SOC 2 Type 1 vs Type 2: Which Report Do You Need?
SOC 2 comes in two flavours, Type 1 and Type 2, and buyers and auditors mean different things by each. Choosing the wrong one wastes months and money.
In short: a Type 1 report says your controls are designed correctly at a single moment; a Type 2 report says they actually operated effectively over a period of time. Most enterprise customers want Type 2.
What a Type 1 report covers
A SOC 2 Type 1 evaluates whether your controls are suitably designed to meet the Trust Services Criteria as of a specific date.
It is a point-in-time snapshot. It is faster and cheaper to obtain, which makes it a reasonable first step, but it does not prove the controls work consistently in practice.
What a Type 2 report covers
A SOC 2 Type 2 evaluates whether those same controls operated effectively over an observation period, commonly three to twelve months.
Because it tests evidence across time, it is far more meaningful to buyers, and it is the report most enterprise procurement teams actually ask for.
How to choose
If you need something quickly to unblock a deal, a Type 1 can buy time while you build toward Type 2. Many companies do Type 1 first, then a Type 2 covering the following period.
If you can wait for the observation window, going straight to Type 2 avoids paying an auditor twice and gives customers the report they prefer.
How long each takes
A Type 1 can often be completed within a few weeks of finishing readiness work. A Type 2 adds the observation period on top, so plan for several months end to end.
Compliance-automation platforms shorten the readiness and evidence-collection work that dominates both timelines.
SOC 2 policy templates
Use these starting documents to turn the control into evidence. Adapt each template to your scope, systems, legal obligations and actual operating process.
Automate SOC 2 with Vanta
Vanta maps the controls, collects evidence automatically, and keeps you audit-ready. The market-leading compliance automation platform.
FAQ
- Is Type 2 always better than Type 1?
- For proving trust to customers, yes, it tests controls over time. Type 1 is mainly useful as a faster first step.
- Can I skip Type 1 and go straight to Type 2?
- Yes, many companies do. It avoids paying for two audits, provided you can wait for the observation period.
- How long is the Type 2 observation period?
- Commonly three to twelve months; three to six months is typical for a first Type 2.