If you build smart collars, vet telehealth apps, pet insurance platforms, or connected feeders, you handle far more than pet data. In reality, you collect and store sensitive owner information. GPS data from a dog collar can reveal when a home is empty. Likewise, insurance claims contain financial records, while vet chat logs often include addresses, phone numbers, and payment details. As a result, enterprise partners, veterinary networks, pet insurers, and retail platforms increasingly require a SOC 2 report before signing a contract. Therefore, choosing the right SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups has become a critical business decision.
Most SOC 2 vendor roundups target general B2B SaaS companies. However, pet tech companies face unique security challenges. Beyond customer databases, they manage IoT devices, GPS and geofencing data, pet camera feeds, veterinary system integrations, and payment processing for subscriptions and insurance claims. Consequently, a compliance program designed for a standard SaaS platform may leave major security gaps.
To help you make the right choice, we’ll explain what matters most when evaluating SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups. Then, we’ll review and rank the 12 best options, including compliance automation platforms, audit firms, and hybrid providers. You’ll also find pricing details, features, advantages, drawbacks, and recommendations for different business needs.
Why Pet Tech Has a Different SOC 2 Risk Profile Than Typical SaaS
Before choosing among SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups, understand the unique risks that set this industry apart from traditional SaaS businesses:
1. Location data creates significant privacy risks.
- Smart collars and GPS trackers collect highly sensitive location information.
- This data can reveal home addresses, daily routines, and travel patterns.
- Therefore, SOC 2 providers must evaluate encryption, retention policies, access controls, and location-data governance.
2. Connected devices add hardware security challenges.
- Pet tech products often include IoT devices, smart feeders, cameras, and wearables.
- While SOC 2 assesses data security controls, it does not certify device or firmware security.
- Many startups need penetration testing and IoT security assessments alongside SOC 2 compliance.
3. Payment and insurance integrations increase compliance requirements.
- Pet insurance claims, subscription payments, and telehealth billing expose sensitive financial data.
- Consequently, many companies require both SOC 2 and PCI DSS compliance.
- Some businesses may also need HIPAA-aligned controls when integrating with veterinary practice management systems.
4. Enterprise-style buyers expect strong security programs.
- Retail chains, insurers, and veterinary networks conduct rigorous vendor security reviews.
- A SOC 2 report and Trust Center can accelerate procurement and vendor approval processes.
- Therefore, compliance often becomes a competitive advantage rather than just a security requirement.
5.Pet data still falls under broader privacy regulations.
- Although no dedicated pet-data privacy law exists, pet tech platforms routinely collect owner PII.
- GDPR, state privacy laws, and other data protection regulations may still apply.
- For this reason, startups should work with SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that understand both pet and customer data privacy obligations.
In short, pet tech companies manage a mix of location tracking, connected devices, financial transactions, and personal information. The best SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups recognize these risks and provide support beyond standard SaaS compliance programs.
The 12 Best SOC 2 Certification Services for Pet Tech Startups
1. Vanta
Vanta is the most widely adopted compliance automation platform in the market, and for pet tech startups specifically, its breadth of integrations and cross-framework mapping make it a strong default choice. For a pet tech company running a cloud backend, a mobile app, and a handful of AWS or GCP services tied to IoT device management, Vanta’s automated test library covers the core cloud-security controls well, though it won’t replace dedicated firmware testing for the hardware side of your product. Vanta pricing ranges from roughly $10,000–$20,000 per year at the entry tier up to $50,000–$100,000-plus for larger, multi-framework deployments.
Features
- Connects to 400+ cloud, identity, endpoint, and ticketing systems with continuous automated testing
- Cross-maps controls across 35+ frameworks, so SOC 2 evidence carries over to ISO 27001, HIPAA, or PCI DSS as your pet tech company adds payment processing or insurance integrations
- AI-assisted policy generation speeds up the document-heavy parts of audit prep
- Trust Center lets pet insurers, retailers, and vet networks self-serve your compliance posture instead of emailing PDFs back and forth
- Vendor risk management module helps track the security posture of third-party vet API or payment partners
Pros
- Largest integration library, useful if your stack spans cloud infrastructure, device management tooling, and a payments processor
- Strong brand recognition with enterprise procurement teams, which can shorten vendor security reviews with big retail or insurance partners
- Mature product with frequent updates to its control library
Cons
- Does not natively assess firmware or embedded device security — pet tech companies with connected hardware will still need a separate penetration test
- Doesn’t include the actual SOC 2 audit; you still need to engage an independent CPA firm separately
Verdict: Vanta is the best fit if your pet tech startup is primarily a software and mobile-app business with some connected hardware on the side, and you want the most enterprise-trusted name on your Trust Center page when pitching to insurers or big retail partners.
