Software that helps audits is called compliance software. Smaller companies often find themselves stuck in an awkward situation. Before they can put in their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure, and learn an extensive platform for compliance. This leads to a pertinent question. When does the tool designed to reduce compliance tasks become a new project on its own?
CertAssist was created out of this frustration. The creators of CertAssist had previous experience in compliance audits as well as implementations within the ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. The people who developed this software had to contend with platforms with a variety of options and integrations, while the companies they worked for still used spreadsheets to prepare important audit pieces. For smaller enterprises, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can occasionally be the best answer.
Start with the task that must be completed
If you take away the terms used in software It becomes much simpler to comprehend. The company must work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish the appropriate controls, establish policies, record evidence, monitor progress, and make the material accessible to audit by an independent third party. A platform can help organize these activities without necessarily connecting itself to each cloud service or identity system the company uses.
Automated integrations certainly have value. Automation can save a large company a lot of time in collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture mandatory to be used for SOC 2 for startups. Startups with a small technology environment might prefer to present evidence in person and avoid the hassle of maintaining multiple integrations.
The Audit and the Software Are Different Expenses
It can be confusing to budget when businesses make every compliance expense one number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members are responsible for creating policies, addressing the issues with control, arranging evidence, and working together with the auditor. Independent audits also have its own cost.
In researching SOC 2 costs, businesses should be aware of a key terminology distinction. SOC 2 produces a report that is not a certification and is not a certification as specified by ISO 27001. When companies are searching for prices, they typically refer to the cost as “certification costs”. Whatever terminology is employed in the budget, the software does not replace the independent audit.
Middle Ground isn’t required to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be a familiar tool and inexpensive, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are utilized to convey policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and audit information.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms do not necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls on a central board, offers editable templates for policies and evidence, progress tracking, and auditors will only view. Multi-factor authentication is mandatory to ensure access to the platform. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 monthly. The normal price is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist is not designed to connect to the systems that run a company. The compliance platform isn’t granted access to the cloud or identity environment.
The downside is that this approach requires a compromise. The evidence that could have been captured automatically should be provided by the business. The extra manual work is reasonable for a small team in exchange for a simpler setup, lower costs and fewer relationships with third parties.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the problem
Growing companies may get to a point at which manually capturing evidence becomes inefficient. The expense of monitoring and integration is justified by the improved efficiency.
For now, the aim isn’t to purchase the most advanced compliance system available. The aim is to arrange the compliance process, collect evidence and manage independent audits. Software that’s designed properly will help with this. If the implementation of the compliance platform is beginning to appear like a more complex project than the process of preparing for SOC 2 itself, it may simply be more tool than the company currently requires.