations often need 1–3 months end‑to‑end to prepare.
- Cost: Commonly in the range of roughly $5,000–$25,000 depending on scope, size, and complexity.
- Output: A report describing your system, management’s assertion, and the auditor’s opinion that your controls were suitably designed as of the audit date if all goes well.
Best use cases for SOC 2 Type 1
- New to SOC 2 and want an initial level of assurance to show customers and investors.
- Under tight timelines where a prospect says “we need SOC 2 as soon as possible” and a Type 2 observation period is unrealistic.
- Recently implemented or significantly changed your security stack, with limited historical data to support a Type 2.
- Building internal confidence and using Type 1 as a dress rehearsal before committing to continuous Type 2 audits.
Think of Type 1 as validating the blueprint: the design meets expectations, but the report does not yet prove how the house behaves in real‑world, day‑to‑day use.
SOC 2 Type 2: Operational Effectiveness And Continuous Trust
SOC 2 Type 2 includes everything in Type 1 but adds the dimension that customers care about most: sustained operating effectiveness over a defined period, usually 3–12 months. During this period, auditors test real evidence—access reviews, logs, change tickets, incident records, monitoring alerts—to confirm that your controls work consistently and not just during an isolated snapshot.
Key characteristics of SOC 2 Type 2
- Time frame: A span of time (often 6–12 months for mature programs; a minimum of around 3 months for some first‑time reports).
- Focus: Design plus operating effectiveness—do your controls function as intended every day throughout the observation period?
- Effort & duration: Type 2 attestation commonly takes 9–15 months when you include preparation and the observation window, especially without automation.
- Cost: More expensive than Type 1 (often 30–50% more, and for complex environments the total can climb much higher) because auditors review a larger evidence set over time.
- Output: A report confirming that your controls were suitably designed and operated effectively across the period, plus detailed testing results and exceptions if any.
Why enterprise buyers prefer Type 2
- It demonstrates that your security is not just policy‑driven but behavior‑driven—controls work under real workloads and over months.
- Many mid‑market and enterprise procurement teams now explicitly ask for a recent Type 2 report in vendor security questionnaires.
- A fresh Type 2 can shorten due‑diligence cycles, reduce additional security documentation requests, and act as a strong competitive differentiator.
If Type 1 is the blueprint check, Type 2 is like having an inspector live with you for months, verifying that alarms stay on, doors remain locked, and monitoring alerts are handled correctly every single day.
SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2: Complete Comparison
| Aspect | SOC 2 Type 1 | SOC 2 Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Time frame | One point in time (“as of” a date) | Period of time (typically 3–12 months) |
| What’s assessed | Control design and implementation only | Design plus operating effectiveness over the period |
| Effort & duration | 1–3 months prep; ~2–4 weeks of formal audit once ready | 3–12 months observation plus audit; often 9–15 months end‑to‑end |
| Cost | Roughly $5K–$25K for many organizations | 30–50% more than Type 1 for comparable scope |
| Assurance level | “We have the right controls in place.” | “Our controls work reliably over time.” |
| Best use case | Fast validation, early‑stage growth, interim proof | Enterprise trust, regulated clients, long‑term growth |
| Customer perception | Opens doors and shows security seriousness | Seals deals and signals mature, dependable operations |
Type 1 and Type 2 are not mutually exclusive many organizations intentionally start with Type 1, then transition into an annual Type 2 cadence as they scale.
How To Choose: Type 1 vs Type 2 For Your Business
The “right” choice depends on what your stakeholders need now and how fast you must deliver proof of trust.
1. What are your customers actually asking for?
- If a large prospect explicitly requires a SOC 2 Type 2, you will eventually need Type 2 to close that deal.
- If they simply say “SOC 2,” you can often propose Type 1 as an interim step while committing to a Type 2 timeline.
- If repeated RFPs and questionnaires ask for “latest SOC 2 report,” assume Type 2 is fast becoming the default expectation in that market.
2. How fast do you need a report in hand?
- Tight deadline (weeks to a few months): Type 1 is usually the practical path because it avoids a long observation period.
- Longer runway (6–12 months before major deals): Aim directly for Type 2 so you only go through one full audit cycle and land with the stronger report.
3. What’s your budget and team capacity?
- Type 1 costs less and demands fewer internal hours, which matters for lean startups or small security teams.
