PW-SOC2-002
90-day Type 1 checklist
A founder-paced plan from scope to fieldwork.
Own the observation window · Educational
First SOC 2 readiness for seed startups
Own the observation window—from deal pressure to Type 1 fieldwork to Type 2.
Start 90-day Type 1 checklist SOC 2 readiness hub
ProofWindow publishes educational guides for seed and Series A founders on first SOC 2—Type 1 vs Type 2, weekly evidence rhythm, control owners, cost, and what to send procurement while the report is still in progress.
TL;DR. Treat readiness as an operating rhythm, not a binder. Scope Security, assign owners, collect evidence weekly, engage an auditor on purpose, and plan Type 2 the day Type 1 stops being the finish line.
Start here
PW-SOC2-013
When to start
Deal pressure vs premature theater.
PW-SOC2-006
Engage auditor
Engagement letter before the report — scope, fees, responsibilities.
PW-SOC2-005
Week-2 procurement packet
Honest in-progress status buyers can review.
Also
COMPARE
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Balanced GRC orientation—no live affiliate claims.
Who writes this
ProofWindow Editorial maintains ProofWindow. Guides are research-assisted and human-edited for restraint, working links, and honesty about unknowns. We are not a GRC vendor. See editorial standards and disclosures.
Questions founders ask
Who is ProofWindow for?
Seed and Series A SaaS founders preparing a first SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2—not enterprise GRC teams replacing their program.
Is this audit advice?
No. Educational content only. Engage qualified auditors and counsel for your facts.
Where should I start?
Start the 90-day Type 1 checklist, use the readiness hub for Decide → Operate → Engage → Answer buyers, and keep a week-2 procurement packet ready while the report is in progress.
Sources
Cost and timeline figures on this site are educational planning ranges, not quotes from AICPA, CSA, Shared Assessments, or any auditor.
- primary SOC 2 — SOC for Service Organizations: Trust Services Criteria — AICPA & CIMA — Official SOC 2 topic landing; defines SOC 2 as examination of controls relevant to TSC categories.
- practitioner ProofWindow educational planning ranges — ProofWindow Editorial — Internal: cost/timeline bands are editorial planning language, not a surveyed dataset. Label Unknown for hard dollars; never attribute invented figures to AICPA/CSA/SA.
Ready for the founder path?
Open the 90-day Type 1 checklist—then use the hub for evidence, engagement, procurement, and Type 2 handoff. Verify everything with your auditor.