Software that facilitates audits is referred to as compliance software. But small businesses can be placed in a tough spot. They have to implement, configure and master a compliance platform before they can organise their SOC 2 control. This raises an interesting question. When did the device which is intended to lower compliance become a separate project?
CertAssist was a result of frustration. Its creators were involved in compliance implementations, audits, and ISO 27001 frameworks. They repeatedly encountered platforms packed with integrations and features while businesses used spreadsheets for essential elements of audit preparation. For smaller companies, a simpler SOC 2 compliance software can often be the better solution.
Begin by identifying the job you need to complete
Take out the jargon in software and it’s simpler to comprehend. The company needs to work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate control measures. They must also create policies, gather evidence, and track their development, and make this material available for independent auditors. Platforms are able to handle these tasks without having to be connected to all cloud services or identity systems that companies utilize.
Integrations that are automated have many advantages. Automating the gathering of evidence by large corporations in an environment that changes constantly can reduce time. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup is operating in limited technology resources, it may be preferable to manually provide evidence and to avoid the need for many integrations.
The cost of the audit and the software are two distinct costs.
It can be confusing to budget when businesses consider every compliance expense as one number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than just software. Internal staff are busy developing policies, fixing problems with control, organizing evidence and collaborating with the auditor. Independent audits have their own cost as well.
When analyzing SOC 2 costs, businesses must be aware of one important distinction in terminology. SOC 2 produces a report that is not a certification and is not a certification as specified by ISO 27001. When companies seek pricing, they frequently utilize the term “certification cost”. Software is not a substitute for the independent auditor regardless of the language employed in the budget.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to Be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and cost-effective, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are utilized to communicate policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and audit communication.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be costly. CertAssist displays the SOC 2 controls on a central board, includes editable templates to govern policies and evidence, as well as progress tracking, and auditors will only see. Access to the platform is secured with a multi-factor authentication requirement. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 per month or $3999 annually.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist intentionally doesn’t connect to the company’s operational systems. The platform for compliance isn’t allowed access to cloud or identity environment.
That approach involves a tradeoff. The company must provide evidence that could have been gathered from the automated system. In the case of small teams, the extra work can be justified with a simple set-up as well as lower software costs and less external connections.
Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves a Problem
A growing company may eventually reach a point where the manual process of collecting evidence is no longer efficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial when you get to that point.
The purpose of the compliance stack isn’t to be the best one available. It’s about getting the compliance process organized, maintain solid evidence, and allow for an independent audit to be managed. A well-designed software should make this process easier. If implementing the compliance platform begins to seem like a bigger project than the process of preparing for SOC 2 itself, it might be just a different software than a company needs.
