How Rushing SOC 2 Compliance Can Cost You a Major Deal (What to Do Instead)

“Had verbal confirmation on our biggest deal ever. $2M over 3 years with a Fortune 500 company. Everything was going perfect… until their procurement team entered the chat: 'Just need your SOC 2 report and we're good to go!' ”

“We tried everything. Offered to do a security assessment instead. Offered to put money in escrow. Offered to sign any liability agreement they wanted. Nope. SOC 2 or nothing. We lost the deal. To a competitor who had SOC 2.”

That’s the beginning, and heartbreaking end, of a Reddit post we came across recently. And it’s not an isolated case.

We’ve seen this play out again and again:
Probably you run a great company, with a great product, but lose a deal simply because you don’t have the right compliance certification. Whether it’s SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, or another framework, lacking proof of security is enough to kill a deal, fast.

So how can you avoid this scenario? Maybe look for a fast solution? One thing is certain: you will benefit from starting ASAP on your compliance journey, BUT compliance is a marathon, not a sprint!

So let’s break this down: what went wrong, what you should take away from their story, and why trying to "fast-track" compliance in under 3 months is nothing but a trap.

(Below is the full Reddit post in case in question)

Table of Contents:

• Why SOC 2 Certification Is a Dealbreaker in Enterprise Sales
  
• What Happens When You Try to Rush SOC 2 in Weeks
• Risks of Fast Compliance
• BEMO’s Take: Start SOC 2 Compliance Before You Need It
• Why Work with BEMO for SOC 2 Compliance?

Why SOC 2 Certification Is a Dealbreaker in Enterprise Sales

When you’re selling to enterprise companies, procurement teams aren’t just looking at features or pricing. They’re looking at risk.

And if you can’t show a valid SOC 2 report (Type 1 or Type 2), you’re a risk, no matter how good your product is.

This is especially true in industries like: logistics, fintech, healthcare, legal tech, HR tech. Anything involving customer data or cloud-based systems.

Your buyer might love your solution, but their security team will still shut it down if you can't prove compliance. 

What Happens When You Try to Rush SOC 2 in Weeks

The Reddit user tried everything to keep the customer's interest and seal the deal. But ultimately what they offered to elude compliance did not match the client's expectations and needs. No SOC 2 meant game over. What do they claim to have done next?:

"After we lost the deal, I went down a rabbit hole and found there are actually platforms now that can get you compliant in 3-4 weeks. Not 6 months. Not even 3 months. Weeks. But all the consultants and big vendors have incentive to make it seem like it takes forever."

BE CAREFUL HERE! We know that losing a deal creates a cycle of frustration and lost pipeline, but it also leads to last-minute compliance scrambles and poorly choosing bad-fit vendors who promise miracles.

It’s tempting to believe there are shortcuts. And sure, you WILL find vendors who claim they can get you compliant in 3–4 weeks.

But here’s the truth: That is not real compliance. That’s sketchy marketing.

As our CISO and co-founder Bruno Lecoq says:

"Too many companies treat SOC 2 as a checkbox exercise, a hurdle to clear for sales or marketing purposes. They rush through the process, prioritizing the certificate over the substance. This mindset not only undermines the value of SOC 2 but also exposes organizations to real security risks."

It’s painful. And entirely avoidable. The reality is there's a reason for why compliance takes time:

• Your security policies need to be reviewed and updated.

• Your systems and tools need to be aligned to specific controls.

• Your team needs training.

• Your documentation needs to be clear and audit-ready.

• And your audit period itself (for Type 2) takes months.

Even with automation tools like Drata or Vanta, you can’t do this properly in 3–4 weeks. Not if you’re doing it for real. And this is no secret news. Just read some of the comments replying to the original post:

Risks of Fast Compliance

When companies rush into SOC 2 with the mindset of “just get the paper,” they:

• Burn cash on unreliable vendors

• Waste internal resources

• Still fail audits, or get a certificate that doesn't hold up under scrutiny

• Put themselves at real risk for breaches and fines

• Lose trust with enterprise clients (or lose the deal entirely)

That’s why Bruno adds:

“If every company were serious about securing its environment, many of the daily breaches we see wouldn’t happen. So, only reach out to BEMO if you genuinely care about securing your infrastructure and keeping it secure and compliant, for REAL. If you only want a piece of paper, go to our competition.”

BEMO’s Take: Start SOC 2 Compliance Before You Need It

The Reddit post gets one thing 100% right:

"If you're pre-SOC 2 and selling to enterprise, start NOW. Not when you need it. NOW."

We couldn’t agree more.

What we don’t agree with is the idea that it can or should be done in a few weeks. That’s not compliance, that’s playing a dangerous game.

If you’re serious about:

• Protecting customer data

• Building long-term trust

• Closing bigger deals

• Scaling responsibly

Then real security and real compliance take time, and expert guidance.

Why Work with BEMO for SOC 2 Compliance?

We’re not here to sell you a fantasy timeline.

We’re here to help you build a secure, audit-ready environment that passes with confidence, not chaos.

BEMO is:
✅ SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 certified
✅ Experienced in Microsoft-based SaaS environments
✅ Partnered with tools like Drata for automation
✅ Transparent about timelines and costs
✅ Focused on long-term security, not quick fixes

We’ve helped small teams just like yours become compliant the right way, without burning out your staff or blowing your budget.

If you cut corners, you risk more than just a failed audit, you risk reputation, revenue, and real security vulnerabilities.

So yes, start early. Get compliant before that big logo comes calling. But do it right.