Software for compliance is designed aid in audits. Yet small companies can be caught in a tense situation. Before they can organize their SOC 2 controls, they need to first install, configure, and learn the intricacy of a compliance system. This brings up a fascinating question. At what point does the instrument designed to decrease compliance tasks become a new project on its own?
CertAssist grew out of that frustration. Its creators had worked on compliance implementations and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks. The developers of this software had to contend with platforms that came with many functions and integrations. However, the organizations they worked for used spreadsheets to write important audit components. SOC 2 software that is simpler can be more suitable for smaller companies.
Start with the task that must be completed
Strip away the software terminology and the fundamental requirement will become easier to comprehend. A company needs to work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, gather evidence, keep track of progress and then make that information available to audit by an independent third party. Platforms can handle these functions without having to be linked with all cloud services or identity systems that companies use.
Automated integrations can be very valuable. Automating the collection of evidence by large companies in a world that is constantly changing could reduce time. But this doesn’t mean that exactly the same structure is required for SOC 2 in startups. Startups that have a compact technology environment may prefer to make evidence by hand and avoid the need to maintain numerous integrations.
The Software and the Audit are two different costs.
Budgeting becomes confusing when companies make every compliance expense one number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. The internal staff has to devote time in preparing policies, addressing weaknesses in management, arranging the evidence and cooperating with auditors. The independent audit also has its own cost.
When researching SOC 2 costs, businesses should be aware key terminology distinction. SOC 2 produces a report that is completely independent and not a certification as defined by ISO 27001. When companies are searching for pricing, they often use the term “certification cost”. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software cannot substitute for the independent auditor.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often inexpensive and familiar but become unwieldy when spread across multiple files.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms don’t necessarily have to be costly. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls on one central display, and includes editable templates to govern policy and evidence, and progress monitoring, and auditors are able to only read. Multi-factor authentication is required to secure the platform. Its stated launch price is $225 per month, and the regular price is $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist deliberately does not connect to any company’s operational systems. The compliance platform has not been provided access to the cloud or to the identity environment.
The downside is that this strategy requires an agreement. The evidence that could have been taken automatically should instead be supplied by the company. For smaller teams, the additional work can be justified for a less complicated setup as well as lower software costs and with fewer external connections.
Purchase Complexity when it solves the issue
A growing company may eventually arrive at a point when the manual process of collecting evidence can become unproductive. The expense of monitoring and integration can be justified by the improved efficiency.
The aim of a compliance stack isn’t to be the best one in the market. It’s about getting the compliance tasks organized, maintain solid evidence, and enable the independent audit to be manageable. Good software should remove friction from that process. If the implementation of the compliance platform starts to appear like a more complex project than preparing for SOC 2 itself, it could be a tools than the company needs.
