The purpose of compliance software is to help audits go more smoothly. However, small businesses may be placed in a tricky position. They need to set up an, configure and maintain the compliance software before they can organize their SOC 2 control. This brings up a fascinating question. When did the device which is intended to lower compliance turn into a separate project?
CertAssist was created out of this frustration. The team behind it worked on compliance implementations, audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They found platforms with many options and integrations, however businesses used spreadsheets for the main elements of preparation for audits. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin with the Tasks that Must Be Completed
If you take away the language used by software It becomes much simpler to understand. The company needs to work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate controls. They should also record the policy, collect evidence, track their progress, as well as making this information available to independent auditors. Platforms can handle these processes without having to connect with the various identity or cloud-based services that a company utilizes.
Integrations that are automated are extremely beneficial. Automating the collection of evidence by large organizations in an environment that is constantly changing can make it easier to save time. This doesn’t mean that the same architecture required for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in a small technology environment it might be better to provide the evidence manually and avoid integrating too many systems.
The cost of an audit and software are two different expenses
When companies treat all compliance costs as one number, budgeting can become unclear. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff are busy creating policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence and collaborating with the auditor. The independent audit comes with its own fee as well.
Companies looking into SOC 2 Certification Cost must also be aware of the terminology differentiating the two: SOC 2 is not a certificate in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it is an independent attestation instead of a standard certification. When companies seek pricing, they frequently utilize the term “certification costs”. Whatever language is used in the budget, software does not substitute for the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and easy to use, but they become cumbersome when they are spread across several files.
The alternative doesn’t need be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls on one central display, and provides editable templates for policies and evidence, along with progress tracking, and auditors have the ability to only view. Multi-factor authentication is needed for security purposes to ensure the system is secure. The advertised launch price of $225 will be to be followed by regular pricing at $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
In addition, no integration could mean A Less Exposed
CertAssist deliberately does not connect to the operational systems of a business. It provides evidence without giving the compliance platform standing access to cloud and identity environments.
The disadvantage is that this strategy requires an agreement. The company must provide evidence that could have been obtained through the automated system. If you have a small staff however, the manual work could be justified as a way to get a more simple installation, less software cost as well as fewer connections with third parties.
If Complexity solves a problem, buy It
A growing company could eventually arrive at a point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial when you get to that point.
Until then, the goal isn’t buying the most advanced compliance system available. The goal is to organize compliance, preserve evidence that is credible and make independent audits manageable. Good software should remove the friction from that process. Implementing the compliance platform may feel more like a project rather than the preparation of the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not require numerous tools.