- Type 2 costs more but may unlock much larger contracts, making the ROI straightforward if you’re selling into mid‑market or enterprise.
4. How mature is your security program?
- If you just rolled out key policies, access controls, and monitoring, jumping straight into Type 2 can be risky because there’s little operating history.
- If you have at least 3–6 months of consistent practice (access reviews, incident handling, vendor oversight, etc.), you may be ready to aim directly for Type 2.
5. What is your growth strategy?
- Seed/early‑stage: Use Type 1 to prove seriousness quickly, then build toward Type 2.
- Scaling or enterprise‑focused: Prioritize Type 2 as your main proof of trust and treat Type 1 only as a short‑term bridge if absolutely necessary.
How Certifyi Automates SOC 2 Type 1 And Type 2
Traditional SOC 2 prep often means manual evidence collection, spreadsheets, and last‑minute scrambling especially painful for Type 2. Certifyi replaces this with an GRC platform that automates compliance workflows, reduces manual effort, and helps you move from one‑off audits to continuous compliance.
What Certifyi does for your SOC 2 journey
- Continuous control monitoring: Real‑time dashboards show control health and highlight drift before it becomes an audit issue especially valuable for Type 2.
- Multi‑framework mapping: Manage SOC 2 alongside ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, and more from one unified platform.
- AI‑driven risk insights: Identify and prioritize high‑impact gaps so you can fix what matters most first, reducing both risk and audit friction.
- Scalability for all stages: From YC‑style early‑stage startups to global enterprises operating across jurisdictions, Certifyi adapts to your size and complexity.
With automation, many organizations cut SOC 2 prep timelines dramatically and stay “always‑ready” instead of scrambling once a year. If you want to see how this looks for your stack and customer profile, you can request a SOC 2‑focused demo from Certifyi.
FAQs About SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2
1. Can I skip SOC 2 Type 1 and go straight to Type 2?
Yes. Type 1 is not a prerequisite for Type 2; you can pursue a Type 2 directly if you can demonstrate at least several months of effective control operation. Many organizations still choose Type 1 first as a lower‑risk warm‑up and sales enabler before committing to continuous Type 2 audits.
2. How long does a SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2 usually take?
A Type 1 audit generally takes about 2–4 weeks once your documentation and controls are ready, with 1–3 months including preparation. A Type 2 often spans 9–15 months end‑to‑end because auditors must observe at least several months of evidence, especially for a first‑time report.
3. How much do SOC 2 audits cost?
Type 1 audits typically cost in the low‑five‑figure range for many SaaS providers, while Type 2 audits cost more due to longer duration and expanded evidence testing. Total cost also includes internal effort, consulting, and any compliance automation platform you use.
4. Do enterprises really require Type 2, or will Type 1 be enough?
Many enterprises either strongly prefer or explicitly require a recent Type 2 report for core or high‑risk services. Some will accept a Type 1 as an interim step if you commit to a clear Type 2 timeline and provide additional assurances while it is in progress.
5. How often should SOC 2 be renewed?
Most organizations renew SOC 2 on an annual cadence so that customers always see a report dated within the last 12 months. For Type 2, this usually means maintaining continuous controls and undergoing yearly audits covering the prior year’s period.
6. How does Certifyi help with SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2?
Certifyi automates evidence collection, centralizes policies and risks, and continuously monitors controls against SOC 2 and other frameworks, drastically reducing manual work and audit stress. This makes it easier to get Type 1 quickly, stay prepared for Type 2, and build a sustainable, scalable compliance program that supports long‑term growth.
Conclusion
Choosing between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 is not really about picking a better label, it is about choosing the level of trust you want to offer your customers and how quickly you need to offer it. Type 1 gives you a defensible, point in time story that your controls are thoughtfully designed and in place, which is powerful when you are moving fast, winning early customers, or just formalizing your security program. Type 2 builds on that foundation to show that those same controls work reliably over time in the messy reality of incidents, releases and day to day operations, which is why enterprise buyers treat it as the gold standard.
Whatever path you take first, SOC 2 should not feel like a one off project that derails your roadmap every year. It should become a system for how you operate. Certifyi turns that idea into something practical by automating evidence collection, mapping controls across frameworks, and giving you a live view of your readiness instead of a static checklist. That combination of structure and automation lets your team focus on building a great product while still meeting the expectations set by auditors, regulators and modern security conscious customers.