How to prepare for a SOC 2 Type 2 audit
Type 2 tests whether your controls actually operated over months, not just existed on one day. Preparing means running the program, not cramming for it.
Type 1 versus Type 2
| Aspect | Type 1 | Type 2 |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | Controls designed at a point in time | Controls operating over a period |
| Period | A single date | Typically 3 to 12 months |
| Evidence | Control design | Repeated operation across the period |
| Weight | A starting point | What most customers actually want |
Type 2 is harder because you cannot fake a period. The auditor samples evidence across the whole observation window, so a control has to have genuinely operated month after month - which is why continuous evidence collection matters so much.
How to prepare
- 1Scope the Trust Services Criteria relevant to your service - security is required, others as applicable.
- 2Map each criterion to the controls that satisfy it.
- 3Remediate gaps before the observation period starts, not during it.
- 4Operate the controls consistently across the full period.
- 5Collect evidence continuously so the auditor sample is already there.
- 6Run a readiness check before the auditor arrives.
The Trust Services Criteria
- Security - required in every SOC 2, covering protection against unauthorized access.
- Availability - whether the system meets uptime commitments.
- Processing integrity - whether processing is complete, valid, and accurate.
- Confidentiality - protection of information designated confidential.
- Privacy - how personal information is collected, used, and retained.
How SentriAI gets you audit-ready
- SOC 2 evidence automation collects evidence continuously across the observation period.
- Continuous control monitoring proves controls operated month after month, not just once.
- A control-to-evidence mapping ties each Trust Services Criterion to living evidence.
- An auditor portal lets the auditor sample from a tamper-evident record directly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2?
Type 1 assesses whether controls are designed appropriately at a single point in time. Type 2 assesses whether they actually operated effectively over a period, typically three to twelve months. Type 2 is what most customers want, because it proves controls worked continuously rather than existing on one day.
How long is a SOC 2 Type 2 observation period?
Usually three to twelve months. A first report often covers a shorter window like three months, with subsequent reports covering a full year. During the period the auditor samples evidence throughout, so controls must genuinely operate the entire time - you cannot backfill a period after the fact.
What are the SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria?
They are the five categories a SOC 2 can cover: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Security is required in every SOC 2; the others are included based on what you commit to customers. You scope which criteria apply and map controls to each.
How do I collect evidence for a SOC 2 Type 2?
Continuously, throughout the observation period, because the auditor samples across the whole window. Collecting evidence as controls operate - rather than gathering it at the end - means the sample the auditor needs already exists. This is exactly what continuous control monitoring and evidence automation are built to do.
Stay in the loop
One practical finance briefing a week - new guides, checklists, and benchmarks.
Pass Type 2 by running the program
SentriAI operates controls and collects evidence across the whole period. Free to start, no card required.
Talk to us