Compliance software is intended to make an audit easier. However, small companies can be put in a precarious position. They must implement the configuration, set up and manage the platform for compliance before they can organise their SOC 2 control. This raises an interesting question. At what point does the instrument designed to decrease compliance tasks become a new project on its own?
CertAssist is the result of this discontent. The creators of CertAssist had worked on compliance audits and implementations of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations while organizations used spreadsheets for crucial aspects of preparation for audits. For smaller enterprises, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can at times be the most practical answer.
Begin by identifying the job that has to be accomplished
Remove the software jargon and it’s much simpler to comprehend. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate control measures. They should also record the policy, collect evidence, keep track of their progress, as well as making this information available to independent auditors. Platforms can handle these tasks without having to be connected to the various identity or cloud-based services that companies utilize.
Automated integrations can bring many benefits. A large-scale organization that is collecting evidence across a constantly changing environment can significantly cut down on time with automation. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. A startup with a relatively smaller technology infrastructure may choose to do the evidence themselves and not maintain a multitude of integrations.
The Software and the Audit are different expenses
Budgeting becomes confusing when companies treat every compliance expense as one number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff are required to dedicate time to things like preparing policies and fixing control gaps. They also organize evidence. The independent audit is charged its own fee as well.
Companies who are researching SOC 2 Certification Cost should be aware of the terminology distinction: SOC 2 is not a certification in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it provides an independent attestation rather than an ordinary certification. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is typically used by businesses looking for pricing data. Software is not a substitute for the independent auditor regardless of the terms employed in the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be cheap and easy to use, but they become cumbersome when spread across many files.
The alternative does not have to be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist centralizes SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also offers auditors and progress management with access to read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required to secure the platform. The price of the platform’s initial launch is $225 per month. The normal price is $375 per month or $3999 per year.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist is not designed to connect to the operational systems of an organization. The evidence provided is not given without giving the platform with standing access to cloud and identity environments.
The trade-off is that this approach requires an arrangement. It is the duty of the business to provide proof that could have been collected automatically. In the case of small teams, the added work might be justified by a more simple setup and lower costs for software and less external connections.
Purchase Complexity When Complexity Resolves the problem
A growing organization may eventually reach a point at which manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial at the point you are.
The goal until then isn’t to purchase the most sophisticated compliance stack available. It’s about getting the compliance tasks done, preserve the credibility of evidence and enable the independent audit to be manageable. Software that’s well designed can make this process much easier. If the process of implementing the compliance platform feels like it’s taking longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, it could be too much.