How much does SOC 2 cost for a startup?

Typically $20-40K all-in for Type I, including penetration test and audit. The enterprise deal it unblocks is usually $100K or more.

How long does SOC 2 take?

Type I takes 6-12 weeks. Type II requires a 6-12 month observation period. Most initial enterprise buyer requirements are satisfied by Type I.

What's the difference between SOC 2 Type I and Type II?

Type I is a point-in-time snapshot that proves your controls exist. Type II covers a period (usually 6-12 months) and proves your controls work over time. More sophisticated enterprise buyers require Type II.

Can I pass enterprise security review without SOC 2?

Sometimes, depending on the buyer. Some enterprise customers accept detailed security questionnaire responses and penetration test reports. Others require SOC 2 as a hard prerequisite.

Do I need a full-time security hire?

Probably not until $50M+ ARR or 200+ employees. Until then, fractional security leadership (virtual CISO) plus project-based work like penetration testing and compliance support covers most needs.

How do I respond to a security questionnaire?

Security questionnaires like SIG, CAIQ, and VSAQ follow common patterns. Building a reusable answer library and having someone experienced review responses significantly reduces turnaround time and improves pass rates.

Healthcare Practice Achieves HIPAA Compliance and Operational Confidence Without Costly Upgrades

Glacier Eye Clinic partnered with Adversis to meet HIPAA cybersecurity requirements, protect patient information, and strengthen business resilience—discovering that their most effective security improvements came from optimizing existing technology and training their team, not purchasing new systems.

Welcome to Strategis

New hardware purchases required—the clinic achieved compliance and strengthened their security posture through configuration optimization, process improvements, and targeted training.

Challenge

Glacier Eye Clinic's leadership needed to ensure HIPAA compliance and protect patient information while making smart decisions about technology spend. As a healthcare practice focused on patient care, they needed security improvements that wouldn't disrupt operations—and guidance they could actually understand and implement.

Solution

Adversis conducted a security risk assessment that went beyond baseline HIPAA Security Rule requirements, examining realistic risks across the business environment. The team translated technical findings into clear language and created detailed project plans the administrative staff could execute. Training addressed real threats like business email compromise, while configuration changes to existing technology eliminated previously unknown risks. Rather than recommending expensive hardware, Adversis helped the clinic fully utilize capabilities they already had.

Company

Glacier Eye Clinic

Industry

Healthcare

Services

Security Advisory, HIPAA Compliance, Security Awareness Training, Infrastructure Security Assessment

Glacier Eye Clinic faced the challenge many healthcare organizations know well: meeting HIPAA cybersecurity requirements while staying focused on patient care—and doing it without the budget for dedicated security staff or expensive new systems.

Leadership wanted more than a compliance certificate. They needed to understand their actual risk posture, protect patient information effectively, and make confident decisions about where technology investments would deliver real value.

Adversis began with a security risk assessment that examined the clinic's business environment beyond baseline HIPAA requirements. The assessment looked at realistic risks—technical, procedural, and operational—and translated findings into language the leadership team could act on.

What followed was hands-on implementation, not a report left on a shelf. Adversis worked with the administrative team to build processes that addressed real threats: strong offline procedures, secure account management, and financial transaction verification to reduce business email compromise risk. In-person training brought these concepts to life, giving staff the awareness to recognize and respond to threats.

On the technical side, Adversis collaborated with the clinic's IT team to implement targeted improvements. The assessment revealed that many effective security measures required configuration changes to existing technology—not costly new hardware. Previously unknown risks were eliminated, and the clinic gained better protection while reducing spend.

The outcome: HIPAA compliance achieved, patient data better protected, and a team that knows exactly what to do if an incident occurs. Staff have trained, drilled, and built the confidence that comes from understanding their security posture rather than hoping for the best.

For Glacier Eye Clinic, strategic investment in understanding their real risks delivered operational confidence alongside compliance—proving that effective healthcare security doesn't require enterprise budgets, just the right expertise applied where it matters.