2. Drata
Drata is built for teams that want deep automation and the flexibility to manage a growing, multi-product compliance program, which fits pet tech companies that start with a single app and expand into hardware, insurance partnerships, or international markets. Drata’s Foundation tier and broader platform pricing typically lands in the $15,000–$25,000 range annually for a 30–80 person company, with 200–400 integrations, automated evidence collection, a Trust Center, and access to an auditor network bundled into that band. Pricing generally starts near $9,000 and scales with company size and framework count
Features
- Daily automated control testing across 250+ integrations
- AI-driven control mapping suggestions that connect existing policies to new framework requirements.
- Custom controls and workspaces, which let multi-product pet tech companies (e.g., a collar product plus a separate vet telehealth app) manage them under one compliance program
- Audit collaboration hub for direct, in-platform communication with your chosen CPA auditor
- Editable security policy library with templates that can be adapted for IoT-specific policies
Pros
- Strong fit for teams who already have some internal security capability and want a tool that gives them control, rather than heavy hand-holding
- Custom workspace structure handles companies with multiple product lines well, which is common in pet tech as hardware and software teams diverge
Cons
- Multi-framework pricing can become a significant line item once you’re running SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + PCI DSS simultaneously
Verdict: Drata is the best SOC 2 certification service for pet tech startups that have outgrown their first bare-bones compliance push and are scaling into multiple frameworks, multiple products, or international expansion.
3. Secureframe
Secureframe has built its reputation on being the platform that makes SOC 2 “not scary” for founders without a dedicated compliance hire, a common situation for pet tech startups where the founding team is split between hardware engineers and a small software group, with no in-house CISO. Pricing in 2026 starts around $7,500 per year for its Fundamentals plan and scales to $80,000-plus for large multi-framework deployments, with a median annual contract value of roughly $20,000
Features
- 300+ integrations with daily automated tests across cloud, identity, and endpoint systems
- Cross-mapped controls across 35+ frameworks, useful for layering PCI DSS onto SOC 2 as you add subscription billing or insurance claim payments
- Guided onboarding designed specifically for non-compliance-background founders
- AI-assisted policy creation that generates framework-ready documentation without a blank-page problem
- Trust Center for sharing live compliance posture with vet networks, insurers, or retail partners
Pros
- Best-in-class onboarding experience for teams with zero prior compliance exposure
- Responsive support that several reviewers single out as more proactive than competitors
- Lower entry price point than Vanta or Drata, useful for cash-conscious seed-stage pet tech companies
Cons
- No native hardware/firmware testing capability
- Some users report needing more manual evidence uploads for non-standard or custom infrastructure, which can include custom IoT device management backends
Verdict: Secureframe is the best SOC 2 certification service for pet tech startups whose founding team has strong hardware or product instincts but little to no security background, and who want a platform that walks them through every step.
4. Sprinto
If your pet tech startup is pre-seed or seed stage and trying to land its first big retail or insurance partner without burning through runway, Sprinto is consistently the most accessible entry point. Sprinto is the most budget-accessible option among major platforms, with entry pricing around $8,000–$10,000 per year, built around continuous automated monitoring rather than periodic manual checks.
Features
- Pre-approved, auditor-grade compliance programs that can launch within days rather than weeks
- Automated tests run twice daily, supporting roughly 20 frameworks
- Built-in MDM enforces device security policies without needing a separate third-party mobile device management tool — relevant for pet tech teams managing test devices, demo collars, and field hardware
- Dedicated compliance manager assigned per customer for hands-on guidance
Pros
- Lowest realistic entry price among full-featured automation platforms
- Dedicated compliance manager reduces the burden on founders who have no time to become compliance experts
- The built-in MDM feature is a genuine convenience for hardware-adjacent teams managing test devices and field units
Cons
- Smaller integration library (roughly 200+) than Vanta, Drata, or Secureframe, which can matter if your stack includes more niche IoT device management or vet API platforms
- Less advisory depth on complex, custom infrastructure compared to platforms with bigger enterprise client bases
- As you scale past growth stage, Sprinto’s renewal pricing moves into the same $15,000–$25,000+ band as the bigger platforms, so the budget advantage narrows over time
Verdict: Sprinto is the best SOC 2 certification service for pet tech startups under roughly 50 employees who need a single framework (SOC 2) fast and cheap, with a dedicated human guiding the process.
