Compliance software is intended to make an audit easier. Small businesses are usually in a precarious position. Before they are able to implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and master an intricate software for compliance. This raises an interesting question. When will the tool that is designed to reduce compliance turn into a separate project?
CertAssist is the result of this frustration. The founders of the company focused on compliance implementations, audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of features and integrations, but organizations were still using spreadsheets for the main aspects of audit preparation. The simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the best option for smaller companies.
Start With the Job That Has to be Done
Eliminate the jargon of software and it is simpler to comprehend. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish adequate controls. They must also write down policies, gather evidence, monitor their progress, and offer this documentation to independent auditors. Platforms can manage these activities without necessarily connecting itself to each cloud-based service or identity system the company operates.
Automated integrations are certainly beneficial. Automating the collection of evidence for large corporations in an environment that changes constantly can make it easier to save time. This doesn’t mean that the same architecture is required for SOC 2 in startups. If a startup operates in an insufficient technology environment, it may be preferable to create evidence by hand and avoid integrating too many systems.
The Audit and the Software Are different expenses
When companies treat all compliance costs as one number, budgeting becomes complicated. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal employees are involved in preparing policies, addressing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence, and working with the auditor. The independent audit also comes with its own fees.
Companies researching SOC 2 certification costs should be aware of a difference in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation document, but not an official certification in the same meaning as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. When companies seek pricing, they frequently refer to the cost as “certification cost”. Whatever the terminology used in the budget, software doesn’t substitute for the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are simple and easy to use However, they can be a bit awkward when guidelines, controls evidence, ownership, and audit communication begin spreading across several documents.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms do not necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist puts the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board and provides editable templates for policy and evidence, progress management, and auditor access with read-only. The mandatory multi-factor authentication safeguards access to the platform. The platform’s launch price is $225 a month. The normal price is $375 per month or $3999 per year.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist deliberately doesn’t connect to the systems that run a business. The evidence provided is not given without giving the compliance platform access to cloud or identity environments.
The drawback is that this option requires a compromise. Evidence that could have been obtained automatically has to be provided by the company. If the team is small However, the added manual labor may be acceptable in exchange for simpler setting up, lower costs for software, and fewer third-party connections.
Complexity Purchase when it Solves the issue
If a company is growing, manual evidence collection may be inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations can earn their price.
The objective of a compliance stack isn’t to be the most advanced one that is available. The goal is to streamline compliance, keep credible evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. Software that’s well designed will make this process simpler. If the implementation of the compliance platform starts to seem like a bigger project than preparing for SOC 2 itself, it may simply be more tools than the company requires.