Your software product has passed the technical evaluation, pricing discussions are complete, and an enterprise customer is ready to proceed. Then procurement requests your latest SOC 2 report. You have nothing to send.
When Australian SaaS companies enter larger markets, this situation presents an immediate challenge. Rushing into the wrong assessment may not satisfy the customer’s requirements, and security assurance takes time. Understanding what the buyer expects, and planning backward from the deadline, is where the solution begins.
First, find out exactly what was asked for, and by when, without rushing. Ask before assuming: a request sometimes leaves more room than it first seems to.
Find Out Which SOC 2 Report the Customer Needs
SOC 2 reports don’t all provide the same level of assurance. The distinction between SOC 2 type 1 vs type 2 matters when responding to enterprise security requirements. Type 1 looks at whether relevant controls are suitably designed as of a particular date. Type 2 examines their design and operating effectiveness over a defined period.
An enterprise buyer may accept Type 1 temporarily, but many specifically request Type 2 because it provides evidence covering actual operations. Confirm the report type, required scope, and acceptable reporting dates with the customer before commissioning an examination.
The report type, scope, and dates drive both the plan and the budget, so write the answers down. Where the customer’s requirements are unclear, ask for the exact wording in the contract or the security questionnaire.
Plan Your Timeline Around the Observation Period
A SOC 2 type 2 examination can’t be finished just by preparing documentation and booking an auditor. Throughout the reporting period, the organization must operate its relevant controls. Subsequent reports commonly examine longer periods, but for an initial examination the period may cover three months.
Access reviews, security training, or change approvals that your business needs to demonstrate must occur and be documented during the applicable window. Planning backward from a customer deadline helps identify 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.
Understand What the Examination Delivers
Although SOC 2 does not issue certificates, businesses frequently search for SOC 2 type 2 certification.
What you get is an attestation report from a licensed CPA firm that performs an independent examination against the applicable AICPA Trust Services Criteria. In the report you’ll find a description of the assessed system, relevant controls, testing procedures, and the auditor’s opinion.
Often under a confidentiality agreement, that document is what customers typically review. A specific historical period is also what a SOC type 2 report relates to. Assurance about every change made afterward isn’t automatically included.
What Will SOC 2 Preparation Cost?
More than an independent examination fee is involved in 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 priced at AUD $2,750 per month, excluding GST, over twelve months for businesses with up to 50 employees. Eligible contracts signed by December 31, 2026 are covered by the advertised offer. Its package includes compliance preparation, training, a compliance platform, and external penetration testing.
The independent CPA examination is billed separately, with Siege Cyber indicating typical fees of approximately AUD 5,000–15,000, depending on scope and complexity. Confirm current pricing, eligibility, and deliverables before committing.
Dealing With a Report That Has Aged
Suppose your Type 2 report covers January through June, but a customer requests assurance in October. The months in between aren’t examined by the report. Relevant changes since the reporting period ended can be described in a management-issued bridge letter, which some customers may accept.
A bridge letter does not replace an independent examination, and acceptance depends on the customer’s requirements. Rather than assuming an older report will satisfy procurement, discuss reporting gaps early.
Compliance That Pays Off Beyond a Single Contract
Siege Cyber provides SOC 2 readiness support from Australian-based specialists, with fixed-price consulting packages and independent audit coordination. Growing software companies get the most from connecting compliance preparation with actual operational responsibilities.
Assign control owners, maintain security records, and establish a reporting schedule that supports future customer reviews. Rather than simply helping respond to the current request, a successful SOC 2 project should leave your business better prepared for the next enterprise opportunity.
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.