SOC 2 Type II
SOC 2 Type II readiness: controls that hold up over time
A SOC 2 Type II report shows that your security controls actually worked over an observation period, usually 3 to 12 months. It is the report most enterprise buyers and security questionnaires ask for.
Taskew prepares you for Type II and keeps your controls running through the observation period, so the auditor finds evidence, not gaps. In 2026 we guided four companies through SOC 2: one Type I and three Type II, all on Vanta.
SOC 2 Type II
What Type II readiness includes
Before the window opens
- Scoping and Vanta setup
- Gap assessment and remediation in AWS
- Policies, procedures and system description support
During the observation period
- Quarterly access reviews
- Vulnerability scanning and patching
- Onboarding, offboarding and training evidence
- Signed, dated performance reviews
- Vendor risk reviews
At audit time
- Evidence collection and review
- Answers to auditor requests
- Help responding to exceptions
- Plan for next year's renewal
Process
How a Type II engagement runs
- Step 1
Scope and assess
We scope the audit, connect Vanta and build the remediation plan.
- Step 2
Fix before the window
Controls need to work from the first day of the observation period, so we fix the gaps first.
- Step 3
Run the controls
We keep the recurring work on schedule and the evidence in Vanta, month after month.
- Step 4
Audit and renew
We support fieldwork, then keep you ready for next year's report.
About pricing: Every company's scope is different: how many systems are in scope, which Trust Services Criteria you need and how much is already in place. So we don't publish prices. After a discovery call and a short scoping review, you get a written proposal with a fixed scope.
FAQs
Common questions
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?
Type I checks that your controls are designed correctly on one date. Type II checks that they operated effectively over an observation period, usually 3 to 12 months. Type II takes longer but carries more weight with enterprise buyers.
How long is a SOC 2 Type II observation period?
Usually 3 to 12 months. First-time reports often use a shorter window so you get a report sooner. Later reports usually cover a full year. You and your auditor agree on the period.
What are the most common SOC 2 Type II exceptions?
In our experience, they are usually recurring tasks that happened but weren't documented: access reviews, offboarding, security training, performance reviews missing a signature or date, and vulnerability fixes past their deadline. We check a sample of that evidence before the auditor does.
Do we need to renew SOC 2 every year?
Most companies get a new Type II report every year, because customers want a report that covers a recent period. That means your controls need to keep running between audits.
Related
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