Software for compliance is designed to make an audit easier. However, small companies can be put in a difficult position. They must implement, configure and master a compliance platform prior to organising their SOC 2 control. That raises a useful question. What are the conditions that make a tool to lower compliance work become an entirely new project?
CertAssist resulted from that frustration. The founders of the company worked on compliance implementations, audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. The creators of this software had to contend with platforms that came with many options and integrations, while the companies they worked for employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit pieces. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start with the Work That Must Be Completed
If you take away the terminology used by software It becomes much simpler to understand. It is important that companies comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting adequate controls, gathering evidence, tracking developments and documenting policies. Platforms are a great way to manage these processes without needing to link them with each cloud service and identity system the company has in place.
Automated integrations definitely have value. A large organization collecting evidence from a continuously changing environment can significantly cut down on time by automating. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same architecture essential for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in only a tiny technology infrastructure It may be more beneficial to create evidence by hand and not have a lot of integrations.
The cost of auditing and software are two different expenses
Budgeting can be difficult if companies consider each compliance expense an individual number. SOC 2 includes more than simply software. The internal staff is required to dedicate time to making guidelines and addressing any gaps in control. They also arrange evidence. Independent audits have their own fees as well.
Businesses looking for information on SOC 2 certification cost must also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation document, but not a certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. When companies seek pricing, they frequently refer to the cost as “certification cost”. Whatever term is used in a budget, the software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be cheap and comfortable, but they are cumbersome when they are spread over several files.
The alternative doesn’t need be a business platform. CertAssist integrates the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board, which includes editable template templates for policy and evidence including progress management and auditor access with read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required to protect the platform. Its stated launch price is $225 monthly, with a price that is regular at $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the operational systems of the company. The compliance platform has not been allowed access to cloud or the identity system.
This option is not without its trade-offs. Evidence that could have been taken automatically should instead be supplied by the company. If you have a small staff however, the manual work may be reasonable to facilitate set-up, lower cost of software and less third-party connections.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Buy It
A growing company could eventually get to the point that manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. The expense of continuous monitoring and integration could be justifiable by the increase in efficiency.
The aim of the compliance stack is not to be the most technological one on the market. The goal is to organize compliance, maintain credible evidence and allow independent audits to be managed. Software that is designed well can make this process much easier. If implementing the compliance platform begins to appear like a more complex project than preparing for SOC 2 itself, it might be just a different tool than the company currently needs.