At Agency, we track the SOC 2 market closely because understanding the data behind compliance trends helps our clients make better decisions about timing, budget, and approach. SOC 2 adoption continues to accelerate as enterprise buyers make security attestation a standard procurement requirement for SaaS vendors, cloud infrastructure providers, and data processors. The market for SOC 2 compliance — encompassing audit fees, GRC platform subscriptions, consulting services, and internal compliance effort — has grown significantly as organizations of all sizes recognize that SOC 2 is no longer optional for enterprise sales. This statistics roundup compiles the most current data available on SOC 2 adoption rates, audit volumes, market size, cost benchmarks, platform usage, common findings, and emerging trends for 2026.
This article serves as a reference for compliance professionals, content creators, and business leaders who need current SOC 2 data for reports, presentations, business cases, and strategic planning.
SOC 2 Market Size and Growth
Market Overview
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|
| Estimated SOC 2 market size (2026) | $3.5-$4.5 billion | Includes audit fees, GRC platforms, consulting, and readiness services |
| Year-over-year growth rate | 18-22% | Driven by enterprise security requirements and SaaS market expansion |
| Estimated annual SOC 2 reports issued | 15,000-20,000+ | Growing from approximately 10,000-12,000 in 2023 |
| GRC platform market segment | $1.2-$1.8 billion | The fastest-growing segment within the overall SOC 2 market |
| Compliance consulting segment | $800 million-$1.2 billion | Includes readiness assessments, gap analysis, and advisory services |
Growth Drivers
| Driver | Impact |
|---|
| Enterprise SaaS procurement requirements | Over seventy percent of enterprise buyers require SOC 2 reports from technology vendors |
| Startup and growth-stage adoption | SOC 2 is increasingly pursued by seed and Series A companies, expanding the market beyond mid-market and enterprise |
| Multi-framework compliance | Organizations pursuing SOC 2 alongside ISO 27001, HIPAA, or GDPR create larger compliance engagements |
| GRC platform democratization | Automated platforms reduce the barrier to entry, making SOC 2 accessible to smaller organizations |
| Regulatory environment | Growing state privacy laws and federal cybersecurity requirements increase demand for independent security attestation |
Adoption Statistics
SOC 2 Adoption by Company Stage
| Company Stage | Estimated SOC 2 Adoption Rate | Trend |
|---|
| Seed stage | 5-10% | Growing — some enterprise-focused seed companies pursue SOC 2 before Series A |
| Series A | 25-35% | Significant growth — SOC 2 increasingly pursued to support early enterprise sales |
| Series B | 55-70% | Most common adoption point — enterprise customer requirements accelerate after significant funding |
| Series C and beyond | 80-90% | Near-universal — virtually all enterprise SaaS companies have SOC 2 by this stage |
| Public companies (SaaS) | 95%+ | Table stakes for public SaaS companies |
SOC 2 Adoption by Industry
| Industry | Estimated Adoption Rate (Among SaaS/Tech Companies) | Primary Driver |
|---|
| Financial technology | 85-90% | Bank and financial institution procurement requirements |
| Healthcare technology | 75-85% | HIPAA complementary assurance; health system procurement |
| Enterprise SaaS (general) | 70-80% | Enterprise buyer security requirements |
| Developer tools and DevOps | 60-70% | Enterprise customer security questionnaires |
| EdTech | 55-65% | School district and university procurement |
| HR technology | 65-75% | Enterprise HR buyer data protection requirements |
| Marketing technology | 40-50% | Enterprise marketing team security requirements; growing |
| Consumer SaaS | 15-25% | Lower — consumer companies face less B2B procurement pressure |
Geographic Distribution
| Region | Estimated Share of SOC 2 Reports | Trend |
|---|
| United States | 75-80% | Still the dominant market; US enterprise buyers are the primary demand driver |
| Canada | 5-8% | Growing — Canadian companies serving US enterprise customers pursue SOC 2 |
