A compliance software should make auditing easier. But small-sized companies may be in a difficult situation. Before they can arrange their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement or configure an elaborate compliance platform. It raises a good question. What are the conditions that make a tool to lower compliance work become the creation of a new project?
CertAssist was born out of that frustration. Its founders had worked on compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. The creators of this software had to contend with platforms that had many features and connections, while the companies they worked for used spreadsheets to write critical auditing pieces. Simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the most effective solution for smaller businesses.
Begin by listing the Tasks That Are Required to be Completed
Remove the terms used in software and the fundamental requirement will become easier to understand. An organization must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish appropriate controls, document policies, record evidence, monitor progress, and then make that information available to audit by an independent third party. Platforms can manage these processes without having to be connected to the various identity or cloud-based services that the company uses.
Integrations that are automated are extremely beneficial. Automated integrations can save an organization lots of time in collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. However, it doesn’t mean the same technology will be required to be used for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment, it may be preferable to make the necessary evidence available manually and avoid integrating too many systems.
The cost for the audit and the software are two different expenses
If companies view all compliance expenses as a single number, budgeting can be confusing. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff have to spend time creating policies, addressing gaps in management, arranging the evidence and working with auditors. Independent audits also have their own set of fees.
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, the phrase “certification cost”, which is often employed by businesses looking for pricing data, is frequently used. Whatever terminology is employed in the budget, the software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often inexpensive and familiar but become unwieldy when they are spread over multiple files.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also offers auditors with progress management as well as read-only access. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the platform. The initial price for launch of $225 will be and will be followed by a regular price of $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
The same system that minimizes exposure could also be achieved through removing the need for it.
CertAssist is not apposed to connecting with the company’s operating systems. The compliance platform isn’t given access to the cloud or to the identity environment.
This approach is not without its tradeoffs. Evidence that could have been collected automatically must instead be provided by the company. For a small team However, the added manual work may be reasonable to facilitate setting up, lower costs for software, and fewer third-party connections.
If Complexity is the answer to a problem, purchase It
In an organization that is growing the manual process of collecting evidence may be inefficient. Continuous monitoring and large-scale integrations will pay off at the point you are.
It is not necessary to buy the most complicated compliance stack until later. It is important to keep the evidence credible and to organize compliance work and oversee the audit independently. A quality software application should simplify the process. Implementing the compliance platform might be more of a challenge than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that a company doesn’t require more tools.