SOC 2 isn’t just a technical initiative, it’s a business investment.
Whether you’re pursuing a Type I or Type II audit, the total cost of SOC 2 compliance includes more than just hiring an auditor.
From readiness work and policy development to tooling and employee hours, there are multiple cost categories to consider. This guide helps MSPs and MSSPs budget accurately and avoid hidden expenses.
Typical SOC 2 Costs: $10K to $100K+
SOC 2 audit pricing can vary widely based on your environment, business model, and audit type. Audit fees are only part of the spend, readiness, remediation, tooling, and internal time add up.
As a rule of thumb: Type I programs on a light scope land toward the lower end; Type II on multi-system scopes can reach the higher end.
- Type I, light scope, self-managed: ~$10K–$30K
- Type II, multi-system, managed prep: ~$30K–$100K+
What influences the cost?
- Number of Trust Services Criteria selected
- Size and complexity of your environment
- Manual vs. automated preparation
- Internal vs. outsourced readiness support
SOC 2 Compliance Cost Categories
Here’s where your SOC 2 budget will likely go:
| Category | Estimated Cost | Notes |
| Audit Firm (CPA) | $10K–$40K | Varies by scope, audit type (Type I vs. II), and number of TSCs |
| Readiness Assessment | $0–$20K | DIY or use consultants/platforms like Cynomi |
| Policy Development | $0–$10K | Manual writing vs. automated generation; some firms charge extra |
| Remediation Costs | $5K–$30K+ | Includes tools like MFA, logging, backups, and employee training |
| Evidence Collection Tools | $3K–$15K/year | Platforms like Cynomi, Drata, Vanta can automate tracking |
| Employee Time | Varies | Cross-functional effort: IT, engineering, compliance, HR, legal |
These costs can scale up or down depending on how mature your security program is today.
Factors That Can Drive Up the Price
Some organizations spend more than they need to due to preventable factors:
- Larger Scope
Covering multiple products, teams, business units, or geographic regions - More Trust Services Criteria
Each TSC adds documentation, controls, and testing time - Lack of Documentation
Missing policies or system diagrams will need to be built from scratch - Manual Processes
Tracking controls and gathering evidence manually can consume hundreds of hours - Long Remediation Timelines
Delayed implementation of necessary controls like encryption or logging drives up labor and consulting costs
Reduce SOC 2 Compliance Costs with Cynomi
Cynomi helps MSPs and MSSPs streamline SOC 2 readiness and lower costs across the board.
How Cynomi Helps:
- Automated Readiness Assessments
Identify compliance gaps instantly, no need for costly consultants - Built-In Policy Generator
Generate custom, SOC 2-aligned policies in minutes without paying for external policy packs - Evidence Auto-Collection
Connect to your tech stack (AWS, Okta, GSuite, etc.) and collect audit-ready data automatically - Track Costs by Control
Get visibility into which controls require the most effort or spend, so you can optimize before the audit starts
SOC 2 Cost FAQs
Yes. Type II includes an audit window (usually 3–12 months) and requires more evidence, monitoring, and coordination.
Not always. But you may need to implement controls like logging, backup, and access management if they don’t already exist.
Yes, especially with automation platforms that reduce prep time and avoid costly consulting.
Do it once, do it right. Use a readiness platform to centralize work, automate policies, and reduce audit complexity.