Compliance software is supposed to help audits go more smoothly. But small-sized companies may be in a difficult situation: before they are able to set up their SOC 2 controls, they first have to implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master an elaborate compliance platform. It raises a good question. At what point does the tool that was designed to ease compliance tasks become a new initiative of its own?
CertAssist resulted from that frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance audits and implementations in SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. The people who developed this software had to contend with platforms that came with many functions and integrations. However, their employers utilized spreadsheets to create crucial audit documents. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start With the Job That Must Be Completed
Take out the jargon in software and it is more understandable. It is important that businesses comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting appropriate controls, collecting evidence, keeping track of developments and documenting policies. Platforms are a great way to manage these processes without needing to link them with each cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Integrations that are automated are extremely beneficial. Automation can save a large business a lot of time in collecting evidence in an ever-changing environment. This doesn’t mean that the same structure is required to be used for SOC 2 in startups. Startups with a compact technology environment may prefer to gather evidence by hand instead of managing a number of integrations.
The Audit and the Software Are Two Different Costs
The process of budgeting is a challenge when businesses make each compliance expense an individual number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. The internal staff has to devote time creating policies, addressing any gaps in control, arranging evidence and cooperating with auditors. The independent audit also has its own fee.
Companies researching SOC 2 certification costs should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report, not an actual certification in the same terms as ISO 27001. If businesses are seeking pricing, they often use the term “certification cost”. Whatever terminology is used in a budget, the software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and easy to access, but they become awkward when guidelines, controls ownership, evidence, and auditing communication start spreading across multiple documents.
The alternative doesn’t need to be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 control and provides editable policies as well as templates for evidence. It also provides auditing and progress management, as well as auditors with read-only access. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the system. Its stated launch price is $225 per month with regular pricing of $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
No Integration Can Also Mean less exposure
CertAssist deliberately does not connect to the systems that run a company. The compliance platform has not been allowed access to cloud or identity environment.
This method involves a tradeoff. The evidence that could have been obtained automatically has to be provided by the company. If the team is small however, the manual effort may be worth it to facilitate installation, less software cost and less third-party connections.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves a Problem
Growing companies may get to the point that manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay their fees.
The goal of a compliance stack isn’t to be the most sophisticated one on the market. The goal is to streamline compliance, keep credible evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. A well-designed software system should make this process easier. If the installation of the compliance platform feels like it takes longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, then the tool may not be enough.
