Introduction

If you are a B2B company preparing for SOC 2 Compliance, one of your first questions is likely: how long does SOC 2 take? It’s a practical concern — your Audit timeline impacts product releases, vendor contracts & even sales cycles. But there’s no single answer. The timeline for SOC 2 depends on multiple factors, including your organisation’s current security posture, documentation, team capacity & whether you are pursuing Type 1 or Type 2 Compliance. This article breaks down those factors so you can build a realistic plan.

Understanding the SOC 2 Compliance Journey

Before diving into how long does SOC 2 take, let’s outline what the journey involves. SOC 2, developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants [AICPA], is an Audit Framework that assesses how well your organisation manages Customer Data. The five (5) Trust Services Criteria — security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality & Privacy — form the basis of the evaluation.

The path to SOC 2 typically includes:

• Readiness assessment
• Gap remediation
• Evidence Collection
• Audit by an independent firm
• Report issuance

This roadmap can take anywhere from three (3) to twelve (12) months depending on the level of maturity & resource allocation.

What Factors Affect How Long SOC 2 Takes?

The answer to how long does SOC 2 take largely depends on:

• Current security maturity: Do you already have controls in place?
• Type of Audit: SOC 2 Type 1 reviews a point-in-time snapshot. Type 2 evaluates control effectiveness over a period of three (3) to twelve (12) months.
• Internal resources: Dedicated Compliance staff or external consultants can make a huge difference.
• Technology stack: Using modern cloud services can simplify control implementation & evidence gathering.

SOC 2 Readiness Assessment: First Step to Estimate Time

The readiness assessment is a pre-Audit checkup. It usually takes two (2) to four (4) weeks. This stage helps uncover missing Policies, ineffective Access Controls or unclear responsibilities.

Skipping this step often leads to extended remediation & missed Audit deadlines. If you are wondering how long does SOC 2 take, this assessment is where you’ll get your first time estimate.

Gap Remediation: Where Most Delays Happen

This phase is often the most time-consuming part of the entire process. Gaps could include:

• Lack of formalised Security Policies
• Missing backup & recovery plans
• Incomplete vendor Risk Assessments

Depending on the severity, remediation can take anywhere from four (4) to sixteen (16) weeks. Proactive planning & team alignment are key to avoiding bottlenecks.

Audit Period for SOC 2 Type 1 vs SOC 2 Type 2

A major factor when asking how long does SOC 2 take is whether you’re pursuing:

• SOC 2 Type 1: Assesses control design at a specific point in time, typically completed within one (1) to two (2) months.
• SOC 2 Type 2: Assesses how well controls operate over a set period, usually three (3) to twelve (12) months.

Therefore, a Type 2 report naturally requires more time because of its extended audit window.

Compare SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2

Choosing the Right SOC 2 Auditor & Timeline

Auditor selection can also influence how long your SOC 2 takes. Reputable auditors often have waiting lists, & onboarding could take several weeks.

When choosing an auditor:

• Confirm their availability
• Check industry experience
• Align on report scope & schedule

Some auditors can fast-track the process if you have completed a thorough readiness phase.

How to Speed Up your SOC 2 Timeline?

If you are under pressure & asking how long does SOC 2 take in the fastest possible scenario, here are some ways to accelerate:

• Use automation tools to speed up control mapping, Evidence Collection & Audit readiness.
• Assign clear ownership for every trust criteria
• Automate Evidence Collection
• Conduct internal audits before the external one

With these strategies, some startups have achieved Type 1 Compliance in as little as six (6) weeks.

Common Roadblocks That Extend SOC 2 Duration

Here are common pitfalls that can delay your SOC 2 journey:

• Unclear security ownership within teams
• Over-reliance on spreadsheets & manual tasks
• Lack of documentation & outdated Policies
• Incomplete or scattered Audit evidence

Most of these challenges can be prevented through early planning & the use of proper tools.

Explore Audit Preparation Tips from Cloud Security Alliance

Is There a Shortcut to SOC 2? Automation Tools Explained

Automation platforms help reduce the time it takes to achieve SOC 2 Compliance by:

• Mapping controls automatically
• Collecting real-time Audit evidence
• Managing Policies & training in one place

While tools don’t eliminate human involvement, they do shorten manual workloads & reduce errors — speeding up both readiness & Audit phases.

Takeaways

• The answer to how long does SOC 2 take depends on scope, controls maturity & Audit type.
• The typical timeline spans anywhere from three (3) to twelve (12) months.
• SOC 2 Type 1 is completed more quickly, whereas Type 2 requires more time because it involves an extended audit period.
• Planning, automation & experienced auditors can significantly shorten the process.
• Most delays occur during the gap remediation phase due to incomplete controls or unclear Policies.

FAQ

Need help? 

Neumetric provides organisations the necessary help to achieve their Cybersecurity, Compliance, Governance, Privacy, Certifications & Pentesting goals. 

Organisations & Businesses, specifically those which provide SaaS & AI Solutions, usually need a Cybersecurity Partner for meeting & maintaining the ongoing Security & Privacy needs & requirements of their Clients & Customers. 

SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, NIST, HIPAA, HECVAT, EU GDPR are some of the Frameworks that are served by Fusion – a centralised, automated, AI-enabled SaaS Solution created & managed by Neumetric. 

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