How Much Does a SOC 2 Audit Cost in 2025?

One data breach can undo years of trust—and cost far more than any compliance audit.

Safeguarding customer data is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a baseline business requirement. Clients, partners, and regulators expect proof that your systems are secure, and any gap in controls can quickly erode confidence.

That’s where a SOC 2 (System and Organisation Controls 2) audit comes in. Achieving SOC 2 compliance signals that your organisation takes data security, privacy, and compliance seriously. It’s not just about passing an audit; it’s about showing stakeholders that you have the right processes, protections, and monitoring in place to keep sensitive information safe.

But here’s the reality: SOC 2 isn’t free. The cost of a SOC 2 audit remains one of the biggest concerns for organisations—especially growing businesses trying to balance security with budget constraints. On top of that, adding SOC 2 penetration testing to your compliance programme can significantly strengthen your security posture. It goes beyond checklists, testing how your defences hold up under real-world attacks.

In this blog, we’ll break down the key factors driving SOC 2 audit costs in 2025 and share insights to help you budget smart while building resilience.

What is a SOC 2 Audit ?

A SOC 2 audit is all about proving you can be trusted with customer data. It measures your organisation’s controls against the Trust Service Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

For service providers—whether you’re a SaaS platform, cloud vendor, or managed IT partner—this isn’t just a compliance checkbox. An SOC 2 report is a validation that your systems are built and maintained to keep sensitive data safe. Clients, investors, and partners increasingly see it as a baseline requirement before doing business with you.

Types of SOC 2 Audits

There are two distinct paths, depending on the level of assurance you want to demonstrate:

• Type 1 Audit – A snapshot. This review evaluates the design of your controls at a specific point in time. It answers the question: Do you have the right safeguards in place?

• Type 2 Audit – A stress test over time. This looks at how effectively your controls operate over a defined period, usually six months to a year. It answers the tougher question: Do your safeguards actually work in practice?

For organisations dealing with high volumes of sensitive data, a Type 2 report carries more weight because it validates not just design but consistent execution.

Understanding the Scope

One of the most critical steps is setting the scope. Why? Because scope directly impacts the audit’s timeline, complexity, and cost.

Scope is shaped by:

• Which Trust Service Criteria you include? (Security is mandatory; others are optional but often requested).
• The size and complexity of your systems, applications, and processes.
• The sensitivity and volume of customer data you handle.

For example, a lean SaaS startup handling minimal data may only focus on security. A large enterprise processing financial or healthcare records may need to include multiple criteria.

A well-defined scope keeps your audit focused, efficient, and aligned with business goals—without unnecessary spend.

How SOC 2 Penetration Testing Complements Your SOC 2 Audit

Passing a SOC 2 audit requires more than documenting policies—it requires proving that your security controls actually hold up under pressure. That’s where SOC 2 penetration testing comes in.

While penetration testing isn’t explicitly required for SOC 2 compliance, it directly supports the security and confidentiality principles outlined in the Trust Service Criteria (TSC). By simulating real-world cyberattacks, pen testing exposes vulnerabilities that traditional checklists or automated scans might miss.

Fixing these issues before the audit delivers clear advantages. It allows your organisation to:

• Show auditors tangible proof that your defences have been tested, not just theorised.
• Demonstrate a proactive stance on risk management and data protection.
• Strengthen compliance readiness by ensuring no obvious gaps slip through.

Take a SaaS startup as an example. Ahead of its SOC 2 Type 2 audit, the company ran penetration tests and uncovered an API misconfiguration that could have leaked customer data.
By addressing the issue early, they not only avoided a potential security incident but also walked into the audit with confidence—and evidence—of strong controls in action.

Including pen testing in your preparation ensures you’re not only audit-ready but also future-ready—meeting today’s SOC 2 requirements while laying the groundwork for stronger, long-term protection.

Factors Influencing SOC 2 Audit Cost

There’s no flat rate for an SOC 2 audit. The final number depends on how big your organisation is, how much ground the audit needs to cover, and how prepared you are when auditors arrive. Knowing the cost drivers upfront helps you budget smart—and avoid being blindsided later.

Here are the main factors that influence SOC 2 audit costs:

1. Size of the Organization
2. Scope of Audit
3. Preparation Efforts
4. Duration of the Audit
5. Audit Firm Expertise
6. Technology and Automation Tools

Let’s go into each of these factors in detail.

1. Size of the Organization

The bigger the company, the bigger the audit. Large enterprises often run multiple applications, regions, and data centres. Each layer adds systems, processes, and controls auditors must review. A global business might even need to demonstrate compliance across multiple regulatory frameworks, adding hours—and cost—to the engagement.

2. Scope of Audit

Not all SOC 2 audits are equal. Security is required, but expanding into availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, or privacy widens the scope. Each added criterion means more documentation, more evidence, and more testing. For example, adding privacy to align with GDPR or CCPA often requires deep data mapping and policy assessments.

3. Preparation Efforts

Walking in prepared saves serious money. Organizations that conduct readiness assessments, build strong documentation, and align departments beforehand keep the audit lean. Those that skip prep face longer reviews, endless evidence requests, and higher audit hours.

4. Duration of the Audit

A Type 1 audit is quick—it validates controls at a single point in time. A Type 2 audit, however, evaluates effectiveness over six to twelve months. That means continuous testing, evidence gathering, and validation across teams. Naturally, longer timelines equal higher invoices.

