The purpose of compliance software is to help audits go more smoothly. However, smaller companies could be caught in a tense position: before they can set up their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement the system, set up, and then learn an elaborate compliance system. This leads to a crucial question. When will the tool that is designed to reduce compliance, turn into a separate task?
CertAssist was born out of frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. They had to deal with platforms that were packed with integrations and features while firms still relied on spreadsheets for essential elements of audit preparation. The simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the best option for smaller organizations.
Start by identifying the tasks that Must Be Completed
Eliminate the terminology used by software and the fundamental requirement will become more understandable. It is essential that companies understand the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting the right controls, gathering evidence, monitoring progress, and recording policies. Platforms are able to handle these functions without having to be linked with the various identity or cloud-based services that companies utilize.
Automated integrations definitely have value. Automating can save a large organization lots of time when collecting evidence in a changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment it might be better to make the necessary evidence available manually and not have a lot of integrations.
The Software and the Audit are different expenses
Budgeting becomes a mess when companies consider every compliance expense as one number. SOC 2 includes more than simply software. The internal staff must spend time creating policies, addressing any gaps in control, organizing evidence and working with auditors. Independent audits also have its own fees.
Businesses looking for information about SOC 2 Certification Cost must be aware of the distinction: SOC 2 is not an official certificate as per the definition of ISO 27001. Instead, it produces an independent attestation instead of an official certification. However, the term “certification cost” is frequently used by businesses when searching for price data, is widely used. Whatever terminology is used in a budget, the software cannot replace an independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often inexpensive and easy to use, but they become cumbersome when spread across multiple files.
The alternative doesn’t have to be a business platform. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also offers progress management and auditors with access to read-only. Access to the platform is secured with the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The initial price for the platform is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 monthly or $3999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure could also be achieved by removing the need for it
CertAssist does not purposely connect with a company’s operating systems. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments or the identity environment.
The disadvantage is that this approach requires an agreement. The company has to provide evidence which could have been captured using the automated system. For smaller teams, the additional work can be justified with a simple set-up, lower software costs, and the absence of external connections.
Buy Complexity when it solves a Problem
If a company is growing, manual evidence collection may be inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations may pay their cost.
It is not necessary to buy the most complex compliance stack until then. It’s essential to keep the evidence credible and to organize compliance work, and manage the audit independently. Software that’s designed properly can make this process much easier. If the implementation of the compliance platform is beginning to feel like a much larger task than the preparation for SOC 2 itself, it could be a tools than the company requires.
