What does SOC 2 readiness include?

Trust Services Criteria gap analysis (Security mandatory, plus Availability/Processing Integrity/Confidentiality/Privacy as applicable), policy framework and control implementation, evidence collection process (continuous, not pre-audit scramble), risk and vendor management programs, change management and access review programs, incident response and business continuity programs, and management assertion + system description authoring. Plus auditor coordination and Type 1 / Type 2 audit support.

SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2. which do I need?

Type 1 attests to controls being designed appropriately at a point in time. Type 2 attests to controls operating effectively over a period (usually 6-12 months). Customers and prospects almost always require Type 2; Type 1 is sometimes used as an interim deliverable while Type 2 evidence accumulates. Plan for Type 2 on the timeline that matters to your buyer requirements.

How long does SOC 2 take?

Type 1: 3-6 months from engagement to report. Type 2: 9-15 months total (3-6 months readiness + 6-12 month observation period + 1-2 month audit/report). Faster paths exist (point-in-time Type 1 with concurrent Type 2 observation kickoff) but most credible SOC 2 reports take 12+ months on first issuance.

What does SOC 2 cost?

Readiness: $75K-$300K depending on org size, scope (number of TSCs), and current control maturity. Auditor fees: separate, typically $25K-$80K for the Type 2 audit (we coordinate auditor selection but auditor pays go directly). Year-2 sustainment: $50K-$150K depending on scope. Recurring annual auditor fees thereafter.

Do you coordinate with the auditor?

Yes. We work with several SOC 2 audit firms regularly (Schellman, Insight Assurance, A-LIGN, Linford, others) and can recommend based on your size and budget. Auditor selection happens early so the auditor's evidence requirements drive how we collect during readiness. We sit on auditor calls during fieldwork, respond to evidence requests, and coordinate management responses to findings.

SOC 2 Compliance & Type 2 Audit Readiness | TSC-Aligned

SOC 2 readiness for SaaS and tech companies that need to actually pass

We run end-to-end SOC 2 readiness programs for SaaS, fintech, and B2B technology companies. gap analysis, control implementation, evidence-collection automation, audit coordination with the auditor of your choice, and the ongoing program work that keeps the Type 2 window clean. AICPA Trust Services Criteria aligned, SSAE-18, no template compliance theater.

For a buyer's overview of Type 1 vs Type 2 selection, see our blog: SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2. which audit do you actually need?

Who we work with

Pre-revenue SaaS closing their first enterprise contracts that require a SOC 2.
Mid-market technology companies renewing or expanding scope on existing reports.
Fintech and HealthTech running SOC 2 alongside HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or state-level requirements.
Acquirers running SOC 2 due-diligence on target companies.
MSPs and security firms who refer SOC 2 work or sub-contract delivery.

What we deliver

Gap analysis. Mapped against the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy). Output is a remediation roadmap with effort estimates and ownership assignments. not a 200-page generic checklist.
Control implementation. We write the actual controls. access provisioning, change management, vendor risk, incident response, monitoring. and stand up the operating cadence.
Policy library. Written, signed, version-controlled. The 20-30 policies your auditor will sample, drafted to your environment rather than copy-pasted.
Evidence collection. We configure Drata, Vanta, Secureframe, or Tugboat. or run continuous-compliance monitoring without one if your stack is small enough that a tool would be overkill.
Auditor selection and coordination. We have working relationships with multiple AICPA-licensed auditors at varying price points. We help you pick the right one and run the audit on your behalf.
Audit prep and PBC fulfillment. Walkthrough rehearsal with your team, pre-audit evidence review, and answering the auditor's "Provided by Client" requests in your voice without dragging your engineering team into months of compliance distraction.
Type 2 program operations. The 6-12 month observation window is where most first-time companies fail. We run the controls, fix the exceptions, and prepare the production case before the auditor walks back in.

Realistic timelines

Type 1: 8-12 weeks from kickoff to issued report (assuming clean readiness)
Type 2 (first): 9-14 months total. readiness + 3 / 6 / 12 month observation window + audit fieldwork
Type 2 (renewal): 4-6 months once steady-state

Realistic costs (US, 2026)

Type 1 audit fee: $15K-$35K + readiness work
Type 2 first audit fee: $30K-$70K + readiness + ongoing program cost
Compliance tooling (Drata, Vanta, Secureframe): $7K-$30K/year
Our readiness fee: $35K-$95K depending on scope, complexity, and starting maturity

Where projects actually slip

Auditor selection takes longer than the audit. Get an auditor under contract before you finish readiness.
Sub-service organization scoping. Cloud, payroll, identity provider. needs to be in scope or carved out with proper CUEC language.
Access provisioning vs deprovisioning. Provisioning is easy. Deprovisioning at termination plus quarterly access reviews is where Type 2s get exception findings.
Production change management. Auditors will sample tickets and look for the request → review → deploy paper trail.

What we will not do

Pretend that compliance tooling alone is a control program
Pass a Type 1 with controls we know will fail in the Type 2 window
Write policies that copy-paste from another client
Take a SOC 2 engagement when you should actually be doing ISO 27001 or HITRUST instead

Available as referral or white-label

We deliver SOC 2 readiness directly, sub-contract for security firms whose clients need a SOC 2 specialist, and partner with VC firms who run SOC 2 due-diligence across portfolios. Compensation terms negotiable per relationship.

ISO 27001 certification. international counterpart, often pursued together with SOC 2
Penetration testing. recurring requirement for SOC 2 Type 2 attestation
vCISO. for SaaS companies that need program ownership beyond the audit

A confidential, structured engagement.

Confidential Consultation

A direct conversation with Quinn, the founder and CEO who oversees every engagement. NDA-protected. No sales process.

Scoped Engagement

A clear written proposal with defined deliverables, timeline, and pricing. No hidden costs.

Investigation and Findings

Forensic work conducted to court-admissible standards, with regular communication and a written summary you can act on.

Same firm. Same legal entity. Same Quinn.
Also available through varcoe.ai for B2B buyers.

Both brands are operated by Blueberry Security Global, Inc., a Delaware C-corporation. Quinnlan Varcoe (Founder and CEO) sets the methodology, oversees Alex Riffenburgh and the practitioner team that executes the work, and reviews every case before findings leave the practice under either brand. The split is by audience and brand voice, not by capability.

Witness (you are here)

The parent brand for the practice. Court-admissible methodology, senior practitioner on every engagement, NDA-protected consultations. Right front door for consumer, attorney, family- office, and most enterprise buyers who want to talk to Quinn directly.

Varcoe (B2B sister brand)

Compliance and GRC

The B2B front door for the same practice. Procurement workflows, vendor onboarding, MSA paper, RFP responses. Useful when your buying process expects a B2B website and a B2B sales motion for SOC 2 Compliance & Type 2 Audit Readiness.

Visit varcoe.ai/soc-2-compliance

Quinnlan Varcoe

Founder & CEO

With operational experience across Fortune 50 security programs and the defense industrial base, Quinnlan founded Witness in 2022 to provide clients with the caliber of expertise typically reserved for the largest enterprises. Her work in threat intelligence and digital forensics has earned the trust of 26,000+ cybersecurity professionals who follow her analysis.

“26,000 professionals follow my work because I say what others won't — and I can back it up technically.”

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