What Documents Do You Need for SOC2 Compliance?

If you're a SaaS company approaching your first enterprise deal, you've probably encountered the SOC2 question. Your prospect's security team wants to know that you handle their data responsibly — and they want documentation to prove it.

SOC2 compliance isn't a single document. It's a framework built on five Trust Services Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Most companies start with Security (the only required criterion) and add others as needed.

At minimum, you'll need an Information Security Policy, Access Control Policy, Incident Response Plan, Change Management Policy, Acceptable Use Policy, and Data Classification Policy. Each of these needs to reflect your actual practices, not generic templates.

The good news: you don't need to have everything perfect before you start. SOC2 is about demonstrating that you have controls in place and that you follow them consistently. Start with documentation, implement the controls, and build evidence over time.