Compliance software is supposed aid in audits. Yet small companies can find themselves in a strange situation. Before they can arrange their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricate compliance system. This brings up a question. What happens when the tool which is intended to lower compliance turn into a separate project?
CertAssist is the result of this discontent. The founders of the company worked on compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations, while firms still rely on spreadsheets for essential elements of auditing process. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can occasionally be the best solution.
Start With the Job That Must Be Completed
Strip away the software terminology and the primary requirement becomes easier to comprehend. It is essential that businesses comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This involves setting up appropriate controls, collecting evidence, monitoring progress and documenting policies. Platforms can manage these activities without needing to be connected to all cloud services or identity systems that companies utilize.
Automated integrations can be extremely useful. A large organization collecting data across a constantly changing environment can save time through automation. It doesn’t mean that the same architecture is required to be used for SOC 2 in startups. Startups that have a compact technology environment may prefer to present evidence in person and avoid the hassle of maintaining multiple integrations.
The Software and the Audit are two different costs.
Budgeting becomes difficult when companies make each compliance expense an individual number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff are busy making policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence and collaborating together with the auditor. Independent audits 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. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is frequently used by companies searching for price information. Software is not a substitute for the independent auditor irrespective of the language used in the budget.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are cheap and easy to use However, they can be a bit awkward when guidelines, controls ownership evidence, and audit communication begin spreading across several documents.
It is not necessary to use an enterprise-level platform as a substitute. CertAssist puts the SOC 2 controls on a central board that can be edited policy and evidence templates, progress management, and auditing access that is read-only. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the system. The platform’s launch price is $225 per month. The normal price is $375 per month or $3999 annually.
In addition, no integration could mean Less Exposure
CertAssist does not intentionally connect with the company’s operating systems. Evidence is provided without giving the compliance platform a permanent access to identity and cloud environments.
The trade-off is that this strategy requires an arrangement. It is the duty for the company to supply proof that could have been automatically collected. The manual effort is acceptable for a small team, but it will result in a simpler setup, lower costs and less connections to third parties.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Purchase It
In a business that is expanding that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could become inefficient. Monitoring continuously and extensive integrations can earn their price.
It’s not necessary to buy the most complicated compliance stack at this point. It’s to get the compliance tasks well-organized, provide reliable evidence, and allow for an independent audit to be managed. Software that is designed well can make this process much easier. Implementing a compliance platform can be more of a challenge as opposed to preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not need as many tools.