From Zero to Audit-Ready in 10 Weeks
Fixed fee. No surprises. Built for founders facing their first enterprise deal that requires SOC 2 compliance.
$8,500 Fixed Fee
No hourly billing, no surprise invoices
10 Weeks
Structured timeline from start to finish
Audit-Ready
Everything you need for your SOC 2 audit
The Problem
SOC 2 was not built for bootstrapped founders
You are caught between solutions that are too expensive, too impersonal, or too distracting from what matters most: your product.
Vague Big Four Quotes
You asked a large firm for a proposal and got a range of $50k-$150k with no clear scope. That is not a budget—it is a gamble.
Impersonal Automation Platforms
Tools like Vanta and Drata are powerful, but they hand you templates and leave you to figure out the rest on your own.
Engineering Distraction
Your developers should be shipping product, not Googling security policies and trying to interpret audit frameworks.
Deal Anxiety
An enterprise prospect just asked about your SOC 2 report. The clock is ticking and the deal is on the line.
The Solution
A founder-focused consultant who gets it done
Audit Vault bridges the gap between expensive Big Four firms and impersonal automation platforms. You get a dedicated consultant who understands your constraints, speaks your language, and delivers results on a predictable timeline and budget.
- Deep SOC 2 framework mastery over check-the-box credentials
- Fixed-fee pricing so you know the cost before you commit
- Founder-to-founder empathy—I understand bootstrapped constraints
- Hands-on policy writing, not just templates
- Clear 10-week timeline with weekly milestones
How I address the certification question
"I chose not to pursue Security+ because I believe my clients are better served by deep, practical mastery of the SOC 2 framework itself\u2014not by a generalist certification."
"My entire practice is built on understanding the 5 Trust Services Criteria and 9 Common Criteria inside and out. I write policies, define controls, and prepare companies for audits every day. That is what gets you audit-ready."
"Certifications measure test-taking ability. My portfolio measures real results. I would rather show you the work than show you a badge."
The bottom line
I chose depth over breadth. Every hour I spend is focused on the one framework that matters for your enterprise deal: SOC 2.
How It Works
A clear 4-phase methodology over 10 weeks
No ambiguity, no scope creep. You will know exactly where you are and what comes next at every stage.
Phase 1
Scope & Plan
Weeks 1-2
- Define Trust Services Criteria in scope
- Map your infrastructure and data flows
- Identify key stakeholders and system boundaries
- Deliver a detailed readiness roadmap
Phase 2
Gap Analysis
Weeks 3-4
- Assess current controls against SOC 2 requirements
- Identify gaps across all 9 Common Criteria
- Prioritize remediation by impact and effort
- Deliver a gap report with clear action items
Phase 3
Policy & Controls
Weeks 5-8
- Write tailored security policies (not templates)
- Design and implement control procedures
- Configure monitoring and evidence collection
- Train your team on compliance workflows
Phase 4
Readiness Review
Weeks 9-10
- Conduct a mock audit against all criteria
- Verify evidence collection completeness
- Prepare management assertion letter
- Brief your team for the auditor engagement
Services & Pricing
Transparent pricing. No hourly billing.
Know exactly what you are paying before you start. Every engagement is a fixed fee with a clear scope.
Foundation Audit
Ideal when you need clarity before committing to a full program. Get a complete scope definition, gap analysis, and actionable roadmap.
- Trust Services Criteria scoping
- Infrastructure and data flow mapping
- Gap analysis across all 9 Common Criteria
- Prioritized remediation roadmap
- Executive summary for stakeholders
Readiness Accelerator
Everything you need to go from zero to audit-ready. Includes everything in Foundation plus full policy writing, control implementation, and readiness review.
- Everything in Foundation Audit
- Tailored policy and procedure writing
- Control design and implementation
- Evidence collection setup
- Team compliance training
- Mock audit and readiness review
- Auditor engagement preparation
How Audit Vault compares
| Feature | Big Four | Automation Platforms | Audit Vault |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $50k–$150k | $10k–$50k/yr | $8,500 fixed |
| Human Guidance | Junior staff | Founder-led | |
| Policy Writing | Billable hourly | Templates only | Included, tailored |
| Founder Empathy | |||
| Fixed Timeline | Self-paced | 10 weeks | |
| Transparent Pricing | Subscription |
Framework Mastery
Deep expertise in the SOC 2 framework
I don't just know the framework\u2014I live it. Here is a look at the depth of knowledge I bring to every engagement.
The 5 Trust Services Criteria
These are the pillars of every SOC 2 report. I help you determine which are in scope and build controls for each.
Security (Common Criteria)
The foundation of every SOC 2 report. Covers logical and physical access controls, system operations, change management, and risk mitigation.
Availability
Ensures your systems are operational and accessible as committed. Covers monitoring, disaster recovery, and incident response.
Processing Integrity
Validates that system processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized for its intended purpose.
Confidentiality
Protects information designated as confidential. Covers encryption, access restrictions, and data retention policies.
Privacy
Addresses how personal information is collected, used, retained, disclosed, and disposed of in line with commitments.
The 9 Common Criteria (CC1\u2013CC9), in plain language
Security is required for every SOC 2 report. These 9 areas make up the Security criteria. Here is what each one really means.
Control Environment
The tone at the top—your organization’s commitment to integrity and ethics.
Communication & Information
How you share security policies and expectations internally and externally.
Risk Assessment
How you identify, analyze, and manage risks to your business and data.
Monitoring Activities
How you evaluate whether your controls are actually working over time.
Control Activities
The specific actions—policies, procedures, technologies—you use to mitigate risks.
Logical & Physical Access
Who can access what, how you restrict entry, and how you manage credentials.
System Operations
How you detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents.
Change Management
How you manage changes to infrastructure, data, software, and procedures.
Risk Mitigation
How you address risks through vendor management and business continuity planning.
Sample Scope Definition
Here is what a real scope definition looks like. This is the first deliverable you receive in every engagement.
Scope Definition
CloudSync (fictional B2B SaaS)
Real-time data synchronization platform
Criteria in Scope
- Security (Required)
- Availability
- Confidentiality
System Boundaries
- AWS infrastructure (us-east-1, us-west-2)
- Application layer (Node.js API, React dashboard)
- PostgreSQL database with customer data
- Third-party integrations: Stripe, SendGrid, Datadog
Excluded from Scope
- Mobile applications (not yet in production)
- Internal HR systems
- Physical office security (fully remote team)
Testimonials
What founders are saying
Early clients receive a discounted engagement in exchange for a case study and testimonial.
"Your first client testimonial will go here. Early clients receive a discounted rate in exchange for a detailed case study and testimonial."
Future Client
Founder & CEO, Your SaaS Company
"Another testimonial spot reserved for a founder who went from zero to audit-ready with Audit Vault. Real results, real words."
Future Client
CTO, Your SaaS Company
"A third testimonial from a bootstrapped founder who closed their first enterprise deal thanks to SOC 2 readiness."
Future Client
Co-Founder, Your SaaS Company
Client logos will appear here as the portfolio grows
FAQ
Common questions
Ready to turn compliance into a competitive advantage?
Book a free 15-minute strategy call. No pitch. Just clarity on where you stand and what it takes to get audit-ready.
Or email directly: hello@auditvault.com