SOC 2 in 12 weeks: A pragmatic roadmap
SOC 2 isn’t a three-year project. With the right priorities, a small team can reach Type II in 12 weeks. Here’s the roadmap we used for Brightwave.
SOC 2 Type II can feel daunting, but most of it is predictable work. This post summarizes the 12-week roadmap we used for Brightwave — a health startup with no dedicated security team.
Weeks 1–2: Gap mapping
Start with the Trust Services framework. Score each control: in place, partial, or missing. Prioritize high-impact, easy-to-implement controls.
Weeks 3–8: Implementation & automation
Repeatable controls must be automated, or a small team can’t sustain them.
- mTLS & least-privilege access
- Centralized audit logging
- Code & dependency scanning in CI
- Automated evidence collection
Weeks 9–12: Audit
With evidence automated, the audit becomes a review rather than an excavation. Brightwave passed Type II on the first attempt, with zero critical findings.
Compliance isn’t a one-time product. Automating controls turns it into a habit, not an event.
Mei leads security and compliance work for health and fintech startups. Specializes in automating controls a small team can sustain.
