Compliance software is intended to make an audit easier. But small-sized companies may find themselves in a strange situation: before they are able to arrange their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricate compliance platform. It raises a good question. What are the conditions that make a tool to make compliance easier turn into an entirely new venture?
CertAssist was conceived out of this discontent. CertAssist’s creators had worked on compliance audits and implementations of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They repeatedly encountered platforms packed with integrations and features while firms still rely on spreadsheets for crucial aspects of auditing process. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can often be the better answer.
Begin with the Tasks that Need to Be Done
Remove the software jargon and it’s much more understandable. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate controls. They should also document policies, gather evidence, keep track of their progress, as well as provide this information for independent auditors. Platforms are a great way to manage these activities without having to connect them to each cloud service and identity software that the company utilizes.
Automated integrations can be extremely useful. Automation can save a huge company a lot of time while collecting data in a dynamic environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup operates in limited technology resources, it may be preferable to create evidence by hand and avoid having many integrations.
The cost of the audit and that of the software are two different expenses
It can be confusing to budget when businesses make every compliance expense one number. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal staff spend time preparing policies, addressing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence, and collaborating with the auditor. Independent audits also have their own costs.
Businesses looking for information on SOC 2 certification costs must also be aware of the distinction in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than an official certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. However, “certification cost” is typically used by businesses looking for price information. Whatever term is employed in the budget, the software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and cheap, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are used for communication of policies, control, evidence, ownership and audit communications.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms do not necessarily need to be costly. CertAssist displays the SOC 2 controls in the central board. It offers editable templates for policies and evidence, along with progress tracking, and auditors will only view. Access to the platform is secured by the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The platform’s launch price is $225 per month. The normal price is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.
A lack of integration can also mean More Exposure
CertAssist is not designed to connect to the systems that run a company. The compliance platform is not given access to the cloud or the identity system.
That approach involves a tradeoff. The company must prove that could have been gathered by an automated system. For smaller teams, the added work could be justified for a less complicated setup as well as lower software costs and with fewer external connections.
Purchase Complexity when Complexity Solves the issue
A growing organization may eventually reach a point at which manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay their fees.
The objective of a compliance stack is not to be the most sophisticated one available. The goal is to organize compliance, maintain credible evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. Software that is designed well can make this process much easier. If the implementation of the compliance platform begins to seem like a bigger project than the process of preparing for SOC 2 itself, it may be simply a more powerful tools than the company requires.