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SOC 2 · FREE TOOL

SOC 2 Audit Cost Calculator

SOC 2 costs split into three buckets: auditor fees (AICPA-licensed CPA firm), compliance tooling (Vanta/Drata/Secureframe/etc.), and internal effort (security/eng/legal time). This calculator estimates total first-year cost based on org size, trust services criteria in scope, and your readiness level. Type II is 3-12 months of evidence collection on top of Type I.

2 criteria
Security is mandatory. Add Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy.
Estimated first-year total cost
$132K
Type II, 2 TSC, smb size, partial readiness, with tooling.
Auditor fees$74K
Compliance tooling$21K
Internal effort$37K
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How this is calculated

AICPA SSAE 18 (SOC 2 standard)
Defines the five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy.
Industry benchmarks 2024
Type I: $15-30K (small), $30-60K (mid). Type II: $30-60K (small), $60-150K (mid+enterprise) — auditor fees only.
Compliance platform pricing
Vanta/Drata/Secureframe typically $12-30K/yr for mid-market, includes continuous monitoring + auto-evidence collection.

Things people get wrong

FAQ

Type I vs Type II — which do I need?
Type I = point-in-time attestation (snapshot). Type II = operating effectiveness over 3-12 months. Enterprise buyers (Fortune 500, regulated industries) almost always require Type II. Type I works for early-stage if your buyer accepts a 'Type II in progress' commitment.
Can we do SOC 2 without a compliance platform?
Yes, but it usually costs MORE in internal time than the tool would. Vanta/Drata/Secureframe automate 70-90% of evidence collection. Without them, plan for 1 dedicated FTE for 3-6 months pre-audit.
How long does the full SOC 2 process take?
Readiness assessment 4-8 weeks. Remediation 1-3 months. Type I audit 4-8 weeks. Type II observation window 3-12 months. End-to-end: 6-15 months for Type II from cold start.

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