When to hire a SOC2 consultant vs going it alone?

When to hire a SOC2 consultant vs going it alone?

The short answer: hire a consultant if you’re aiming for a SOC 2 Type II report, are working under tight deadlines, or lack mature processes, policies, and monitoring tools. Going solo makes sense if your team already has the right experience, operates within a well-structured environment, and the audit scope is limited to the core security criteria.

Why this decision matters?

SOC 2 is an attestation process based on the Trust Services Criteria (TSC) developed by the AICPA. It covers five key principles: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Each organization selects the areas most relevant to its operations.

A Type I report evaluates the design and implementation of controls at a specific point in time, while a Type II report examines how effectively those controls operate over a period of six to twelve months. In practice, most clients require a Type II report because it demonstrates that security practices are not just designed, but consistently maintained.

It’s important to note that a SOC 2 audit can only be conducted by a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or a CPA-affiliated audit firm. The process is rigorous and time-consuming, so proper preparation is essential for a successful outcome.

When hiring a consultant makes sense?

Most organizations bring in a SOC 2 consultant when they face tight deadlines or need to obtain a Type II report quickly. A consultant can efficiently identify gaps in policies, procedures, and evidence collection, then develop a clear remediation plan to close those gaps.

Hiring an expert is also invaluable when a company lacks strong security governance foundations or operates in a complex cloud environment. This includes areas such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and enforcing the principle of least privilege. Consultants also help implement centralized logging, continuous monitoring, and well-defined incident response (IR) and disaster recovery (DR) plans. By integrating these elements into a cohesive framework, they help organizations accelerate readiness for audit.

Moreover, a consultant becomes essential when a company wants to move into operational compliance mode—that is, maintaining compliance continuously rather than treating it as a one-time project. In such cases, a fractional consulting model offers the best of both worlds: ongoing access to expert support without the cost of a full-time hire.

Cost is another major factor. A seasoned in-house security specialist can cost two to three times more than an average IT employee. Fractional consultants help control expenses by providing high-level expertise only when it’s needed, offering a far more flexible cost structure.

Finally, as cloud environments and customer expectations evolve rapidly, attestation can quickly become outdated. A consultant who stays engaged long-term helps organizations adapt to these changes, keeping their security posture and documentation current.

When you can go it alone?

Not every organization needs outside help. You can go through the SOC 2 process independently if you already have an experienced security team, mature policies and procedures, a well-organized evidence management system (including screenshots, logs, configurations, and tickets), and a functioning compliance monitoring process.

This approach is most common among companies starting with a Type I report and focusing on a narrower scope—often just the Security principle. A smaller scope means a shorter preparation cycle and a lower risk of missteps. In such cases, it’s best to start with an internal gap assessment, refine your internal controls, and only later consider external assistance when moving to a Type II audit.

What a SOC 2 consultant really does?

A SOC 2 consultant does far more than offer advice. Their work typically starts with a gap analysis, identifying areas that fall short of the TSC requirements and creating a prioritized remediation plan.

Consultants help establish and optimize cloud security controls, such as enforcing MFA, implementing RBAC, restricting unnecessary privileges, and setting up centralized logging and alerts. They also assist in developing and testing incident response (IR) and disaster recovery (DR) plans, including measurable recovery metrics like RTO and RPO.

Another key contribution is helping you create a robust evidence repository—a structured collection of logs, screenshots, tickets, and documentation that your CPA auditor can review during the audit. Many consultants also deliver security awareness training, ensuring that staff understand their responsibilities and don’t become the weakest link in the compliance chain.

Perhaps most importantly, consultants provide hands-on support during the audit itself and in subsequent annual reviews, helping maintain ongoing readiness and minimizing the risk of audit failures.

The benefits of the fractional model

The fractional consulting model is becoming increasingly popular because it balances continuity and flexibility. Instead of employing a full-time compliance expert, you can retain a consultant on an ongoing basis for periodic check-ins, internal audits, policy updates, and annual audit support.

For small and medium-sized companies that don’t need a full security department, this approach offers an efficient way to sustain compliance while keeping operational costs low.

Making the right decision

Ultimately, choosing between going solo and hiring a consultant depends on a few key factors.

If your audit or client deadline is approaching and your organization lacks a mature compliance framework—such as IAM, monitoring, or IR/DR plans—then hiring a consultant is the safest and fastest option. The same applies if your company is still developing its security documentation or doesn’t have staff experienced in SOC 2 audits.

On the other hand, if you already have established processes, policies, and tools in place, and your audit scope is relatively narrow, managing the SOC 2 process internally may be entirely feasible. Starting with a Type I report is a smart way to validate your controls before moving on to the more demanding Type II audit.

Key metrics and considerations

A Type II report requires six to twelve months of continuous control operation and consistent evidence collection. This is a long and disciplined process that demands clear accountability across teams.

Additionally, hiring a full-time in-house compliance expert typically costs two to three times more than a standard IT professional. Outsourcing or using a fractional consultant allows organizations to maintain the same level of expertise at a fraction of the cost.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

One of the most common mistakes is treating SOC 2 as a simplecompliance exercise. In reality, it’s about demonstrating the maturity and effectiveness of your processes, not just documenting their existence.

Another frequent misstep is viewing SOC 2 as a one-off project. As cloud services and operational practices evolve, compliance can quickly drift. The SOC 2 journey should therefore be seen as a continuous improvement process, not a milestone to check off once and forget.

It’s also a mistake to assume that the IT department can fully handle compliance on its own. While IT teams play a critical role, security, compliance, and risk management require dedicated expertise and governance that extend beyond pure technology.

Conclusion

Hire a consultant when time is limited, your goal is a Type II report, and your organization still lacks the mature processes and documentation required for compliance. A fractional consultant can help you stay audit-ready year-round without inflating overhead costs.

Go it alone if your team already has the experience, policies, and infrastructure to support the audit internally. Starting with a Type I report is often the best way to test your readiness before advancing to Type II.

In the end, the question isn’t whether to hire a consultant—it’s when. The more complex your environment and the greater the time pressure, the more valuable an external partner becomes in helping you navigate the SOC 2 journey with confidence and efficiency.