The purpose of compliance software is to make an audit easier. Yet small companies can find themselves in a strange position: before they can organize their SOC 2 controls, they must first implement or configure an extensive compliance system. That raises a useful question. What happens when a tool designed to make compliance easier turn into an entirely new project?
CertAssist was born out of frustration. Its creators focused on compliance implementations, audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They encountered numerous platforms with integrations and features while businesses still relied on spreadsheets for crucial aspects of auditing process. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical option.
Start with the Tasks That Are Required to be Completed
If you remove the terms used in software it is much easier to understand. The company should work through Trust Services Criteria and establish suitable control measures. They must also create policies, collect evidence, track their progress, and making this information available for independent auditors. Platforms can be used to streamline these activities without having to connect them to each cloud service and identity software that the company utilizes.
Automated integrations have a lot of value. Automating the collection of evidence for large corporations in an environment that is constantly changing can reduce time. But this doesn’t mean that exactly the same architecture is required for SOC 2 in startups. If a startup is operating in an insufficient technology environment, it may be preferable to manually provide evidence and not have a lot of integrations.
Both the Software and Audit are two different costs.
When businesses treat all compliance costs as a single number, budgeting can be complicated. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members must devote time in preparing policies, addressing any gaps in management, arranging the evidence and cooperating with auditors. The independent audit also comes with its own cost.
Companies who are researching SOC 2 certification costs must be aware of a difference in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report instead of an actual certification in the same meaning as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. However the term “certification cost”, which is often used by businesses when searching for price details, is still widely used. Software is not a substitute for the independent auditor regardless of the language employed in the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are inexpensive and familiar They are easy to use, but they can become a little awkward when controls, policies, ownership, evidence, and auditing communication start spreading across multiple files.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms do not necessarily have to be costly. CertAssist centralizes SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for proving. It also provides auditors with progress management as well as access only to read. Multi-factor authentication is needed to protect the platform. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist does not purposely connect with the company’s operating systems. The evidence is presented without granting the compliance platform access to cloud and identity environments.
This option is not without its tradeoffs. Evidence that could have easily been captured automatically should be provided by the business. The additional manual work required is reasonable for a small group in exchange for more simple setup, lower cost and fewer connections with third party.
Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves the problem
In an organization that is growing the manual process of collecting evidence may be inefficient. Monitoring continuously and extensive integrations can earn their price.
The goal until then isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated compliance system available. The goal is to streamline the compliance process, collect evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. The right software will simplify the process. Implementing the compliance platform might appear more like a job than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business is not using the same tools.