The purpose of compliance software is to facilitate audits. Smaller companies often find themselves stuck in an awkward situation. Before they can begin implementing their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and learn an intricate platform for compliance. This leads to a pertinent question. When does a tool to make compliance easier turn into an entirely new venture?
CertAssist grew out of that frustration. The CertAssist founders had worked on compliance audits as well as implementations within the ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. The developers of this software had to contend with platforms that offered a wide range of options and integrations, while their employers employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit components. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin with the Tasks that Need to Be Done
Remove the software jargon and it is more understandable. It is vital that a company comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This involves setting up proper controls, obtaining evidence, tracking progress, and recording policies. Platforms are able to handle these tasks without having to be connected to the various identity or cloud-based services a company utilizes.
Automated integrations definitely have value. Automation can save a large company a lot of time while collecting evidence in a changing environment. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same system necessary to be used for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in only a tiny technology infrastructure it could be best to manually provide evidence and to avoid the need for many integrations.
The cost of the audit and that of the software are two distinct costs.
When businesses treat all compliance expenses as a single number, budgeting can be unclear. SOC 2 costs include more than software. The internal staff has to devote time on preparing policies, addressing gaps in control, arranging evidence as well as cooperating with auditors. Independent audits also have their own fees.
Businesses looking for information on SOC 2 certification costs should be aware of a distinction in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report, not a certification in the same terms as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. When companies are searching for prices, they typically utilize the term “certification cost”. Whatever the terminology used in the budget, software can’t substitute for the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and familiar, but they can become a hassle when they are spread across many files.
The alternative doesn’t need be a platform for enterprise. CertAssist displays the SOC 2 controls on a central board, includes editable templates to govern policies and evidence, along with progress tracking, and auditors can only read. Multi-factor authentication is mandatory to ensure access to the system. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. The normal price is $375 per month, or $3999 per year.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist intentionally doesn’t connect to an organization’s operational systems. It provides evidence without giving the compliance platform a permanent access to cloud and identity environments.
The drawback is that this approach requires an arrangement. The evidence that could have been captured automatically should be provided by the company. The manual effort is reasonable for a small team in exchange of a simpler setup, lower costs and fewer connections with third party.
Complexity Purchase when it Solves the issue
If a company is growing that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could be inefficient. Monitoring and monitoring continuously and integration is justified by the increased efficiency.
For now, the aim isn’t to purchase the most advanced compliance software available. It’s about getting the compliance task organised, keep reliable evidence, and allow for an independent audit to be managed. Good software should remove friction from this process. The implementation of the compliance platform could feel more like a project as opposed to preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business is not using more tools.
