The technical evaluation is passed, pricing discussions are complete, and an enterprise customer is ready to proceed with your software product. Then procurement asks for your latest SOC 2 report. You have nothing to send.
Australian SaaS companies entering larger markets face an immediate challenge in this situation. Security assurance takes time, and a rushed, wrong assessment may not satisfy the customer’s requirements. The solution begins with understanding what the buyer expects and planning backward from the deadline.
First, find out exactly what was asked for, and by when, without rushing. The request can leave more room than it first appears to, so ask before you assume.
Which SOC 2 Report Does the Customer Need?
The level of assurance isn’t the same across every SOC 2 report. When responding to enterprise security requirements, the distinction between SOC 2 type 1 vs type 2 matters. Whether relevant controls are suitably designed at a particular date is what Type 1 evaluates. Their design and operating effectiveness over a defined period are what Type 2 examines.
Some enterprise buyers accept Type 1 for a time, yet many ask specifically for Type 2 because it provides evidence covering actual operations. Before commissioning an examination, confirm the report type, required scope, and acceptable reporting dates with the customer.
Put the answers in writing; the report type, scope, and dates all shape the plan and the budget.
Plan Your Timeline Around the Observation Period
You can’t complete a SOC 2 type 2 examination simply by preparing documentation and scheduling an auditor. The organization must operate its relevant controls throughout the reporting period. For an initial examination, that period may cover three months, while subsequent reports commonly examine longer periods.
Access reviews, security training, or change approvals that your business needs to demonstrate must occur and be documented during the applicable window. By planning backward from a customer deadline, you can see whether the requested report can realistically be delivered on time.
If the deadline is tighter than the observation period allows, tell the customer early. Some customers are willing to discuss interim steps, such as a dated plan, when they hear about the gap early.
What a SOC 2 Examination Actually Delivers
Although SOC 2 does not issue certificates, businesses frequently search for SOC 2 type 2 certification.
A licensed CPA firm issues an attestation report after performing an independent examination against the applicable AICPA Trust Services Criteria. The report covers the assessed system, relevant controls, testing procedures, and the auditor’s opinion.
That document is what customers typically review, often under a confidentiality agreement. A SOC type 2 report also relates to a specific historical period. It doesn’t automatically give assurance about every change made afterward.
Costs to Know About Before You Begin
An independent examination fee is only part of the cost of SOC 2 preparation. Businesses may need assistance developing policies, conducting risk assessments, preparing evidence, training employees, and arranging security testing.
Siege Cyber advertises a SOC 2 compliance package for businesses with up to 50 employees, priced at AUD $2,750 per month, excluding GST, over twelve months. The advertised offer applies to eligible contracts that are signed by December 31, 2026. Included in its package are compliance preparation, training, a compliance platform, and external penetration testing.
Billed separately is the independent CPA examination, with Siege Cyber indicating typical fees of approximately AUD 5,000–15,000, depending on scope and complexity. Make sure you confirm current pricing, eligibility, and deliverables before committing.
What If Your Report Is Already Outdated?
Your Type 2 report might cover January through June, and then a customer requests assurance in October. The intervening months fall outside what the report examines. A management-issued bridge letter describing relevant changes since the reporting period ended may be acceptable to some customers.
Still, whether it’s accepted depends on the customer’s requirements, and a bridge letter does not replace an independent examination. Discuss reporting gaps early rather than assuming an older report will satisfy procurement.
Make Your Compliance Work Harder Than a Single Deal
With fixed-price consulting packages and independent audit coordination, Siege Cyber provides Australian-based SOC 2 readiness support. For growing software companies, the most useful approach is to connect compliance preparation with actual operational responsibilities.
Assign control owners, maintain security records, and establish a reporting schedule that supports future customer reviews. A successful SOC 2 project should leave your business better prepared for the next enterprise opportunity, not simply help it respond to the current request.
Keep the evidence you collect organized from the beginning, and the next audit cycle becomes less of a scramble. Controls are more likely to keep operating between audits when responsibilities and schedules are reviewed at regular intervals.