In this guide
When a customer asks for "your SOC 2," they rarely say which kind they mean. There are two, and the difference matters for your timeline and your budget.
Type I: designed right, at a point in time
A SOC 2 Type I report attests that your controls are designed appropriately as of a specific date. It is a snapshot. An independent auditor confirms the controls exist and are set up correctly.
Type I is faster to reach, because there is no monitoring period to wait through. It is a credible first step that tells a customer you have done the work, and it is often enough to unblock an early deal.
Type II: operating effectively, over time
A SOC 2 Type II report goes further. It attests that your controls operated effectively over a period, commonly three to twelve months. The auditor samples evidence across that window, so you cannot stand up controls the week before.
Type II is what larger enterprise buyers usually want, because it proves the controls are lived rather than just drawn.
How to choose
- A deal is waiting now. Start with Type I to show design, then follow with Type II over a monitoring period.
- You are selling up-market. Plan for Type II, and ask the buyer which Trust Services Criteria they need.
- You already run ISO 27001. The control sets overlap heavily, so you can reuse a lot of the work.
The criteria themselves are scoped to what you promise customers. Security is required. Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity and Privacy are added based on your commitments.
Where Singahi fits
We scope the criteria with you, close the gaps, and stand up the evidence collection your auditor needs, for Type I or Type II. An independent CPA firm issues the attestation. We get you ready and keep you ready.