Software that facilitates audits is referred to as compliance software. Small companies are often in an awkward position. Before they are able to implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and master an extensive compliance system. This raises an interesting question. When does a tool to make compliance easier turn into a new project?
CertAssist developed out of this frustration. Its creators had worked on compliance audits and implementations in SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. The people who developed this software were repeatedly confronted with platforms that had many features and connections, while the organizations they worked for employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit pieces. Simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the most effective solution for smaller enterprises.
Begin with the Tasks that Must Be Completed
Remove the software jargon and it’s much more understandable. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate control measures. They must also create policies, gather evidence, track their performance, and provide this information for independent auditors. Platforms can be used to manage these tasks without having to connect them to each cloud service or identity system used by the company.
Integrations that are automated have significant value. A large company that gathers evidence in a constantly evolving environment could save significant time via automation. But this doesn’t mean that exactly the same architecture is required for SOC 2 in startups. A startup that has a small technology environment might prefer to make evidence by hand and avoid maintaining numerous integrations.
Both the Software and Audit are two different costs.
If companies view all compliance costs as one number, budgeting can become unclear. The SOC 2 cost includes more than just software. The internal staff must spend time in preparing policies, addressing weaknesses in control, arranging evidence and working with auditors. The independent audit also comes with its own cost.
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. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for pricing information. Whatever the terminology employed in a budget, software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are simple and easy to use They are easy to use, but they can become a little awkward when guidelines, controls evidence, ownership, and audit communication begin spreading across several files.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms don’t necessarily need to cost a lot. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and provides editable policies as well as templates for proving. It also allows auditors and progress management with access that is read-only. The platform’s access is secured with a multi-factor authentication requirement. The stated launch price of $225 will be to be followed by regular pricing at $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
The same process that can reduce exposure is also possible by eliminating the need for it
CertAssist deliberately does not connect to the company’s operational systems. The evidence provided is not given without giving the platform with standing access to identity and cloud environments.
The method is a compromise. It is the obligation for the company to supply the evidence that could have been collected automatically. The additional manual work required is reasonable for a small team in exchange for a easier setup, less expense and less connections to third party.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the issue
In an organization that is growing it is possible that manual evidence collection will turn into inefficient. The expense of continuous monitoring and integration is justifiable by the increase in effectiveness.
The goal of a compliance stack is not to be the most technological one available. It’s important to keep the evidence credible and organize the compliance process and handle the audit independently. Software that is designed well will make this process simpler. If the implementation of the compliance platform begins to seem like a bigger project than the process of preparing for SOC 2 itself, it could be a tool than the company currently needs.
