A compliance software should make auditing easier. However, small businesses may find themselves in a strange situation. Before they can set up their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement the system, set up, and then learn the intricacy of a compliance platform. This leads to a pertinent question. When does the tool that is designed to reduce compliance become a separate project?
CertAssist is the result of this discontent. Its founders had worked on compliance audits and implementations in SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. They discovered platforms that had many integrations and features, but organizations were still using spreadsheets for the primary components of preparation for audits. SOC 2 software that is simple can be better for smaller companies.
Begin with the Tasks that Are Required to be Completed
Strip away the software terminology and the essential requirement is simpler to comprehend. It is important that companies be aware of the Trust Services Criteria. This involves establishing appropriate controls, collecting evidence, monitoring progress and documenting policies. Platforms can be used to manage these functions without having to link them with each cloud service and identity software that the company utilizes.
Automated integrations can be very valuable. Automating the gathering of evidence by large organizations in an environment that is constantly changing could save time. This doesn’t mean that the same system will be needed for SOC 2 by startups. Startups that have a small technology environment may choose to collect evidence manually instead of maintaining numerous integrations.
Both the Software and Audit are different expenses
When companies consider all compliance costs as a single number, budgeting may become unclear. SOC 2 includes more than simply software. The internal staff has to spend time on making guidelines and addressing any gaps in control. They also arrange evidence. Independent audits also have their own costs.
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. But, “certification cost” is typically used by businesses looking for pricing data. Software cannot replace the independent auditor irrespective of the terms used within the budget.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be a familiar tool and cost-effective, but they can become uncomfortable when multiple spreadsheets are used for communication of policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and audit communications.
It is not necessary to utilize an enterprise-level platform as a substitute. CertAssist displays the SOC 2 controls on one central display, and offers editable templates for policies and evidence, as well as progress tracking, and auditors have the ability to only view. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the platform. The platform’s launch price is $225 a month. The regular price is $375 a month or $3999 per year.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist deliberately doesn’t connect to a company’s operational systems. The compliance platform isn’t given access to the cloud or the identity environment.
This option is not without its drawbacks. It is the obligation of the business to provide evidence that could have otherwise been collected automatically. The additional manual work is reasonable for a tiny team in exchange for a simplified setup, a lower cost and fewer connections with third parties.
If Complexity is the answer to a problem, purchase It
A growing company could eventually reach the point where the manual process of gathering evidence is no longer efficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
The purpose of the compliance stack isn’t to be the most sophisticated one that is available. It’s about getting the compliance task done, preserve the credibility of evidence and ensure that the independent audit is manageable. A well-designed software system should simplify the process. Implementing a compliance platform can feel more like a project rather than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that the company does not require the same tools.