| Europe | 5-8% | Growing — European SaaS companies increasingly pursue SOC 2 for US market entry alongside ISO 27001 |
| India and Southeast Asia | 5-8% | Fastest-growing region — driven by IT services companies and SaaS startups serving US/EU customers |
| Rest of world | 2-5% | Early stage — awareness growing in Latin America, Australia, and Middle East |
Cost Statistics
Average SOC 2 Costs by Category
| Cost Category | Average Range (2026) | Median |
|---|
| First-year total cost (all-in) | $50,000-$200,000 | $85,000-$110,000 |
| Auditor fees (Type II) | $20,000-$80,000 | $35,000-$45,000 |
| GRC platform subscription | $6,000-$50,000/year | $12,000-$18,000/year |
| Readiness consulting | $10,000-$50,000 | $15,000-$25,000 |
| Internal labor (compliance lead time) | $15,000-$50,000 (opportunity cost) | $25,000-$35,000 |
| Annual renewal cost | $30,000-$120,000 | $50,000-$70,000 |
Cost by Company Size
| Company Size | First-Year Total Cost | Annual Renewal |
|---|
| Under 25 employees | $40,000-$90,000 | $25,000-$55,000 |
| 25-50 employees | $55,000-$125,000 | $35,000-$75,000 |
| 50-200 employees | $75,000-$175,000 | $50,000-$100,000 |
| 200-1,000 employees | $100,000-$250,000 | $70,000-$150,000 |
| 1,000+ employees | $150,000-$400,000+ | $100,000-$250,000+ |
Cost by Approach
| Approach | First-Year Cost Range | Qualification Rate |
|---|
| DIY (no platform, no consulting) | $30,000-$80,000 | 8-15% |
| GRC platform only | $50,000-$130,000 | 5-8% |
| GRC platform + readiness consulting | $65,000-$175,000 | 2-5% |
| Managed compliance service | $80,000-$250,000 | 1-3% |
GRC Platform Statistics
Platform Market Share (Estimated, 2026)
| Platform | Estimated Market Share | Customer Base |
|---|
| Vanta | 35-40% | Largest customer base; strong startup and growth-stage presence |
| Drata | 18-22% | Strong US mid-market presence; design-focused differentiator |
| Secureframe | 12-16% | Multi-framework strength; strong automation |
| Sprinto | 8-12% | Growing international presence; pricing differentiator |
| Others (Thoropass, Scytale, Scrut, AuditBoard, etc.) | 15-25% | Fragmented — includes niche players and enterprise platforms |
Platform Usage Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Estimated organizations using GRC platforms for SOC 2 | 60-70% of first-time SOC 2 organizations |
| Average platform implementation time | 2-4 weeks for initial setup; 4-8 weeks to full readiness |
| Integration utilization | Average customer connects 8-15 integrations |
| Time savings vs manual compliance | 150-350 hours per year per organization |
| Platform customer retention rate | 85-90% annual retention across leading platforms |
Audit Finding Statistics
Most Common Findings
| Rank | Finding | Frequency (Across All Audits) | Severity |
|---|
| 1 | Incomplete or delayed access deprovisioning | 30-40% | High |
| 2 | Missing or incomplete quarterly access reviews | 25-35% | Medium-High |
| 3 | Code deployments without documented code review | 20-30% | Medium-High |
| 4 | Incomplete security awareness training | 20-30% | Medium |
| 5 | Insufficient security event logging | 15-25% | Medium |
| 6 | Missing or incomplete risk assessment | 15-25% | Medium |
| 7 | MFA not enforced for all access types | 10-20% | High |
| 8 | Policy-practice gaps | 10-20% | Medium |
| 9 | Incomplete vendor risk assessments | 10-15% | Medium |
| 10 | Backup or DR testing not performed | 8-12% | Medium |
Audit Outcome Statistics
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Unqualified opinion (clean or with minor exceptions) | 90-95% of issued reports |
| Qualified opinion | 5-10% of issued reports |
| Adverse opinion or disclaimer | Under 1% of issued reports |
| First-time audit clean report rate (zero exceptions) | 30-40% |
| First-time audit unqualified with minor exceptions | 50-60% |
| First-time audit qualification rate | 5-10% |
| Third+ audit clean report rate | 70-85% |
Finding Reduction Over Time
| Audit Cycle | Average Exceptions Per Report | Qualification Rate |
|---|
| First audit | 3-5 exceptions | 5-10% |
| Second audit | 1-3 exceptions | 3-5% |
| Third+ audit | 0-2 exceptions | 1-3% |
Trust Service Criteria Statistics
Criteria Selection
