Software that helps audits is known as compliance software. Smaller businesses often find themselves in a precarious position. Before they can implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and learn a complex compliance system. This poses a question. When does the tool which is intended to lower compliance, turn into a separate task?
CertAssist is the result of this discontent. Its developers had worked on compliance audits and implementations in SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. They found platforms with many functions and integrations, yet companies were still using spreadsheets for the most important elements of preparation for audits. For smaller enterprises, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical solution.
Begin by listing the Tasks That Are Required to be Completed
Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s more understandable. The company needs to work through Trust Services Criteria and establish the appropriate controls. They should also document policies, gather evidence, track their progress, and making this information available for independent auditors. Platforms can manage these processes without having to be connected with the various identity or cloud-based services that a company utilizes.
Integrations that are automated have a lot of value. Automated integrations can save an company a lot of time in collecting evidence in a changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment it could be best to provide the evidence manually and avoid having many integrations.
The cost of auditing and that of the software are two distinct expenses
If companies view all compliance costs in one number, budgeting can become unclear. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal staff members are required to work on making policies and addressing gaps in control. They also organize evidence. Independent audits also charge their own set of fees.
Companies who are researching SOC 2 Certification Costs must also be aware of the differentiating the two: SOC 2 is not a certification in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it provides an independent attestation rather than an ordinary certification. But, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for pricing information. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software can’t take the place of an independent auditor.
Middle Ground isn’t required to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be affordable and familiar but become unwieldy when they are spread across many files.
It is not necessary to use an enterprise platform as a substitute. CertAssist places the SOC 2 controls on a central board, which includes editable templates for policies and evidence, progress management, and read-only auditor access. The platform’s access is protected by the requirement of multi-factor authentication. The initial price for the platform is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure is also possible without the need to it
CertAssist deliberately does not connect to the systems that run a business. It provides evidence without giving the compliance platform standing access to cloud or identity environments.
This option is not without its tradeoffs. The business must present evidence that could have been obtained from the automated system. If you have a small staff, however, the additional manual labor may be acceptable to facilitate setup, lower software expense and less connections to third party sources.
Purchase Complexity when it solves a Problem
Growing companies may get to a point at which the manual process of collecting evidence will become inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial when you get to that point.
It’s not necessary to buy the most complex compliance platform until then. The goal is to streamline compliance, preserve evidence that is credible and allow independent audits to be managed. A good software program should reduce friction in this process. If the application of the compliance tool feels like it is taking longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, it could not be enough.