Software developed to aid in audits is referred to as compliance software. Small companies are often in a precarious position. Before they can implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and learn the complexities of a compliance platform. That raises a useful question. When did the device which is intended to lower compliance become a separate project?
CertAssist grew out of that frustration. The founders of the company were involved in compliance implementations, audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. The people who developed this software faced numerous challenges with platforms with a variety of options and integrations, while their employers employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit components. More simple SOC 2 compliance software is sometimes the best solution for smaller companies.
Begin by listing the Tasks That Have to be completed
Eliminate the terminology used by software and the core requirement becomes simpler to comprehend. A company needs to work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, collect evidence, track progress, and then make the information available for independent audit. Platforms are a great way to manage these processes without needing to connect them with every cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Automated integrations can be beneficial. 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 avoid the need to maintain numerous integrations.
The cost for the audit and the software are two different expenses
Budgeting can be difficult if companies take each compliance expense as separate numbers. SOC 2 includes more than just software. Internal staff spend time creating policies, addressing control gaps, organizing evidence, and working together with the auditor. The independent audit comes with its own fee as well.
Companies looking into SOC 2 Certification Cost should also be aware of the terminology differentiating the two: SOC 2 is not an official certificate as per the definition of ISO 27001. Instead, it is an independent attestation and is not an ordinary certification. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for pricing information. Whatever terminology is employed in a budget, the software does not replace the independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be cheap and comfortable, but they are cumbersome when they are spread across multiple files.
The alternative doesn’t need to be a business platform. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also allows auditors with progress management as well as access to read-only. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the platform. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 per month. The normal price is $375 per month, or $3999 per year.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist is not apposed to connecting to an organization’s operating system. Evidence is presented, but without granting the compliance platform access to cloud environments as well as the identity environment.
The downside is that this approach requires a compromise. The business must present evidence which could have been captured from an automated system. The additional manual work required is reasonable for a tiny group in exchange for more simple setup, lower cost and fewer connections with third parties.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves the problem
A company that is growing may arrive at a point when manually capturing evidence can become unproductive. Continuous monitoring and massive integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
The purpose of a compliance stack is not to be the most technological one available. It’s to get the compliance tasks well-organized, provide the credibility of evidence and enable the independent audit to be manageable. A well-designed software system should make this process easier. If implementing the compliance platform starts to feel like a larger project than preparing for SOC 2 itself, it could be a tool than what the business currently needs.