5. Scytale
Scytale positions itself as a hybrid between pure software automation and a consulting-led compliance partner, which suits pet tech founders who want more than a dashboard, they want someone proactively telling them what’s missing. Pricing starts around $7,500 per year, and the platform bundles an AI-driven GRC agent with access to advisory expertise that goes beyond what a self-serve dashboard typically offers.
Features
- Prebuilt SOC 2 frameworks paired with personalized onboarding aimed at non-technical founders
- AI GRC agent automates control monitoring and evidence requests
- Security control automation integrated with major cloud platforms
- Advisory bundle option pairs the software with consultative guidance through the audit cycle
- Supports 30+ frameworks for companies anticipating multi-framework needs (SOC 2 plus ISO 27001 or PCI DSS)
Pros
- Genuine advisory depth that goes beyond software-only platforms, useful for pet tech founders without any compliance background on the team
- Competitive entry pricing relative to Vanta and Drata
- Personalized onboarding specifically designed to make first-time SOC 2 less intimidating
Cons
- Does not include advisory services in its base tier, you pay extra for the consultative layer that differentiates it, and pricing creep at renewal is a noted complaint among users
- Smaller market share and integration ecosystem than the big three (Vanta, Drata, Secureframe).
Verdict: Scytale is a strong SOC 2 certification service for pet tech startups that want a real human advisory relationship without paying audit-firm-level fees, particularly first-time compliance teams.
6. Scrut Automation
Scrut has built a reputation for an unusually smooth setup experience, which matters for small pet tech teams without a dedicated IT or security function to manage onboarding. It earns particularly strong marks for ease of setup, scoring 9.7 out of 10 on key evaluation criteria, and combines continuous monitoring, automated evidence collection, risk assessment tools, and vendor management in one platform.
Features
- Continuous monitoring flags compliance drift in real time rather than only at scheduled checkpoints
- Automated evidence collection significantly reduces manual documentation work
- Risk assessment tooling gives a full organizational risk view, useful for pet tech companies juggling cloud, mobile, and IoT risk simultaneously
- Extensive integrations with cloud services, IAM, SSO, and HR platforms
- Vendor management module to track the security posture of third-party vet API, payment, or insurance integration partners
Pros
- Genuinely fast and low-friction setup, even for teams with no compliance experience
- Competitive pricing positions it well against the bigger automation platforms for SMB-stage companies
- Strong customer support responsiveness reported across reviews
Cons
- No specific IoT or hardware security capability, pure cloud/software focus
- Smaller overall market presence than Vanta or Drata means fewer pre-built integrations for niche pet-industry or vet-tech software
- Best suited to companies that are still SMB-scale; less proven at large multi-framework enterprise scale
Verdict: Scrut is one of the best SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that want enterprise-style compliance management without an enterprise learning curve or enterprise price tag.
7. Thoropass
Thoropass takes a different approach from the platforms above: instead of pairing software with a separate CPA firm you have to find yourself, Thoropass bundles compliance automation with its own in-house auditors in a single closed-loop engagement. Real pricing for Thoropass ranges from roughly $8,700 to $80,000 depending on scope and framework count, and its First Pass AI system has reportedly cut audit cycle times from 73 days down to 29 days by pre-screening evidence before a human auditor reviews it.
Features
- Connected audit model means the same vendor handles both compliance prep and the actual attestation, eliminating the back-and-forth of coordinating two separate vendors
- First Pass AI pre-screens evidence to flag issues before human auditor review, which shortens audit cycles
- Continuous Control Monitoring with real-time compliance status alerts
- Supports 30+ frameworks, including SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, HITRUST, and GDPR — a useful spread for pet tech companies adding payment and EU customer requirements
- Risk Register tracks organizational risk in one place alongside compliance status
- Penetration testing available alongside the core compliance service, relevant for pet tech hardware
Pros
- One vendor for both prep and audit removes a common pain point: handoff friction between a software platform and an external CPA firm
- Pricing transparency is better than most audit firms, which often require multiple sales calls before quoting a number
- Penetration testing being available under the same roof is a real convenience for connected-device pet tech companies
Cons
- A single combined vendor means less flexibility to shop your audit to a different CPA firm later if you’re unhappy with turnaround or pricing
- Mid-range pricing sits above the cheapest pure-automation options like Sprinto or Scrut
Verdict: Thoropass is a strong choice among SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that want to avoid managing two separate vendor relationships (compliance platform and audit firm) and value a faster, AI-assisted audit cycle.
8. Schellman
Schellman is not a software platform, it’s an independent CPA firm, and a highly specialized one, dedicating its entire practice to IT compliance, attestation, and cybersecurity rather than splitting focus across tax and general advisory work. The pricing charges roughly $20,000–$100,000 for a SOC 2 Type II audit, with timelines ranging from 3 to 12 months, and the firm holds 14 accreditations with specialization in regulated sectors including healthcare and financial services.
