Compliance software is supposed aid in audits. However, small companies can be put in a difficult position. They must implement or configure the compliance software prior to organising their SOC 2 control. This leads to a crucial question. When does the instrument designed to decrease compliance work become another initiative of its own?
CertAssist grew out of that frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance implementations and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001 and various frameworks. The developers of this software were repeatedly confronted with platforms with a variety of options and integrations, while the organizations they worked for employed spreadsheets for the preparation of crucial audit documents. For smaller businesses, a less complicated SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical solution.
Start by identifying the tasks that Need to Be Done
Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s simpler to comprehend. The business must follow the Trust Services Criteria and establish suitable control measures. They should also record policies, collect evidence, keep track of their performance, and make this material available to independent auditors. Platforms can be used to streamline these processes without needing to connect them with every cloud service or identity system used by the company.
Automated integrations can be very valuable. Automating the process of gathering evidence for large organizations in an environment that changes constantly can save time. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the same technology will be required for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment it might be better to create evidence by hand and avoid integrating too many systems.
Both the Software and Audit are separate expenses
Budgeting becomes difficult when companies treat each compliance expense as separate numbers. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members are responsible for developing policies, fixing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence, and working with the auditor. Independent audits have their own fees as well.
Companies researching SOC 2 certification cost should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than a certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. However, the phrase “certification cost” is frequently employed by businesses looking for pricing details, is still frequently used. Software cannot substitute for an independent auditor, regardless of the terms employed within the budget.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and comfortable, but they are cumbersome when spread across multiple files.
It isn’t necessary to use an enterprise platform for substitute. CertAssist puts the SOC 2 controls on a central board, and offers editable templates for policies and evidence, progress management, and auditing access that is read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required to safeguard the platform. Its advertised launch price is $225 monthly with a price that is regular at $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.
A lack of integration can also mean A Less Exposed
CertAssist does not purposely connect with a company’s operating systems. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments as well as the identity environment.
The disadvantage is that this method requires a compromise. The company has to provide evidence that could have been obtained through an automated system. The additional manual work is acceptable for a small team in exchange for a more simple setup, lower cost and less connections to third parties.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the problem
If a company is growing, manual evidence collection may become inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay their price.
Until then, the goal isn’t buying the most advanced compliance stack available. It’s essential to maintain the credibility of the evidence, organize the compliance work and handle the independent audit. Good software should remove friction out of the process. If the installation of the compliance tool feels like it takes longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, the software may be too expensive.