A software for compliance should simplify auditing. However, small businesses may be caught in a tense situation. Before they can manage their SOC 2 controls, they must first implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricate compliance platform. This raises an interesting question. What is the point at which a tool that can decrease compliance work transform into an entirely new venture?
CertAssist is the result of this anger. The founders of the company focused on compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. They came across platforms that offered a variety of integrations and features, but organizations were still using spreadsheets for the most important parts of audit preparation. The simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the most effective solution for smaller organizations.
Begin by identifying the job you need to complete
Take away the software terms and the fundamental requirement will become easier to understand. The company must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, record evidence, keep track of progress and make the material accessible to audit by an independent third party. Platforms are a great way to manage these activities without having to link them with each cloud service or identity system used by the company.
Automated integrations are certainly beneficial. An organization that collects evidence across a constantly changing environment can significantly cut down on time by automating. This doesn’t mean that the same technology is required for SOC 2 in startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment, it may be preferable to create evidence by hand and not have a lot of integrations.
Software and Audits Are Two Different Costs
When businesses treat all compliance costs in one number, budgeting can become confusing. SOC 2 includes more than simply software. The internal staff has to dedicate time to things like preparing guidelines and addressing any gaps in control. They also manage evidence. The independent audit is charged its own fee as well.
Companies researching SOC 2 certification cost should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than a certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. However, “certification cost” is commonly used when businesses search for price information. Software does not replace the independent auditor regardless of the terms employed in the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often familiar and cost-effective, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are utilized to share policies, controls ownership, evidence, ownership and audit information.
The alternative doesn’t need be an enterprise platform. CertAssist integrates the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board, which includes editable templates for policies and evidence, progress management, and auditing access that is read-only. Multi-factor authentication is mandatory to ensure access to the platform. The price of its launch is $225 monthly with a regular cost of $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure can be accomplished without the need to it.
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the operational systems of a business. The compliance platform isn’t given access to the cloud or the identity system.
This approach is not without its tradeoffs. The business must present evidence that could have been gathered by the automated system. In the case of small teams, the extra effort could be justified with a simple set-up, lower software costs, and the absence of external connections.
Purchase Complexity When Complexity Solves the issue
A growing organization may eventually reach the point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. Monitoring continuously and extensive integrations will pay their cost.
For now, the aim isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated compliance system available. The objective is to manage compliance, keep credible evidence and make independent audits manageable. Good software should remove the friction from the process. Implementing a compliance platform can appear more like a job as opposed to preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that the company is not using as many tools.