Your first SOC2 audit in 90 days - is it realistic or just marketing?

Your first SOC2 audit in 90 days - is it realistic or just marketing?

In theory - yes. In practice - only under very specific conditions: a limited audit scope, mature security processes, a high level of automation, and close collaboration with an experienced auditor. For most companies, a realistic timeframe is between three and twelve months. Promises of “SOC 2 certification in 90 days” are more of a marketing slogan than a credible implementation plan.

What is SOC 2 and why has it become so important?

SOC 2 is an independent audit performed by a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that evaluates an organization’s systems against the Trust Services Criteria (TSC). These criteria cover five areas: Security (mandatory), Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.

A Type I report assesses the design of controls at a specific point in time, while a Type II report examines both the design and the operational effectiveness of those controls over a defined period—typically six to twelve months.

Over the past few years, SOC 2 has become a key standard in B2B relationships. Increasingly, business partners demand a SOC 2 report as part of vendor due diligence, often before a contract is even signed. For many technology providers, a missing report can delay or even block a deal.

What actually determines how fast you can get compliant?

The scope of the audit is the single most important factor. The narrower and more clearly defined the scope, the faster the process. Conversely, a broad scope involving complex services, multiple technologies, or large-scale operations can significantly extend the audit timeline.

Next comes organizational readiness. Companies lacking standardized security policies, access management procedures, or a mobile device management (MDM) system will face major delays. That’s why most auditors recommend starting with a readiness assessment—a gap analysis that identifies weaknesses before the actual audit begins.

Automation is another time-saver. Modern compliance platforms can accelerate evidence collection and tracking, but they can’t replace real security processes. Automation streamlines workflows, yet procedural gaps—especially in documentation—can still slow everything down.

Finally, the quality of the auditor plays a crucial role. Choosing the right partner directly impacts the credibility of your report. The audit team should not only be licensed CPAs but also hold relevant certifications such as CISA, CITP, CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CEH, or CDPSE, possess deep technical expertise, and understand your industry. Transparent engagement terms and strong communication are equally important.

Be wary of suspiciously cheap offers—especially those around $3,000–$5,000 for a Type I report. These often come from so-called “report mills,” producing low-quality documents that enterprise clients frequently reject.

Costs and workload: facts, not promises

Achieving SOC 2 compliance requires time, money, and commitment. Typical auditor fees range from $7,000 to $50,000, depending on the complexity of your environment and the number of TSC categories covered. In addition, compliance automation tools can cost between $5,000 and $20,000 per year.

Organizations starting from scratch should plan for 100–300 hours of internal work, and once you factor in audit fees, technical implementations, and remediation, total project costs often exceed $75,000.

Industry experts generally agree that any quote below $10,000 for a full, reliable audit is unrealistic. Boutique firms typically charge around $15,000, representing roughly 100 hours of auditor time.

What’s actually inside a SOC 2 report?

A SOC 2 Type II report often runs several hundred pages and includes:

• a management assertion,

• the auditor’s opinion,

• a detailed description of the system,

• mapping of controls to the TSC criteria, and

• results of control testing to confirm their operational effectiveness.

Clients care not only about what’s in the report but also how current it is—it’s valid for 12 months from the end of the audit period—and how relevant its scope is to the services in question. A rushed, low-quality report often fails scrutiny during enterprise procurement reviews.

Should you start with Type II?

For organizations new to compliance, it’s wiser to begin with a SOC 2 Type I audit. It verifies whether controls are designed properly and prepares your team for a full Type II engagement in the next cycle.

If your company already has mature processes, you can go straight to Type II—but avoid short observation windows. Reports covering fewer than six months are often viewed as less credible.

What could a realistic 90-day plan look like?

Assuming your controls are already implemented, a four-phase plan might work:

• Weeks 1–2: Define the audit scope and address any missing components.

• Weeks 2–6: Implement remaining technical controls.

• Weeks 7–9: Conduct a gap analysis and an internal mock audit to prepare for auditor interviews.

• Weeks 9–13: Operate your system in a stable state, collect evidence, complete the SOC 2 Type I audit, and issue the final report.

However, it’s not feasible to produce a SOC 2 Type II report within this timeframe—proving control effectiveness requires at least six months of operational evidence. While such an accelerated Type I plan is possible, 90 days is the absolute minimum, achievable only under ideal conditions.

When the fast track becomes a liability

A compressed timeline can backfire. Rushing through the process makes little sense if your scope is too broad or if you’re still implementing basic security controls such as logging or mobile device management.

In such cases, a fast-track audit may result in rejection by enterprise clients, forcing you to repeat the process and incur additional costs. That’s why most experts recommend avoiding “quick-win” approaches when long-term credibility is the goal.

Why doing it right matters more than doing it fast

For technology and SaaS companies, SOC 2 is no longer just a marketing checkbox—it’s a business requirement. Studies show that 78% of buyers demand a SOC 2 report before signing a contract, and 29% of companies admit they’ve lost deals because they didn’t have one.

A well-executed audit becomes a sales enabler, speeding up due diligence and building trust. Conversely, a poor-quality report can damage credibility and hinder access to enterprise markets.

Summary

Achieving SOC 2 compliance in 90 days is possible—but only under exceptional circumstances. For most organizations, a three-stage approach is far more realistic:

1. Conduct a gap analysis,

2. Complete a Type I audit, and

3. Progress to a Type II audit with a six-month observation period.

Success depends on a clearly defined scope, a thorough readiness assessment, automation of evidence collection, and collaboration with an experienced auditor familiar with your industry.

In short, treat promises of a “90-day SOC 2 report”—especially Type II—as a red flag. It’s far better to build a solid compliance foundation that yields a credible report and genuine competitive advantage than to rush through the process and end up with a document that fails enterprise validation.