A compliance software will aid in auditing. However, small-sized businesses are placed in a tough spot. They have to implement or configure a compliance platform before they can implement their SOC 2 control. That raises a useful question. What is the point at which a tool that can lower compliance work become a new project?
CertAssist was a result of frustration. Its developers had worked on compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and various frameworks. The developers of this software faced numerous challenges with platforms that had many features and connections, while the companies they worked for still used spreadsheets to prepare important audit pieces. For smaller businesses, a less complicated SOC 2 compliance software can often be the better answer.
Begin with the job that needs to be done
Strip away the software terminology and the primary requirement becomes easier to comprehend. The company must work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, collect evidence, keep track of progress and then make that information available for audits by an independent auditor. Platforms are able to manage these functions without having to connect with the various identity or cloud-based services companies use.
Automated integrations can be extremely useful. Automating the process of gathering evidence for large organizations in a world that is constantly changing can help save time. That doesn’t automatically make the same system essential to be used for SOC 2 for startups. Startups with a compact technology infrastructure might prefer to take evidence in a manual manner instead of managing a number of integrations.
Software and Audits Are 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 employees are involved in preparing policies, addressing control gaps, organizing evidence and working together with the auditor. Independent audits are also charged fees of their own.
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 phrase “certification cost” is frequently employed by companies when looking for price information, is still popular. Whatever language is used in the budget, software can’t substitute for the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be inexpensive and easy to use, but they become cumbersome when they are spread over several files.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 control and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also allows auditors and progress management with access to read-only. Multi-factor authentication is essential to protect the platform. The price of its launch is $225 monthly, with a regular cost of $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
No Integration Can Also Mean Less Exposure
CertAssist deliberately doesn’t connect to an organization’s operational systems. The platform for compliance isn’t allowed access to cloud or to the identity environment.
That approach involves a tradeoff. It is the responsibility for the company to supply evidence which could have been collected automatically. In the case of a small group However, the added manual effort may be worth it in exchange for simpler set-up, lower cost of software, and fewer third-party connections.
Purchase Complexity When Complexity Solves a Problem
Growing companies may arrive at a point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. The cost of continuous monitoring and integration could be justified by the increased effectiveness.
Until then, the goal isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated compliance system available. The objective is to manage compliance, preserve evidence that is credible and make independent audits manageable. A well-designed software system should help in reducing the friction. Implementing a compliance platform can seem more like a task than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It might be that the company is not using more tools.