Software that facilitates audits is referred to as compliance software. But small-sized companies may be caught in a tense situation: before they are able to manage their SOC 2 controls, they first have to implement or configure an elaborate compliance system. This brings up a fascinating question. What happens when a tool designed to decrease compliance work transform into an entirely new project?
CertAssist was a result of the frustration. Its founders had worked on compliance audits and implementations in SOC 2, ISO 27001 and various frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations, while organizations still relied on spreadsheets for essential elements of preparation for audits. The simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the best option for smaller organizations.
Begin by identifying the task that Must Be Completed
Eliminate the terminology used by software and the essential requirement is simpler to comprehend. A company needs to work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish appropriate controls, document policies, collect evidence, track progress, and then make the information available for audits by an independent auditor. Platforms can be used to organize these processes without needing to connect them to each cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Integrations that are automated have many advantages. A large company that gathers data across a constantly changing environment could save significant time through automation. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. Startups that have a small technology environment may choose to collect evidence manually instead of maintaining a multitude of integrations.
Both the Software and Audit are separate expenses
The process of budgeting is a challenge when businesses treat each compliance expense as distinct numbers. SOC 2 includes more than just software. The internal staff has to devote time to the following: preparing guidelines and addressing any gaps in control. They also manage evidence. Independent audits also have their own costs.
Companies looking into SOC 2 certification costs should be aware of a difference in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report instead of an actual certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. When businesses are looking for pricing, they often use the term “certification cost”. Whatever the terminology used in the budget, software doesn’t replace the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and comfortable, but they are cumbersome when they are spread across multiple files.
The alternative doesn’t need to be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for evidence. It also gives progress management and auditors with access to read-only. Access to the platform is protected by the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist does not purposely connect to an organization’s operating system. The compliance platform is not given access to the cloud or to the identity environment.
The trade-off is that this strategy requires a compromise. It is the obligation for the company to supply the evidence that could have been collected automatically. For a small team, however, the additional manual labor may be acceptable to facilitate setting up, lower costs for software and less third-party connections.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Buy It
In a growing organization it is possible that manual evidence collection will turn into inefficient. This is when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations may pay their fees.
Until then, the goal isn’t to buy the most advanced compliance platform available. It’s about getting the compliance tasks organised, keep solid evidence, and enable the independent audit to be manageable. A well-designed software system should reduce friction in this process. If implementing the compliance platform begins to seem like a bigger task than the preparation for SOC 2 itself, it may be simply a more powerful software than a company needs.