Security reviews keep stalling my deals. What do I actually need, and when should I get it?

Answers the actual question a founder has, which is when rather than whether, and draws the Type 1 versus Type 2 line clearly: Type 1 is a bridge you can cross in weeks, Type 2 needs a 90 day observation window you have to start early.

When Should a Startup Get SOC 2? Timing Guide

From Workstreet by Travis Good 12 min read

• Type 2 needs an observation window, and 90 days is the shortest most auditors accept.
• A first Type 2 realistically takes 4 to 6 months, so waiting for a prospect to ask is already late.
• Type 1 can be done in a couple of weeks, fastest seen was eight or nine days, which is the bridge while Type 2 runs.
• Start with the Security criteria only, then add Availability or Confidentiality when a specific deal demands it.

The most honest list of what to actually build: SSO with forced 2FA, protected branches, centralised logging, infrastructure as code, CloudTrail, device management and a vendor inventory. It also tells you which expensive things auditors do not need, which saves real money.

The SOC2 Starting Seven

From Latacora 20 min read

• Seven engineering moves cover most of SOC 2: SSO with forced 2FA, protected branches with PR review, centralized logging with alerts, Terraform for all infra, CloudTrail plus role assumption, MDM on laptops, and a vendor security spreadsheet.
• SSO tied to Okta or Google Cloud Identity clears dozens of access control line items at once.
• Protected branches plus automated deploys satisfy most of the change management section.
• The point is to do real engineering work that happens to produce evidence, not to write policy documents.

If you sell into Indian enterprises, DPDP is now part of the security review alongside SOC 2. This lays out the obligations that show up in a buyer's DPA: consent, breach notification to the Data Protection Board, deletion rights and cross border transfer limits.

What SaaS Providers Need to Know About India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023

From Wattlecorp Cybersecurity Labs by Irshad Rafeekhudheen PK 16 min read

• Penalties run up to Rs 250 crore for failing to implement reasonable security safeguards.
• A SaaS platform serving Indian users is a data fiduciary, accountable for what it collects, processes and stores.
• Consent must be clear, informed and purpose specific, and children under 18 need verifiable parental consent.
• Breaches must be reported to the Data Protection Board of India and to affected users, and cross border transfers are limited to government approved territories.

A founder who has been through it explains Type 1 versus Type 2, what it costs, how long it takes, and the honest test for whether you need it yet. Ten minutes that stops you either panicking or starting a year too late.

SOC 2 Compliance: Everything Startup Founders Need to Know

On Rob Walling (Startups For the Rest of Us) by Rob Walling 10 min