Expert SOC 2 Certification Consultants in Canada
If your prospects keep asking for SOC 2, this is for you. We map trust service criteria to your stack, build the missing controls, automate evidence collection, and walk you through audit. Most clients reach Type 1 in 90 days.
Everything you need, none of the upsell.
Real deliverables, with the boundaries written down. So you know what you're paying for and what counts as extra.
Five criteria, your stack.
Security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, privacy. Mapped to what you actually run, not a generic template.
Collected automatically.
Most evidence can be pulled from existing systems. We wire it up so audit isn't 100 spreadsheets at year-end.
Pick the right firm.
We've worked with multiple auditors. We recommend matches based on your industry, size, and budget.
Type 1 then Type 2.
Type 1 in 90 days. Type 2 covers the 6 to 12 months after. Continuous evidence collection, not annual scrambles.
The order we work in.
A clear sequence so you can budget time, money, and risk against the work.
Scope.
Decide which trust service criteria are in scope and which systems are in scope. Documented and approved.
Gap.
Map controls to TSC. Document gaps with effort estimates and risk impact. Sequenced remediation plan.
Remediate.
Implement controls, write policies, deploy evidence collection. Tested by us before the auditor sees them.
Audit.
Run the auditor relationship. Walk you through every test, every interview, every artifact request.
Get a quote on soc 2 readiness.
Tell us a bit about your environment and we'll come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
Request a Quote Back to ComplianceSOC 2 is a trust attestation, not a certification you buy off a shelf.
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an audit standard developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that assesses whether a service organization has the controls in place to protect client data across five Trust Service Criteria: Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Most Canadian SaaS companies and B2B service providers pursue SOC 2 because their enterprise clients require it before onboarding. A SOC 2 Type 1 report attests that controls were in place at a specific point in time. A Type 2 report attests that controls operated effectively over a period of time (typically 6-12 months).
The challenge with SOC 2 readiness is that most growing software or services companies in BC and Alberta have not formally documented their controls, even if they are doing the right things. They have backups, but the backup policy is not written down. They have access controls, but the access review process is ad hoc. They have an incident response process, but it exists only in the head of the CTO. SOC 2 readiness turns those informal practices into documented, auditable controls. North Star maps your existing practices to the Trust Service Criteria, writes the policies that are missing, builds the evidence collection process, and manages the auditor relationship so you are not starting from scratch when the auditor asks for six months of evidence.
SOC 2 readiness deliverables.
- Readiness assessment: gap analysis against all Trust Service Criteria relevant to your scope (Security is required; others are optional). Written report mapping your existing controls to SOC 2 requirements and identifying gaps.
- Policy library: written information security policies required for SOC 2, including access control, change management, incident response, vendor management, and acceptable use. Tailored to your specific technical environment.
- Control implementation: implementation of missing technical controls (MFA, logging, access reviews, encryption at rest and in transit, vulnerability scanning) using your existing Microsoft 365 and Azure tooling where possible.
- Evidence collection system: automated evidence collection using your existing tools (Microsoft 365 audit logs, Entra ID access reports, Veeam backup logs) piped into a structured evidence repository that auditors can review.
- Vendor assessment program: SOC 2 requires demonstrating that your critical vendors are also adequately controlled. North Star builds a lightweight vendor assessment process and reviews your key vendors' security posture and existing attestations.
- Auditor selection and management: we recommend and introduce you to a qualified CPA firm to perform the audit, manage the information request process, and respond to auditor questions on technical topics.
- Type 1 report support: preparation and management of the Type 1 audit, including evidence packaging and auditor coordination. Most clients reach Type 1 in 90 days of starting readiness work.
- Type 2 ongoing support: quarterly evidence collection, access reviews, and control monitoring to maintain a continuous Type 2 audit period.
BC and AB SaaS companies and B2B service providers facing enterprise buyer requirements.
SOC 2 is most relevant for Canadian software companies, managed service providers, data processing companies, and professional services firms that handle client data on behalf of enterprise clients. If your sales team is regularly fielding "do you have SOC 2?" from prospects, the lack of a report is a deal blocker. If a large enterprise client is asking for SOC 2 as a condition of contract renewal, you have a specific deadline to work toward. North Star builds readiness programs calibrated to your timeline rather than a generic 18-month consulting engagement.
For BC-based SaaS companies expanding into US enterprise markets, SOC 2 is often expected before the sales conversation advances to procurement. For BC and AB managed service providers handling client data, SOC 2 differentiates you from competitors who do not have it and helps you win professional services, legal, financial, and government contracts that require evidence of a third-party audit. North Star has the particular advantage of being able to implement the technical controls and manage the compliance program under one agreement, rather than requiring a separate IT firm and a separate compliance consultant.
For service businesses that also handle Canadian personal information, SOC 2 readiness overlaps substantially with the requirements of BC PIPA and PIPEDA. The policy library and evidence collection system built for SOC 2 is also the foundation of a defensible privacy program. Most clients find that SOC 2 readiness and privacy compliance reinforce each other rather than requiring duplicate work.
