Software for compliance is designed to make an audit easier. Small companies are often stuck in an awkward situation. Before they are able to implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and master an intricate compliance system. This poses a question. When will the tool designed to improve compliance turn into a separate project?
CertAssist was born out of this discontent. Its creators focused on compliance implementations, audits, and ISO 27001 frameworks. The people who developed this software had to contend with platforms that offered a wide range of features and connections, while their employers used spreadsheets to write important audit pieces. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start with the Tasks That Need to Be Done
Take away the software terms and the essential requirement is simpler to comprehend. It is important for a company to comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting adequate controls, gathering evidence, monitoring progress, and recording the policies. A platform can organize those processes without having to be connected to each cloud-based service or identity system that the business uses.
Automated integrations can be beneficial. Automating the collection of evidence by large organizations in an environment that changes constantly can reduce time. That doesn’t automatically make the same structure required to be used for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in limited technology resources it might be better to provide the evidence manually and not have a lot of integrations.
The cost of the audit and software are two separate expenses
When companies consider all compliance costs as a single number, budgeting can become difficult. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members are required to spend time on making policies and addressing control gaps. They also manage evidence. Independent audits also have fees of their own.
Businesses looking for information about SOC 2 Certification Costs must also be aware of the terminology differences: SOC 2 is not a type of certificate within the meaning of ISO 27001. Instead, it produces an independent attestation and is not a standard certification. However the term “certification cost”, which is often utilized by businesses searching for pricing information, is nevertheless commonly used. Whatever terminology is employed in the budget, the software cannot replace an independent audit.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often familiar and affordable, however they can become a source of discomfort when multiple spreadsheets are used for communication of policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and audit information.
The alternative doesn’t have to be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist puts the SOC 2 controls on a central board and provides editable templates for policies and evidence, progress management, and auditor access with read-only. The platform’s access is secured with the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 per month. Regular pricing is $375 a month or $3999 per year.
The same integration that reduces exposure could also be achieved through removing the need for it
CertAssist does not intentionally connect with the company’s operating systems. Evidence is provided without giving the compliance platform access to identity and cloud environments.
This method has its trade-offs. The company has to provide evidence that could have been gathered from an automated system. In the case of a small group however, the extra manual effort may be worth it in exchange for simpler installation, less software cost and less connections to third party sources.
If Complexity is the answer to a problem, purchase It
A growing organization may eventually reach the point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. This is when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations may pay their price.
In the meantime, the objective isn’t buying the most sophisticated compliance software available. The aim is to arrange compliance, keep credible evidence and make independent audits manageable. Good software should remove the friction out of the process. The implementation of the compliance platform could appear more like a job rather than the preparation of the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not require the same tools.