Compliance software is supposed to facilitate audits. Yet small companies can find themselves in a strange position: before they can set up their SOC 2 controls, they need to first install, configure, and learn the intricacy of a compliance system. This raises an interesting question. When did the device that is designed to reduce compliance, turn into a separate task?
CertAssist is the result of this frustration. The CertAssist founders were familiar with compliance audits and implementations in ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of features and integrations, but companies were still using spreadsheets for the most important elements of preparation for audits. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin by listing the Tasks That Have to be completed
Eliminate the jargon of software and it is simpler to comprehend. It is crucial for a company to understand the Trust Services Criteria. This involves setting up proper controls, obtaining evidence, evaluating progress, and recording the policies. A platform can organize those tasks without having to connect to every cloud-based service or identity system that the company uses.
Automated integrations certainly have value. Automating the gathering of evidence by large corporations in an environment that changes constantly can make it easier to save time. But this doesn’t mean that exactly the same technology is required for SOC 2 in startups. Startups with a small technology environment might prefer to present evidence in person and not maintain a multitude of integrations.
The cost for the audit and software are two distinct expenses
Budgeting can be difficult if companies take each compliance expense as an individual number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than just software. Internal staff spend time preparing policies, addressing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence and working together with the auditor. Independent audits also have its own fees.
Companies looking into SOC 2 certification costs should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report instead of a certification in the exact sense as ISO 27001. However the term “certification cost”, which is often used by businesses when searching for price information, is nevertheless frequently used. Whatever terminology is employed in the budget, the software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and easy to access, but they become awkward when guidelines, controls evidence, ownership, and auditing communication start spreading across multiple files.
The alternative doesn’t need be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls in an integrated board. It also offers editable templates for policies and evidence, as well as progress monitoring, and auditors are able to only see. A mandatory multi-factor authentication system helps secure access to the platform. Its advertised launch price is $225 per month with a price that is regular at $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to a company’s operational systems. The compliance platform has not been allowed access to cloud or the identity environment.
This method has its trade-offs. It is the responsibility for the company to supply the evidence that could have been collected automatically. In the case of small teams, the additional work might be justified with a simpler set-up with lower software expenses, and less external connections.
Purchase Complexity when it solves a Problem
If a company is growing that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could end up being inefficient. The cost of continuous monitoring and integration could be justifiable by the increase in efficiency.
For now, the aim isn’t to buy the most sophisticated compliance system available. It’s important to keep the evidence credible and organize the compliance process and handle the audit independently. The best software will remove any friction from the process. If the process of implementing the compliance platform seems like it’s taking more time than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, then the tool may be too much.