Features
- 100% dedicated IT compliance and cybersecurity focus, with no distraction from broader accounting services
- Capable of combined SOC 2 + ISO 27001, FedRAMP, or PCI DSS assessments in a single engagement, useful for pet tech companies adding payment processing
- SOC 2 Essentials bundle available on AWS Marketplace, combining audit expertise with compliance automation tooling for early-stage companies
- Deep experience auditing complex cloud environments across AWS, Azure, and GCP
- Early positioning on AI governance frameworks like ISO 42001, relevant if your pet tech product includes AI-driven health monitoring or diagnostic features
Pros
- Strong credibility with regulated-industry partners (insurers especially), which matters if your pet tech company is trying to get approved as a vendor to a major pet insurance carrier
- Combined-framework capability reduces the need to run separate audit engagements for SOC 2 and ISO 27001
- Healthcare specialization translates well to the health-data-adjacent parts of pet tech, like vet telehealth integrations
Cons
- Premium pricing relative to boutique specialist firms like A-LIGN or Prescient Security may push price-sensitive early-stage startups elsewhere
- As a firm with 700+ clients, smaller pet tech startups may get less white-glove attention than a boutique firm would offer
Verdict: Schellman is the right pick among SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that are past the earliest stage and need a report carrying real weight with insurance, healthcare-adjacent, or regulated retail partners.
9. A-LIGN
A-LIGN combines the scale of a large audit firm with proprietary technology that compresses traditional audit timelines, which is useful for pet tech companies that know SOC 2 is just the first of several certifications they’ll eventually need (ISO 27001 for European retail partners, PCI DSS for payments, HITRUST if vet-health integrations deepen). With a global team of certified SOC auditors and a track record of thousands of completed SOC assessments, A-LIGN has the depth to handle multi-framework programs without juggling separate vendors for each one.
Features
- Proprietary audit management platform (A-SCEND) that streamlines evidence requests and shortens typical audit timelines
- Broad framework coverage including SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, FedRAMP, HITRUST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and CMMC
- Technology-enabled audit workflows reduce manual back-and-forth during evidence review
- Combined audit capability allows simultaneous SOC 2 plus additional framework engagements
- Dedicated client success teams guide companies through readiness, the audit itself, and remediation afterward
Pros
- Genuinely useful if your pet tech roadmap includes multiple certifications over the next 18–24 months, since you can consolidate them with one auditor
- Strong experience in regulated industries (healthcare, finance) that overlaps usefully with vet-health-adjacent pet tech products
- Proprietary platform reduces some of the friction that comes with traditional, fully manual audit firms
Cons
- Better suited to mid-market and growth-stage companies than the very earliest pre-seed pet tech startups, both in price and in process complexity
- Engagement process can feel heavier than a pure self-serve automation platform for teams that just need a fast, single-framework SOC 2
Verdict: A-LIGN is one of the better SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that have raised a meaningful round, are selling into regulated industries like insurance, and expect to need more than just SOC 2 over the next two years.
10. Prescient Security
This is the most directly relevant pick on this list for hardware-heavy pet tech companies. Prescient Security was founded by CREST-certified penetration testers rather than traditional accountants, which means its team has genuine technical depth in exactly the area most generic SOC 2 vendors lack: testing connected devices, embedded systems, and the kind of attack surface a smart collar, camera, or feeder actually presents. Prescient Security charges $20,000–$75,000 for SOC 2 Type II audits, with timelines of 3–9 months, and holds 17 active accreditations including PCAOB registration and CREST certification for penetration testing.
Features
- Risk-based audit methodology that scopes controls to what your actual architecture requires, rather than a generic checklist — useful when a chunk of your “architecture” is physical hardware
- Fixed-fee, transparent pricing with most reports issued within 30 days of fieldwork completion
- Direct access to senior auditors throughout the engagement, rather than junior staff handling the bulk of communication
- Specializes in B2B SaaS, FinTech, and HealthTech — adjacent enough to pet tech’s payment and health-data-adjacent surfaces to bring relevant context
Pros
- Genuinely differentiated for connected-hardware pet tech companies; the CREST pentesting credential is not common among SOC 2-focused firms
- Risk-based scoping avoids forcing a hardware company into a pure-SaaS control checklist that doesn’t fit
- Fixed-fee pricing reduces the budgeting uncertainty common with audit firms that only quote after multiple sales calls
Cons
- Smaller firm than Schellman or A-LIGN, so less brand recognition with very large enterprise procurement teams
- Pricing sits in the mid-range of specialist firms, not the cheapest option for a cash-strapped pre-seed startup
Verdict: Prescient Security is arguably the single best SOC 2 certification service for pet tech startups with connected hardware, because it’s one of the few firms in this list that can credibly test the device itself, not just the cloud backend around it.
