Enterprise Grade, Big Four Level Customer Support on a Startup Budget: How PrivateAuto Achieved SOC 2 Type II With Akitra ANDROMEDA® Rapidly
How a fintech automotive marketplace accelerated certification, reduced compliance costs, and gained audit confidence through expert-led compliance automation.
PrivateAuto operates at the intersection of financial technology and automotive transactions, enabling secure private-party vehicle sales through verified identities, secure payments, and digital documentation. As transaction volumes increased and enterprise conversations expanded, the need for formal security validation became clear.
To strengthen credibility and meet growing partner expectations, PrivateAuto set its sights on SOC 2 Type II attestation; a critical milestone for demonstrating security, availability, and operational integrity.
However, achieving SOC 2 Type II isn’t simply about checking boxes. It requires sustained control monitoring, evidence management, penetration testing, and audit coordination – all while running a lean, product-focused organization. That’s when PrivateAuto partnered with Akitra ANDROMEDA®, an Agentic AI-powered compliance automation platform.
The Challenge
PrivateAuto had already begun laying the groundwork for compliance. But moving from preparation to full SOC 2 Type II attestation introduced new complexities.
As a growing fintech company with a small, highly technical team, the challenge wasn’t just understanding SOC 2; it was operationalizing it efficiently.
The Challenges they faced included:
Translating SOC 2 Requirements into Audit-Ready Execution: Understanding the nuance between a written policy and what auditors actually expect as evidence.
Managing Compliance Alongside Product Development: Balancing compliance work with active product development, with Andy Lewis, Co-Founder & CTO, PrivateAuto, still deeply involved in engineering.
Coordinating Penetration Testing and Audit Readiness Simultaneously: Internal and external testing needed to align with the certification timeline.
Avoiding Extended Certification Delays: Without structured guidance, the attestation process risked slipping by many months.
Controlling Compliance Costs: PrivateAuto needed more than software. They needed a structured process, experienced guidance, and a partner who could accelerate the journey without inflating costs.
What made the difference in achieving our SOC 2 Type II attestation was the team behind Akitra. They didn’t just give us a platform; they guided us through every requirement, clarified what auditors actually expect, and helped us close gaps efficiently. In a world where most SaaS tools leave you on your own, Akitra provided real people who were responsive, knowledgeable, and invested in our success. That level of hands-on support is the reason we were able to get certified within our target timeline.
Andy Lewis
Co-Founder & CTO, PrivateAuto
Akitra's Solution
When evaluating options, PrivateAuto was already familiar with other compliance automation tools in the market. However, Akitra stood out for some major reasons. From onboarding through audit completion, Akitra provided:
Competitive, All-in-one SOC 2 Package: Akitra delivered a cost-effective bundle that included platform access, audit coordination, and penetration testing support, avoiding the overhead of multiple vendors and fragmented services.
Enterprise-Level Compliance Support: Andy Lewis, Co-Founder and CTO of PrivateAuto, described Akitra’s customer support as comparable to the level of guidance typically associated with Big Four consulting firms delivering structured, expert-led compliance assistance without the complexity or overhead of traditional consulting engagements.
Process-Driven Enablement: Akitra worked closely with PrivateAuto to interpret SOC 2 criteria, close documentation gaps, and ensure controls aligned with what auditors actually test in practice.
Centralized Compliance Management: Akitra ANDROMEDA® brought policies, controls, evidence, and real-time tracking into one place, giving visibility across PrivateAuto and its related platform built on the same codebase.
Integrated Penetration Testing and Audit Support: Penetration testing, remediation, and audit preparation were coordinated through Akitra to stay in sync with the SOC 2 Type II attestation schedule.
The Result
PrivateAuto successfully achieved SOC 2 Type II attestation within its target timeline. More importantly, the attestation was achieved with confidence and operational maturity, not just paperwork completion.
Accelerated Attestation Timeline: With Akitra’s structured guidance, PrivateAuto avoided what could have been up to a year of additional delay. The compliance journey moved from uncertain pacing to clear milestones and measurable progress.
Significant Compliance Cost Savings: By bundling platform access, penetration testing, audit coordination, and expert support into a competitive package, Akitra reduced the need for high-cost external consulting engagements. PrivateAuto gained enterprise-grade compliance support without enterprise-grade consulting fees.
Improved Audit Readiness & Internal Clarity: The team gained a deeper understanding of how audit standards translate into operational controls, building long-term internal capability for future certifications.
Foundation for Future Certifications: With SOC 2 Type II complete, PrivateAuto is now positioned to pursue additional frameworks such as GDPR, PCI, and ISO standards as market demands evolve, with Akitra as a long-term compliance partner.
From a financial perspective, Akitra delivered exceptional value. The pricing structure was highly competitive, especially considering it included structured compliance support and audit readiness guidance. Instead of engaging high-cost external consultants, we were able to achieve SOC 2 Type II efficiently within a predictable budget. The return on investment was clear; we gained enterprise-grade compliance credibility without taking on enterprise-level consulting expenses.