Fixed-price readiness engagement plus an optional ongoing monitoring retainer.
SOC 2 readiness is a project engagement with a fixed price scoped after the initial gap analysis. The price depends on the current maturity of your controls, the Trust Service Criteria in scope, and your timeline to Type 1. The auditor's fee (paid directly to the CPA firm) is separate. Ongoing Type 2 monitoring is available as a monthly retainer after the Type 1 report is issued. Contact North Star for a scoping call and a readiness assessment proposal.
What clients ask before starting.
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2?
A SOC 2 Type 1 report is a point-in-time attestation: the auditor confirms that your controls were suitably designed and in place on a specific date. A Type 2 report covers a review period (usually 6-12 months) and attests that controls operated effectively throughout that period. Type 1 is the entry point and satisfies most initial enterprise buyer requests. Type 2 is what established enterprise clients and some regulated industries require. North Star builds toward Type 1 first, then establishes the evidence collection processes required for Type 2.
How long does it take to get a SOC 2 report?
Most clients reach SOC 2 Type 1 in 60-90 days of starting readiness work, assuming existing controls are at least partially in place. The process involves: gap analysis (2-4 weeks), control implementation and policy writing (4-8 weeks), evidence preparation and auditor coordination (2-4 weeks), and the audit itself (2-4 weeks). If you are starting from a very low control baseline, the timeline extends. Contact North Star early in the process; working backward from a client deadline usually determines the pace of work.
Do we need to hire a CPA firm separately?
Yes. SOC 2 audits must be performed by a licensed CPA firm with the appropriate attestation credentials. North Star is not a CPA firm and does not perform the audit. We prepare you for the audit, manage the auditor relationship, and handle the technical side of evidence production and control implementation. We recommend qualified CPA firms experienced with SOC 2 audits for Canadian technology companies and can introduce you to firms we have worked with. The auditor's fee is separate from North Star's readiness engagement.
We're a small company. Is SOC 2 too much for us?
SOC 2 is appropriate for any company selling services that touch client data, regardless of size. The audit scope is defined by your service description, not your company size. A 10-person SaaS startup selling to enterprise clients needs SOC 2 just as much as a 200-person firm. North Star scopes the readiness engagement to what is actually required for your service, not a maximum scope that drives up cost. For very early-stage companies, we can assess whether starting with a lightweight security framework (CIS Controls Level 1) before SOC 2 makes more practical sense given current sales traction.
SOC 2 readiness built on the technical controls you already need anyway.
North Star is based in Prince George and serves BC, Alberta, and the Yukon. Our SOC 2 readiness service uses your existing Microsoft 365 and Azure tooling as the evidence collection foundation wherever possible, minimizing the cost of additional compliance tools. We implement the technical controls (MFA, logging, encryption, access reviews) that you need for SOC 2 as part of your managed security posture, not as a separate compliance overhead. The result is a security program that produces a SOC 2 report and also makes your environment genuinely more secure and compliant with Canadian privacy legislation. We speak both the technical language of security implementation and the process language of compliance auditors, so there is no translation layer between your IT team and your auditor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SOC 2 auditors in Canada and consultants?
While SOC 2 auditors in Canada are independent CPA firms that perform the final examination and issue the report, SOC 2 certification consultants in Canada like Northstar IT prepare your organisation for that process. We act as your readiness partner, identifying gaps in your current security posture, building necessary policies, and implementing technical controls. This ensures that when the auditor arrives, your systems already meet the rigorous Trust Services Criteria.
How long does the SOC 2 compliance Vancouver process usually take?
For businesses in Vancouver and across BC, the readiness phase typically takes three to six months depending on current security maturity. Following this, a Type 1 audit is a snapshot in time, while a Type 2 audit evaluates controls over a period, usually six to twelve months. Our consultants accelerate this by providing pre-configured security templates and automated monitoring tools tailored for Canadian mid-market firms.
Which Trust Services Criteria should we prioritise for our Canadian business?
The Security criteria is the only mandatory category for every SOC 2 report. However, depending on your industry and client requirements, you may need to include Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, or Privacy. Our team helps you determine the appropriate scope to satisfy your customers while managing the operational impact on your Prince George or Calgary headquarters.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 reports?
A Type 1 report describes your systems and whether your controls are suitably designed as of a specific date. A Type 2 report goes further by testing the operating effectiveness of those controls over a duration of time. Most enterprise clients in Alberta and BC prefer Type 2 reports because they provide greater assurance that security behaviours are consistent and reliable.
How does Northstar IT assist with continuous compliance?
We integrate compliance into your daily operations through managed security services. This includes 24/7 monitoring, automated patching, and regular vulnerability scans. By maintaining these controls year-round, we ensure that your annual re-certification process is smooth and that your organisation remains protected against evolving cyber threats across Western Canada.