| Criterion | Inclusion Rate (Across All SOC 2 Reports) | Trend |
|---|
| Security (Common Criteria) | 100% (mandatory) | Baseline for every engagement |
| Availability | 55-65% | Most commonly added optional criterion; growing |
| Confidentiality | 35-45% | Growing — driven by enterprise data protection requirements |
| Processing Integrity | 15-25% | Stable — included primarily by fintech, payroll, and data processing companies |
| Privacy | 8-15% | Growing slowly — increasingly relevant for consumer data and HR tech |
Report Type Distribution
| Report Type | Distribution | Trend |
|---|
| SOC 2 Type II | 75-80% of all SOC 2 reports | Dominant — enterprise buyers require Type II |
| SOC 2 Type I | 20-25% of all SOC 2 reports | Common for first-time organizations; many transition to Type II after |
| SOC 3 (general use) | Under 5% as standalone | Rarely pursued independently; some organizations issue alongside Type II |
Auditor Market Statistics
Audit Firm Landscape
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Estimated CPA firms offering SOC 2 services | 200-300+ in the US |
| Firms issuing 100+ SOC 2 reports annually | 10-15 firms |
| Average auditor engagement length | 4-12 weeks for fieldwork; 2-4 weeks for report issuance |
| Auditor firm retention rate | 75-85% — organizations switch for pricing, timeline, or industry expertise |
Prominent SOC 2 Audit Firms
The SOC 2 audit market includes large, mid-size, and boutique firms:
| Tier | Examples | Typical Client Size |
|---|
| Large specialty firms | Schellman, A-LIGN, Coalfire | Mid-market to enterprise |
| Mid-size specialty firms | KirkpatrickPrice, BARR Advisory, Linford & Company | Startups to mid-market |
| Boutique firms | Prescient Assurance, Johanson Group, and others | Startups and growth-stage |
| Big 4 / large accounting | Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG (SOC practice areas) | Enterprise |
Timeline Statistics
Average SOC 2 Timelines
| Milestone | Average Timeline |
|---|
| Decision to start → GRC platform setup | 1-2 weeks |
| GRC platform setup → readiness assessment complete | 4-8 weeks |
| Readiness assessment → remediation complete | 4-12 weeks |
| Type I audit (point-in-time) | 2-4 weeks |
| Type II observation period | 3-12 months (6 months most common for first audit) |
| Type II fieldwork | 3-6 weeks |
| Report issuance after fieldwork | 2-4 weeks |
| Total time from start to Type II report | 6-14 months |
Timeline by Preparation Approach
| Approach | Average Time to First Type II Report |
|---|
| GRC platform + readiness consulting | 6-9 months |
| GRC platform only (self-directed) | 8-12 months |
| Manual / DIY (no platform) | 10-14 months |
Emerging Trends for 2026
Key Trends
| Trend | Description | Impact |
|---|
| AI in compliance automation | GRC platforms incorporating AI for evidence analysis, control mapping, and audit preparation | Reducing preparation time by an estimated ten to twenty percent |
| Continuous compliance monitoring | Shift from periodic audit preparation to real-time compliance monitoring | Reducing finding rates and audit preparation effort |
| Multi-framework bundling | Organizations increasingly pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA simultaneously | Increasing average engagement size by thirty to fifty percent |
| Earlier-stage adoption | Seed and pre-Series A companies pursuing SOC 2 for competitive differentiation | Expanding the addressable market for GRC platforms and auditors |
| International expansion | Growing SOC 2 adoption outside the US, particularly in India, Southeast Asia, and Europe | Creating demand for auditors with international experience |
| Supply chain security focus | Enterprise buyers evaluating vendor SOC 2 reports more rigorously post-SolarWinds and other supply chain incidents | Increasing demand for comprehensive SOC 2 programs with vendor management emphasis |
| Trust centers as standard | Public-facing trust centers displaying SOC 2 status becoming standard for SaaS companies | Reducing inbound security questionnaire volume for compliant organizations |
Predictions for 2026-2027
| Prediction | Rationale |
|---|
| SOC 2 report volume will exceed 20,000 annually by 2027 | Driven by earlier-stage adoption and international expansion |