11. Insight Assurance
Insight Assurance brings Big Four-trained leadership to a smaller, more agile firm structure, which appeals to pet tech companies trying to land enterprise-grade credibility without an enterprise-grade audit timeline. Led by professionals with backgrounds at EY and PwC, the firm operates a dual structure, a CPA-licensed audit entity plus a separate consulting arm, to maintain proper auditor independence while still offering hands-on readiness support.
Features
- Dual structure (CPA firm plus consulting arm) ensures independence while still offering advisory support during prep
- AI-powered audit tools provide faster turnaround and real-time visibility into engagement status
- 24/7 auditor support reduces the bottlenecks that typically stall progress during evidence review
- Comprehensive framework coverage spanning SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, FedRAMP, and CMMC, a genuinely broad net for a pet tech company unsure which frameworks it’ll eventually need
Pros
- Big Four-trained leadership without Big Four pricing or timelines
- Round-the-clock support meaningfully reduces audit drag, a common complaint with traditional firms that only respond during business hours in one time zone
- Broad framework coverage means you likely won’t need to switch auditors as your compliance needs expand
Cons
- Less specific pet-industry or IoT experience referenced in public materials compared to Prescient Security’s hardware-testing focus.
- Smaller brand recognition among pet tech retail and insurance buyers compared to Schellman or A-LIGN
Verdict: Insight Assurance is a smart pick among SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups that want Big Four-quality rigor and global reach, but can’t tolerate a Big Four firm’s typical 6–12 month timeline and six-figure invoice.
12. Barr Advisory
Barr Advisory’s whole value proposition centers on reducing the burden on the client team during the audit itself, which matters enormously for pet tech startups where the same three or four engineers are juggling firmware updates, app releases, and now a SOC 2 audit on top of it. The firm reports helping clients spend 75% less time on internal resources during the audit process, reflecting a hands-on approach where auditors actively help write policies and map controls rather than simply handing over a checklist and waiting.
Features
- Auditors actively help write policies and map controls to the Trust Services Criteria, rather than leaving documentation entirely to the client
- Combined audits available for SOC 2 plus ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or HIPAA engagements, useful as pet tech companies add payment processing or vet-health integrations
- Deep familiarity with AWS, GCP, and Azure cloud environments
- Integration-friendly with Drata, Secureframe, Sprinto, and Vanta, so you can pair Barr’s audit expertise with whichever automation platform you’ve already chosen from earlier in this list
- Gap assessments that prioritize the most significant control deficiencies upfront, rather than a flat undifferentiated checklist
Pros
- Genuinely lighter lift on internal team time, which matters for resource-constrained hardware startups
- Works well alongside any of the major compliance automation platforms rather than requiring you to switch
- Combined-audit capability is useful for pet tech companies anticipating PCI DSS or HIPAA-adjacent needs soon after SOC 2
Cons
- No proprietary IoT or hardware testing capability of its own — you’d still need to engage a firm like Prescient Security separately for firmware-level penetration testing
- Smaller firm profile means less brand-name recognition with the largest enterprise or insurance buyers compared to Schellman or A-LIGN
- Best suited to companies that already have (or are getting) an automation platform in place, since Barr’s strength is the audit and guidance layer, not evidence automation itself
Verdict: Barr Advisory is one of the most practical SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups whose engineering team genuinely cannot afford to lose weeks of productivity to audit prep, and who want an auditor that functions more like a partner than a grader.
Final Verdict: The Best SOC 2 Certification Services for Pet Tech Startups
There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Pet tech startups range from software-only telehealth platforms to hardware-focused smart collar manufacturers.
If you run a software-first company and need your first enterprise deal, Vanta or Secureframe are strong starting points. However, if you sell connected devices, choose a provider that can assess both the hardware and the cloud environment. In that case, Prescient Security stands out.
If your team has limited time for audit preparation, consider Barr Advisory or Sprinto. Their hands-on compliance support can reduce the workload significantly. Meanwhile, fast-growing companies that expect to add new compliance frameworks should look at Drata or A-LIGN. Both can support long-term scaling without requiring a platform change later.
Ultimately, the best SOC 2 certification services for pet tech startups understand the industry’s unique risks. They treat location data, connected-device security, and compliance requirements with the same level of scrutiny as your customers, insurers, retail partners, and veterinary networks.