Key Takeaways:
- A SOC 2 examination can only be issued by a licensed CPA firm, so verify credentials before you engage.
- Pricing, timelines, and scope vary significantly between firms, so get itemized quotes and realistic timelines in writing.
- Ask who performs the actual fieldwork, not just who sells the engagement.
- Reference calls with former clients reveal how a firm handles delays and scope changes, which is information you won’t get from a sales deck.
Choosing a SOC 2 auditor is one of the more consequential vendor decisions a growing SaaS company makes. The report becomes the credential your sales team leans on in every security review, so the firm behind it matters as much as the framework itself. Here are nine things to evaluate before you sign an engagement letter.
1. Confirm they’re a licensed CPA firm.
A SOC 2 examination can only be issued by a licensed CPA firm operating under AICPA attestation standards. Some vendors market “SOC 2 readiness” or “SOC 2 consulting” without holding this license, which means they can prepare you for the examination but can’t issue the report. Ask directly for the firm’s CPA license number and state of registration.
2. Ask how many SaaS clients they’ve examined.
A firm that primarily audits financial institutions will approach your engagement differently than the one that lives in SaaS every day. Ask for examples of companies your size and in your industry that they’vetaken through a SOC 2 examination in the past year.
3. Understand their pricing model upfront.
Costs vary widely based on scope, trust services categories included, and whether you’re pursuing a Type 1 or Type 2 report. Get a clear, itemized quote before you commit, and ask what could trigger additional fees mid-engagement.
4. Ask about typical timelines.
A Type 1 report can often be issued within weeks of readiness work wrapping up. A Type 2 report requires an observation period, typically three to 12 months, before the auditor can test controls over time. Your auditor should give you a realistic timeline based on your current control maturity, not a marketing timeline designed to close the sale.
5. Look for industry-specific experience.
If you handle healthcare data, financial data, or government contracts, ask whether the firm has experience layering SOC 2 with frameworks like HITRUST® or FedRAMP®. A firm that understands your regulatory landscape will scope the engagement more accurately the first time.
6. Ask who actually performs the fieldwork.
Some firms sell the engagement through a business development team and then hand fieldwork to junior staff you’ve never spoken with. Ask who your primary point of contact will be during testing and whether that person has hands-on SOC 2 experience.
7. Evaluate their approach to multi-framework compliance.
If SOC 2 is your first framework but likely won’t be your last, ask how the firm handles control mapping across frameworks like ISO 27001 or HITRUST. A firm with an integrated approach can save you from re-answering the same questions for every new audit.
8. Check their communication style during the sales process.
How an auditor communicates before the contract is signed tends to predict how they’ll communicate during testing. Are they answering your questions directly, or deflecting to a follow-up call? Are they explaining the process clearly or leaning on jargon?
9. Ask for references and actually call them.
A reference call takes 20 minutes and can save you months of frustration. Ask former clients how the firm handled delays, scope changes, or disagreements about control design. That’s where you’ll learn what the engagement is really like.
Hiring the right SOC 2 auditor comes down to fit, transparency, and experience with companies like yours. Take the time to vet these nine areas before you sign, and you’ll avoid the surprises that turn a straightforward examination into a drawn-out one.
360 Advanced is a licensed CPA firm and accredited SOC 2 examination provider for SaaS and technology companies nationwide.
The AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria define the standards every SOC 2 examination is measured against.