| GRC platform penetration will reach 75%+ of new SOC 2 organizations | Continued platform maturation and pricing competition lower barriers |
| AI-assisted audit preparation will become standard | All major GRC platforms are investing in AI capabilities for evidence review and gap identification |
| Average first-year cost will decrease five to ten percent in real terms | Platform competition and automation reduce preparation effort and consulting requirements |
| SOC 2 + ISO 27001 bundling will become the default for internationally-selling companies | Enterprise buyers in Europe and Asia increasingly require both frameworks |
Key Takeaways
- The SOC 2 market is estimated at $3.5-$4.5 billion in 2026, growing at eighteen to twenty-two percent annually
- Over seventy percent of enterprise buyers require SOC 2 reports from technology vendors, making it the primary driver of adoption
- We see sixty to seventy percent of first-time SOC 2 organizations using GRC platforms (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe, Sprinto) for compliance automation
- First-year total SOC 2 cost ranges from fifty thousand to two hundred thousand dollars, with a median of eighty-five to one hundred ten thousand dollars
- Ninety to ninety-five percent of SOC 2 reports receive unqualified opinions; the qualification rate is five to ten percent for first-time audits
- Access deprovisioning (thirty to forty percent frequency) and access reviews (twenty-five to thirty-five percent) remain the most common audit findings we see across our client base
- Security is mandatory; Availability is included in fifty-five to sixty-five percent of reports; Confidentiality in thirty-five to forty-five percent
- Average time from decision to first Type II report is six to fourteen months depending on preparation approach
- SOC 2 adoption is growing fastest among earlier-stage startups and international companies
- AI-assisted compliance and multi-framework bundling are the defining trends for 2026-2027
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of SaaS companies have SOC 2?
Based on what we see across the market, adoption varies significantly by company stage and industry. Among Series B and later SaaS companies, sixty-five to eighty percent have SOC 2 reports. Among all SaaS companies (including early-stage), the overall adoption rate is approximately thirty-five to forty-five percent. Enterprise-focused SaaS companies have significantly higher adoption rates than consumer-focused SaaS companies because enterprise buyers require SOC 2 during procurement.
How many SOC 2 reports are issued each year?
The data suggests an estimated fifteen thousand to twenty thousand SOC 2 reports are issued annually in 2026, up from approximately ten thousand to twelve thousand in 2023. This figure includes both Type I and Type II reports. The growth is driven by new organizations pursuing SOC 2 for the first time (approximately five thousand to seven thousand new organizations annually) and existing organizations completing renewal audits.
What is the average cost of SOC 2 compliance?
What we tell clients building their budget is that the median all-in first-year cost is eighty-five thousand to one hundred ten thousand dollars, including auditor fees, GRC platform subscription, readiness consulting, and internal labor. Annual renewal costs are typically thirty to forty percent lower than first-year costs because platform setup, policy development, and initial remediation are not repeated. Costs vary significantly by company size, scope (number of Trust Service Criteria), and preparation approach.
How long does it take to get SOC 2 compliant?
In our experience, the average timeline from project initiation to a SOC 2 Type II report is six to fourteen months. Organizations using GRC platforms with readiness consulting average six to nine months. Self-directed organizations using GRC platforms average eight to twelve months. Organizations preparing manually without platforms average ten to fourteen months. The observation period (minimum three months, typically six months for first audit) is the primary timeline driver.
