Your business needs to achieve and sustain SOC 2 compliance to maximize trust and win more deals. You cannot do that without a qualified auditor who understands your controls and your industry.
The AICPA’s AT-C 205 rules require an independent, CPA-licensed firm to test whether your controls meet all five SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Passing the audit earns an assurance report your customers can rely on.
Table of Contents
- Definition and Framework
- Why You Need a SOC 2 Auditor
- The Five Trust Services Criteria
- Auditor Qualification Checklist
- Key Questions to Ask Prospective Auditors
- Audit Timeline and Pricing Benchmarks
- Technology Alignment and Evidence Collection
- Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- How Trustero Simplifies Auditor Collaboration
- Frequently Asked Questions
Definition and Framework
A SOC 2 audit examines whether your company operates the right controls, as defined by the AICPA. Success proves that you protect customer data and keep services available when customers need them. Audits are performed only by licensed CPA firms that specialise in technology risk.
The Five Trust Services Criteria
Security – Prevents unauthorized access to systems and data.
Availability – Keeps your service online when customers need it.
Processing Integrity – Ensures data is processed completely and accurately.
Confidentiality – Protects sensitive business information from exposure.
Privacy – Governs how personal data is collected, used, and stored.
Why You Need a SOC 2 Auditor
A credible auditor verifies that your controls match the criteria above, then issues a report you can share with customers and partners. Accounting firms created the SOC framework to uphold public trust. Their audit teams now include specialists in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and incident response—critical elements of SOC 2 compliance.
Auditor Qualification Checklist
- SOC 2 accreditation and proven experience in your industry
- Dedicated audit team, not part-time staffers
- Transparent pricing and clear engagement letter
- Modern audit platform with secure evidence sharing
- Positive, independent customer references
Key Questions to Ask Prospective Auditors
- Do you have direct experience with businesses like ours?
- How deep is your SOC 2 track record in our vertical?
- Can we speak to references without you on the call?
- What resources will you provide before the first audit?
- What tools do you use to collect and test evidence?
Audit Timeline and Pricing Benchmarks
- Prep phase – 30–60 days to gather evidence and finalise policies.
- Type I fieldwork – 2–4 weeks on-site or remote, budget 15–25 k USD.
- Type II engagement – 3–12-month observation window, budget 25–50 k USD.
- Trustero advantage – Customers cut prep time by about 40 percent, based on more than 150 completed projects.
Technology Alignment and Evidence Collection
- Map your cloud, ticketing, and HR tools to the auditor’s evidence list.
- Automate daily control tests so logs flow straight into an audit-ready dashboard.
- Use secure read-only API connections instead of screenshots.
- Trustero integrates with AWS, Azure, GCP, Okta, Jira, and more, giving auditors real-time data without extra requests.
Full guide: https://trustero.com/resources/blog/soc-2-compliance-more-qs-and-as-with-audit-expert-liam-collins
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Data-integrity gaps – Schedule automated log reviews and alerts.
- Scope creep – Freeze controls in a signed engagement letter.
- Weak audit culture – Assign an executive sponsor and hold weekly progress huddles.
- Spreadsheet chaos – Centralise tasks, evidence, and status in one platform like Trustero.
How Trustero Simplifies Auditor Collaboration
SOC 2 compliance is a critical foundation for robust cybersecurity and transparent processes. Trustero Compliance as a Service streamlines the audit by:
- Providing pre-mapped intelligent controls and auditor-vetted policies
- Automating evidence collection across cloud and SaaS systems
- Offering a single dashboard that you and your auditor can use together
See the PIMLOC case study for real-world results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a SOC 2 auditor?
A licensed CPA firm that tests your controls against the SOC 2 criteria and issues an independent assurance report.
How long does a SOC 2 audit take?
Prep work takes one to two months, Type I fieldwork about three weeks, and a Type II observation period three to twelve months.
How much does a SOC 2 audit cost?
Budget 15–25 k USD for a Type I report and 25–50 k USD for a Type II report, plus internal staff time.
Do we need a Type I or a Type II report?
Type I proves control design at a point in time, Type II proves control operation over time. Most enterprise buyers ask for Type II.
Can software speed up SOC 2 readiness?
Yes. Platforms like Trustero automate control testing, evidence collection, and policy mapping, cutting prep time by about forty percent.
Need a shortlist of pre-vetted auditors? Book a 15-minute Trustero walkthrough and see how we cut audit prep time in half.