SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2 First? How to Decide

Both are attestation reports issued by an independent auditor under the AICPA's SOC 2 framework, and both describe your controls. The difference is evidence:

• Type 1 covers design at a point in time. The auditor checks that the controls you describe exist and are suitably designed on a given date.
• Type 2 covers design and operation across an observation window. The auditor tests samples over that period to see whether the controls worked consistently.

Because Type 2 shows behavior over time, security teams tend to trust it more. A Type 1 shows you built the process. A Type 2 shows you followed it.

Ask these questions in order:

1. What do the customers in your pipeline ask for? Read the security questionnaires and procurement emails. If they say Type 2, that's your answer.
2. Do you have a deal waiting on a report now? Some buyers accept a Type 1 with a promise of a Type 2 later. Confirm this with them in writing before relying on it.
3. How mature are your controls today? If access reviews, change approvals and incident processes are new, a Type 2 window starting now would record their teething problems.
4. How much time and money can you commit twice? Two audits cost more than one, so weigh the delay of a single Type 2 against the double effort.

If you're still unsure, a sales-call question works: 'Would a Type 1 report satisfy your security review, and for how long?'

Type 1 first, then Type 2. A common route when a deal is blocked. You get a report sooner, and the same controls then run through a Type 2 window. The cost is a second audit and the risk that some buyers dismiss a Type 1.

Straight to Type 2. Works when your controls already run and buyers demand the stronger report. You wait through the observation window before you have anything to share, so plan how to bridge that gap, such as sharing your policies and a completed questionnaire.

Readiness assessment, then decide. A gap assessment tells you whether a start date next month is realistic. If you'd fail on basic items, fix them first. A compliance automation platform such as Vanta or Drata can help you see where your controls stand before you commit to an audit window. Confirm in a demo how it assesses your stack.

The auditor tests whether controls worked across the window, so anything that lapses in that period creates an exception: a missed access review, a change deployed without approval, a late offboarding. Exceptions don't automatically sink the report, but they're noted, and buyers read them.

Ask your auditor what window lengths they accept for a first Type 2 and how they'd treat a shorter first window. Practices differ by firm and by what your customers want, so don't assume a number. Then set up reminders and automated checks so recurring controls don't depend on someone remembering. The readiness checklist lists which controls produce the most evidence.

Yes. Buyers mostly want assurance that you take security seriously and that a report is coming. Give them what you have:

• A summary of your security practices and policies.
• A completed security questionnaire.
• The audit timeline, with the auditor's name and expected report date.
• Your penetration test summary, if you've done one.

Be accurate about status. Saying 'in progress' is fine. Saying you're "SOC 2 compliant" before a report exists is misleading, and it can break deals and contracts. Compare how the two report types fit alongside other frameworks in ISO 27001 vs SOC 2, and see how long SOC 2 takes to plan the calendar.