A compliance software should help auditing become easier. Yet small companies can be in a difficult situation. Before they can arrange their SOC 2 controls, they must first implement or configure the intricate compliance platform. This brings up a fascinating question. What happens when the tool that is designed to reduce compliance, become a separate program?
CertAssist is the result of this frustration. Its founders had worked on compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. They repeatedly encountered platforms packed with features and integrations, while companies still rely on spreadsheets for essential elements of auditing process. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin with the Tasks that Must Be Completed
Remove the software jargon and it’s more understandable. A business must go through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish appropriate controls, document policies, collect evidence, monitor progress, and make that material available to audit by an independent third party. Platforms can be used to streamline these activities without having to connect them to each cloud service or identity system the company has in place.
Automated integrations can be beneficial. A large-scale organization that is collecting evidence from a continuously changing environment can save time via automation. This doesn’t mean that the same architecture is required to be used for SOC 2 in startups. A startup that has a small technology environment might prefer to do the evidence themselves and avoid maintaining numerous integrations.
Software and Audits Are Different Expenses
Budgeting becomes difficult when companies take each compliance expense as distinct numbers. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. The internal staff has to devote time to making policies and addressing gaps in control. They also organize evidence. The independent audit comes with its own fee as well.
Companies who are researching SOC 2 Certification Costs must be aware of the terminology difference: SOC 2 is not a certification in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it is an independent attestation and is not the standard certification. When businesses are looking for pricing, they often utilize the term “certification costs”. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software does not take the place of an independent auditor.
Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and inexpensive, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple spreadsheets are used to convey policies, control evidence, ownership, and auditing communication.
It is not necessary to utilize an enterprise platform as a alternative. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls in an integrated board. It also includes editable templates to govern policy and evidence, and progress tracking, and auditors have the ability to only view. A mandatory multi-factor authentication system helps secure access to the system. The price of the platform’s initial launch is $225 per month. Regular pricing is $375 per month or $3999 per year.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the systems that run the company. Evidence is presented but does not grant the compliance platform access to cloud environments and identity environments.
The downside is that this method requires an arrangement. It is the obligation of the company to provide evidence which could have been collected automatically. The extra manual work is acceptable for a small team in exchange for a easier setup, less expense and less ties with third party.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the issue
A growing organization may eventually arrive at a point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations may pay their cost.
The goal of the compliance stack is not to be the most technological one in the market. It’s to get the compliance task done, preserve the credibility of evidence and make the independent audit manageable. The right software will help in reducing the friction. If the application of the compliance platform seems like it is taking longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, it could be too much.
