Preparing for your first SOC 2 audit requires contributions from multiple parts of your organization. While Vanta streamlines and automates much of the work, successful preparation depends on clear communication across departments and alignment on responsibilities.
This guide outlines the typical time investment, areas of involvement, and how different teams play a role in SOC 2 readiness.
Time Investment
On average, companies using Vanta should plan to spend about 40 hours on their first SOC 2 readiness effort. This time is spread across several departments and varies based on the scope of your SOC 2 audit and how many processes you already have in place.
We recommend reviewing the Tests and Documents section in Vanta after:
Determining the scope of your SOC 2.
Connecting your integrations.
From there, you’ll see your true list of “to-dos.” This helps you:
Identify what’s already in place.
Understand where additional work is required.
Accurately set expectations for cross-functional involvement.
For example:
Background checks may already be part of your HR workflows - meaning minimal effort is needed from People Ops.
Access control processes may already exist within Engineering/IT - reducing the need for new setup.
The key is to align on what’s truly open before involving other departments.
Departmental Roles in SOC 2
SOC 2 readiness is a team effort. Here’s how different functions typically contribute:
Engineering / IT / Security (~50% of time) | Operations / Leadership (~25% of time) | HR / People Operations (~25% of time) |
These teams own many of the technical controls auditors look for, including: | Operations and leadership teams ensure governance and oversight across SOC 2 domains: | People teams are essential to the “human” side of security: |
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Key Takeaway
A successful SOC 2 effort isn’t about any one department - it’s about clear ownership and cross-functional alignment. By reviewing your open items in Vanta and assigning responsibilities early, you can set realistic expectations, reduce duplicate work, and ensure a smoother path
to audit readiness.