A compliance program should help auditing become easier. However, smaller companies could be put in a tricky position: before they can arrange their SOC 2 controls, they need to first install an SOC 2 system, then configure and master an extensive compliance system. That raises a useful question. When does the tool that was designed to ease compliance work become another initiative of its own?
CertAssist is the result of this anger. Its founders had worked on compliance implementations and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations, while companies still rely on spreadsheets for crucial elements of preparation for audits. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical answer.
Begin by identifying the task that Has to be Done
Remove the software jargon and it’s much easier to understand. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate control measures. They should also record policies, gather evidence, keep track of their progress, and offer this documentation to independent auditors. Platforms can manage these tasks without having to connect to every cloud-based service or identity system that the company operates.
Integrations that are automated have many advantages. Automating the process of gathering evidence for large organizations in an environment that is constantly changing could make it easier to save time. This doesn’t mean that the same technology will be needed to be used for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in a small technology environment it might be better to create evidence by hand and to avoid the need for many integrations.
Software and the Audit Are Different Expenses
Budgeting can be difficult if companies treat each compliance expense as separate numbers. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal employees are involved in developing policies, fixing problems with control, organizing evidence and collaborating with the auditor. The audit independent also has its own cost.
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. However, the term “certification cost” is commonly employed by companies when looking for price data, is widely used. Software does not replace an independent auditor, irrespective of the terms used within the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be affordable and familiar but become unwieldy when they are spread across several files.
It isn’t necessary to use an enterprise platform to serve as a substitute. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for evidence. It also provides progress management and auditors with access to read-only. Access to the platform is secured by an authentication process that requires multi-factor. Its advertised launch price is $225 per month, and the regular price is $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.
The same system that minimizes exposure can be accomplished without the need to it
CertAssist is not designed to connect to the operational systems of the company. Evidence is presented but does not grant the platform with access to cloud environments or identities environments.
That approach involves a tradeoff. Information that could have been captured automatically should be provided by the business. But for smaller teams, the extra work could be justified in exchange for a less complicated setup with lower software expenses, and less external connections.
Purchase Complexity when Complexity Solves the issue
A growing company could eventually reach a point at which manual evidence gathering is no longer efficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
Until then, the goal isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated compliance software available. The goal is to streamline compliance, maintain credible evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. A well-designed software system should simplify the process. If the application of the compliance platform is a feeling that it’s taking longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, then the tool might be overkill.