Compliance software is intended to help audits go more smoothly. However, small businesses may be put in a precarious position. They need to set up or configure a compliance platform before they can implement their SOC 2 control. This poses a question. When does the tool which is intended to lower compliance, become a separate program?
CertAssist was born out of the frustration. The founders of the company were involved in compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. The developers of this software were repeatedly confronted with platforms that offered a wide range of options and integrations, while the organizations they worked for utilized spreadsheets to create important audit components. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start by identifying the tasks that Must Be Completed
If you can eliminate the terminology used by software it is much easier to comprehend. It is important for a company to know the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting proper controls, obtaining evidence, evaluating progress and documenting the policies. A platform is able to manage those actions without needing to connect to every cloud service or identity system the firm uses.
Automated integrations definitely have value. A large-scale organization that is collecting evidence in a constantly evolving environment can significantly cut down on time via automation. But this doesn’t mean that exactly the same structure is required for SOC 2 in startups. If a startup has limited technology resources it could be best to provide the evidence manually and avoid integrating too many systems.
Software and the Audit Are Two Different Costs
It is difficult to budget when companies consider each compliance expense an individual number. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal staff members are responsible for making policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence, and working with the auditor. The independent audit also has its own fee.
In researching SOC 2 cost, companies should be aware crucial distinction in terms. SOC 2 produces a report that is not a certification and is not a certification as specified by ISO 27001. If businesses are seeking pricing, they usually refer to the cost as “certification cost”. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software does not take the place of an independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to Be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be a familiar tool and cheap, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are utilized to share policies, controls ownership, evidence, ownership and audit communication.
The alternative doesn’t have to be an enterprise platform. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 control and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also provides progress management and auditors with access only to read. Multi-factor authentication is required to secure the platform. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 monthly. Regular pricing is $375 a month or $3999 annually.
The same integration that reduces exposure could also be achieved through removing the need for it.
CertAssist does not intend to connect to an organization’s operating system. The compliance platform is not allowed access to cloud or the identity system.
This strategy is not without its tradeoffs. The business must present evidence that could have been obtained using an automated system. However, for small teams, the additional work might be justified for a less complicated setup with lower software expenses, and less external connections.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the problem
A growing company could eventually reach the point where manual evidence gathering is no longer efficient. Continuous monitoring and massive integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
For now, the aim isn’t necessarily to buy the most sophisticated compliance platform available. It’s important to ensure that the evidence is credible and organize the compliance process as well as manage the audit independently. A well-designed software should make this process easier. If the installation of the compliance platform feels like it’s taking more time than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, the software may not be enough.