Both are SOC 2 reports from a CPA firm, but they answer two different questions — and take very different amounts of time. Here's how to tell them apart and choose the right one.
The one-line difference
Type I proves your controls are designed correctly at a single point in time. Type II proves they actually operated effectively over a period — usually 3 to 12 months. Type I is a snapshot; Type II is a movie.
| Type I | Type II | |
|---|---|---|
| What it proves | Controls are designed well, today | Controls worked over a period |
| Time to obtain | Fast (readiness + a point-in-time review) | Readiness + a 3–12 month observation window |
| Typical buyer ask | "Do you have anything yet?" | "Send us your SOC 2" (usually means Type II) |
| Effort | Lower | Higher — evidence across the whole window |
When Type I makes sense
- You need something in hand quickly to unblock a deal or security review.
- It's your first audit and you want to prove your program is real before committing to a full window.
When you need Type II
- Most enterprise customers ultimately want Type II — it shows your controls hold up over time, not just on audit day.
- You want the strongest, most durable signal of trust.
You usually end up at Type IIA common path is to get a Type I quickly, then run a Type II observation window right after. With continuous automation collecting evidence the whole time, the window becomes a background process instead of a scramble at the end.
How to decide
If a deal is waiting right now, start with Type I. If you have a little runway, go straight for Type II. Either way, the underlying work — controls, evidence, remediation — is the same; Type II just proves it across a period.
General guidance, not audit advice. SOC 2 reports are issued by a licensed CPA firm, not by Vallorix.