Software for compliance is designed to facilitate audits. But small-sized companies may be in a difficult situation. Before they can manage their SOC 2 controls, they first have to implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricate compliance system. This leads to a pertinent question. When does the tool that is designed to reduce compliance, become a separate program?
CertAssist was conceived out of this frustration. CertAssist’s founders had worked on compliance audits as well as implementations within the ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of integrations and features, but firms used spreadsheets for the main elements of preparation for audits. For smaller companies, a simpler SOC 2 compliance software can occasionally be the best solution.
Begin with the Task that Must Be Completed
Take away the software terms and the fundamental requirement will become easier to comprehend. The company should work through Trust Services Criteria and establish adequate controls. They must also create the policy, collect evidence, keep track of their development, and offer this documentation to independent auditors. Platforms can manage these activities without needing to be connected with all cloud services or identity systems companies utilize.
Automated integrations can be very valuable. A large company that gathers evidence from a continuously changing environment can significantly cut down on time by automating. This doesn’t mean that the same architecture will be required for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in only a tiny technology infrastructure it could be best to make the necessary evidence available manually and to avoid the need for many integrations.
The Software and the Audit are distinct expenses
The process of budgeting can become confusing when companies take every compliance expense as one number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. The internal staff is required to spend time on creating policies and fixing control gaps. They also collect evidence. Independent audits also have their own costs.
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. But, “certification cost” is frequently used by companies searching for pricing data. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software does not take the place of an independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be cheap and easy to use, but they become cumbersome when they are spread over several files.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms do not necessarily need to cost a lot. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 control and lets you edit policies and templates for evidence. It also offers auditors with progress management as well as access only to read. Access to the platform is protected by a multi-factor authentication requirement. The price of its launch is $225 per month with a regular cost of $375 monthly, or $3999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure can also be achieved without the need to it.
CertAssist does not intend to connect to the operating systems of a company. Evidence is presented without granting the platform with access to cloud environments and identity environments.
The disadvantage is that this option requires the use of compromise. Information that could have been obtained automatically has to be provided by the business. The manual effort is acceptable for a small team, but it will result in a simplified setup, a lower cost and less connections to third party.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves a problem
If a company is growing that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could be inefficient. The expense of monitoring and integration can be justifiable by the increase in effectiveness.
In the meantime, the objective isn’t to buy the most sophisticated compliance software available. The objective is to manage compliance, keep credible evidence and allow independent audits to be managed. A good software program should simplify the process. If the implementation of the compliance platform is a feeling that it is taking longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, it could not be enough.