Software designed to facilitate audits is known as compliance software. However, small-sized businesses are placed in a tricky position. They need to set up, configure and master a compliance system before they can organize their SOC 2 control. This raises an interesting question. What happens when the tool designed to improve compliance turn into a separate project?
CertAssist is the result of this anger. CertAssist’s founders had experience with compliance audits and implementations in ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. The program’s creators were repeatedly confronted with platforms that offered a wide range of features and connections, while the organizations they worked for employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit pieces. For smaller enterprises, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical option.
Start With the Job That Should Be Done
Get rid of the software jargon, and it’s more understandable. It is essential that businesses understand the Trust Services Criteria. This involves setting up proper controls, obtaining evidence, keeping track of progress, and recording policies. Platforms can manage these processes without having to be connected with all cloud services or identity systems that a company utilizes.
Automated integrations can be extremely useful. A large company that gathers evidence from a continuously changing environment can save time with automation. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. A startup that has a limited technology environment might choose to present evidence in person and avoid the need to maintain numerous integrations.
The cost of the audit as well as the cost of the software are two distinct costs.
When companies treat all compliance costs in one number, budgeting becomes confusing. SOC 2 includes more than only software. Internal staff are required to dedicate time to the following: preparing policies and addressing gaps in control. They also arrange evidence. The independent audit is charged its own cost as well.
When analyzing SOC 2 cost, businesses should be aware key terminology distinction. SOC 2 produces a report that is independent, and not a certificate as defined by ISO 27001. However the term “certification cost” is frequently employed by companies when looking for pricing information, is nevertheless frequently used. Whatever language is used in the budget, software can’t replace the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and familiar but become unwieldy when they are spread over several files.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms do not necessarily have to be costly. CertAssist provides the SOC 2 controls on a central board, and offers editable templates for policies and evidence, progress management, and auditor access with read-only. The platform’s access is secured by the requirement for multi-factor authentication. Its stated launch price is $225 monthly, with regular pricing of $375 monthly, or $3999 annually.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to a company’s operational systems. The compliance platform has not been given access to the cloud or to the identity environment.
This option is not without its trade-offs. It is the duty of the company to provide evidence that could have otherwise been automatically collected. In the case of small teams, the added work could be justified in exchange by a more simple setup and lower costs for software and fewer external connections.
Purchase Complexity When Complexity Solves a Problem
In an organization that is growing the manual process of collecting evidence may turn into inefficient. Continuous monitoring and large-scale integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
The goal of a compliance stack isn’t to be the most advanced one in the market. It’s to get the compliance work done, preserve the credibility of evidence and ensure that the independent audit is manageable. A good software program should eliminate friction from the process. If the application of the compliance platform feels like it’s taking longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, the software may not be enough.