5. Audit Firm Expertise

Experienced firms bring credibility but also higher fees. Premium auditors with sector-specific knowledge—finance, healthcare, SaaS—can charge more because their reports carry extra weight with clients, regulators, and investors. Many enterprises see that premium as worth the assurance.

6. Technology and Automation Tools

Automation platforms like Vanta, Drata, or Secureframe streamline evidence collection, reducing manual auditor hours. While they cut audit labour, their subscription costs—especially for larger organisations—can offset those savings.

SOC 2 costs are shaped by scale, scope, and strategy. By understanding the levers that drive pricing, you can set realistic budgets and ensure your audit investment strengthens both compliance credibility and customer trust.

How Much Does a SOC 2 Audit Cost?

When it comes to SOC 2, cost is almost always the first question. And it should be. A SOC 2 audit isn’t one-price-fits-all—it shifts based on audit type, company size, and how ready you are before the auditor steps in. Get it wrong, and you’ll overspend. Get it right, and SOC 2 becomes an investment instead of a budget drain.

Type 1 SOC 2 Audit

Cost range: $5,000 – $30,000

Type 1 is the lighter lift. It checks whether your controls are designed and in place at a single point in time—a snapshot of readiness.

• Small startups with lean infrastructure usually land near $5K–$10K.
• Larger firms with multiple environments or complex data flows often pay closer to $30K.

The bigger your footprint, the more hours an auditor needs—and the higher your bill.

Type 2 SOC 2 Audit

Cost range: $20,000 – $100,000

Type 2 goes deeper. Instead of a snapshot, it tests your controls over six to twelve months. That means more evidence, more monitoring, and more validation.

• Mid-sized companies often pay $40K–$80K.
• Enterprises with sprawling operations can push $100K+.

Type 2 is the real benchmark of trust, but it comes at a premium.

Additional Costs to Be Considered

The auditor’s invoice is just the beginning. Factor in:

• Readiness assessments – Gap analyses and documentation cleanup ($5K–$15K).
• Compliance automation tools – Platforms like Drata or Vanta ($5K–$20K annually).
• Remediation work – Fixing gaps or adding new controls ($10K–$50K).
• Ongoing costs – SOC 2 is annual. Expect to repeat the process every year.

Cost Breakdown by Company Size

Cost-Saving Tips

SOC 2 doesn’t have to burn through budgets. A few smart moves can cut costs fast:

• Run internal readiness checks before engaging an auditor.
• Use automation to replace spreadsheets and manual evidence hunts.
• Start small—limit your first scope to the most relevant Trust Service Criteria.

Geographical Cost Variations

Where your auditor sits matters. U.S.-based firms typically charge premium rates, especially if they’re Big Four affiliated. Firms in India or Eastern Europe can offer strong expertise at lower costs. Remote audits help cut travel expenses, but many organisations still pay more for on-site reviews to add extra assurance.

SOC 2 Cost Template

Use this as a working template, not a fixed quote. Real costs depend on your scope, team size, and how prepared you are before the audit. SOC 2 pricing isn’t just another line item—it’s an investment in customer trust and lasting credibility.

With 2025 Data and Technology Trends in Mind: Additional Factors to Consider

The SOC 2 audit isn’t standing still. As technology evolves and regulators raise the bar, the factors driving audit complexity—and cost—are shifting. In 2025, here’s what to keep on your radar:

1. Cloud-Native Environments

More businesses are running on hybrid or multi-cloud setups. That flexibility is great for scaling, but it creates more moving parts for auditors. Every configuration, permission, and third-party integration needs to be reviewed, which increases both time and costs. Companies that don’t document cloud setups early often face last-minute remediation expenses.

2. AI and Automation in Audit Processes

AI-powered audit platforms are making evidence collection and reporting faster than ever. They can cut weeks off an engagement. But they’re not free—expect higher upfront costs for licensing, customization, or integration. Over time, the efficiency gains usually outweigh the spend, but organizations should still budget for that first lift.

3. Zero Trust Architecture

Zero trust is quickly moving from buzzword to baseline. It raises your security posture but also introduces new controls, identity tools, and employee training requirements. For SOC 2, that means more controls to test and validate—expanding the scope of the audit.

4. Increased Focus on Privacy

Privacy has moved center stage. With new global data protection rules and customer expectations, many organizations must fold privacy criteria into SOC 2. That translates into more documentation, policies, and evidence for auditors to examine.

SOC 2 in 2025 is about more than passing a static checklist. Factoring in these trends now means fewer surprises, better cost control, and a compliance program that’s built for what’s next.

The Real Value of SOC 2

At first glance, a SOC 2 audit can feel like a steep expense—tens of thousands of dollars, recurring every year, with added costs for tools, remediation, and readiness work. But that price tag doesn’t tell the whole story. The real return on investment comes from the trust you build.

SOC 2 signals to customers, partners, and regulators that your organization takes security and privacy seriously. In a world where one breach can erode years of credibility overnight, that assurance isn’t optional—it’s a competitive advantage. It shortens sales cycles, unlocks enterprise deals, and positions your company as a reliable steward of sensitive data.

Beyond the external benefits, the audit process strengthens your own operations. Teams become more disciplined, processes tighten, and risks surface before they escalate. Instead of viewing SOC 2 as a compliance checkbox, think of it as infrastructure—an investment in resilience, efficiency, and long-term growth.

SOC 2 isn’t just about passing an audit. It’s about proving you can be trusted, year after year.