Software for compliance is designed to facilitate audits. However, small-sized businesses are put in a precarious position. They must implement the configuration, set up and manage the compliance software before they can organise their SOC 2 control. This poses a question. What is the point at which a tool that can lower compliance work become the creation of a new project?
CertAssist was created out of this discontent. The creators of CertAssist were familiar with compliance audits and implementations of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. The people who developed this software had to contend with platforms that offered a wide range of options and integrations, while the organizations they worked for utilized spreadsheets to create critical auditing pieces. More simple SOC 2 compliance software is often the most effective solution for smaller enterprises.
Begin with the job that has to be accomplished
Remove the terms used in software and the fundamental requirement will become easier to comprehend. It is important that a company be aware of the Trust Services Criteria. This includes establishing appropriate controls, collecting evidence, keeping track of progress and documenting policies. Platforms can be used to streamline these functions without having to connect them to every cloud service and identity system used by the company.
Integrations that are automated are extremely beneficial. Automating the gathering of evidence by large companies in an environment that changes constantly can make it easier to save time. However, it doesn’t mean the same architecture is required to be used for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup is operating in limited technology resources It may be more beneficial to make the necessary evidence available manually and to avoid the need for many integrations.
The cost of auditing and the software are two distinct expenses
When businesses treat all compliance costs in one number, budgeting can be unclear. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. The internal staff must spend time preparing policies, addressing gaps in control, organizing evidence and working with auditors. Independent audits are also charged fees of their own.
When analyzing SOC 2 costs, businesses should be aware of a crucial distinction in terms. SOC 2 produces a report that is not a certification and is not a certification as specified by ISO 27001. However, the term “certification cost” is frequently employed by businesses looking for pricing information, is still frequently used. Whatever term is used in the budget, the software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often familiar and cheap, but they can be uncomfortable when multiple spreadsheets are used to convey policies, control evidence, ownership, and audit communication.
The alternative doesn’t have to be a business platform. CertAssist places the SOC 2 controls on a central board, which includes editable templates for policy and evidence along with progress management, as well as read-only auditor access. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the system. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. The regular price is $375 per month or $3999 per year.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist intentionally doesn’t connect to the company’s operational systems. The evidence is presented without granting the compliance platform a permanent access to cloud or identity environments.
That approach involves a tradeoff. It is the responsibility for the company to supply evidence that could have otherwise been collected automatically. The manual effort is reasonable for a small team in exchange for a more simple setup, lower cost and fewer connections with third parties.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Purchase It
An expanding company may get to the point that the manual process of gathering evidence becomes inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial when you reach that point.
The aim of a compliance stack isn’t to be the most advanced one that is available. It’s about getting the compliance task organized, maintain reliable evidence, and make the independent audit manageable. The best software will remove any friction from the process. If the implementation of the compliance platform is beginning to feel like a much larger task than the preparation for SOC 2 itself, it might be just a different software than a company needs.