SOC 2 Continuous Monitoring Staffing Calculator

Translate SOC 2 control volume into predictable staffing needs. Enter how many controls you monitor, the hours consumed per review, and the loaded rate for analysts to expose the monthly labor cost and headcount required, factoring in any automation savings.

Count every SOC 2 control that requires monthly evidence or review.
Average analyst hours needed to collect evidence and document a single control each month.
Fully loaded hourly cost for the compliance analyst team covering monitoring.
Defaults to 0%. Enter the percentage of review hours eliminated by tooling or integrations.
Defaults to 160. Use your team’s monthly productive hours to size headcount demand.

Planning reference only. Validate staffing needs with your compliance leadership and tooling partners before hiring decisions.

Examples

  • 80 controls, 1.5 hours each, $110 hourly rate, 25% automation, 140-hour capacity ⇒ Baseline monitoring hours 120.00 hours • Automation hours saved 30.00 hours • Adjusted monitoring hours 90.00 hours • Monthly labor cost $9,900.00 USD • Analyst capacity per FTE 140.00 hours • FTE equivalent required 0.64
  • 45 controls, 2 hours each, $85 hourly rate, automation left blank, capacity left at 160 ⇒ Baseline monitoring hours 90.00 hours • Automation hours saved 0.00 hours • Adjusted monitoring hours 90.00 hours • Monthly labor cost $7,650.00 USD • Analyst capacity per FTE 160.00 hours • FTE equivalent required 0.56

FAQ

How often should I update the control count?

Revisit the input each quarter as your SOC 2 scope evolves. Adding new systems or policies usually increases the control population.

What if I rotate reviewers instead of dedicated analysts?

Enter the blended loaded hourly cost for the team members who share monitoring duties so the labor estimate reflects their compensation.

Can I model quarterly evidence requirements?

Yes. Multiply your quarterly control hours by three and enter that figure in the review time per control field to normalize the workload to a monthly basis.

How do I incorporate external auditors?

This tool focuses on internal monitoring hours. Layer the output with your SOC 2 audit budget calculator to capture auditor fees separately.

Additional Information

  • Monthly monitoring hours multiply the number of controls by the time you spend gathering evidence and documenting each one.
  • Automation savings reduce the workload by the percentage entered, modeling integrations, scripts, or managed services that collect evidence automatically.
  • Headcount equivalents divide the adjusted hours by each analyst’s productive monthly capacity so you can plan FTE demand or managed service spend.
  • Loaded hourly rates should include salary, benefits, tools, and overhead allocated to compliance analysts.

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