Software designed to facilitate audits is known as compliance software. However, smaller companies could be put in a tricky situation: before they are able to set up their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricate compliance platform. That raises a useful question. What is the point at which a tool that can lower compliance work become an entirely new venture?
CertAssist resulted from that frustration. Its founders have worked on compliance implementations and audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They found platforms with many options and integrations, however organizations used spreadsheets for the primary aspects of audit preparation. SOC 2 software that is simple is more appropriate for smaller companies.
Start With the Job That Has to be Done
Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s simpler to comprehend. The company must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down guidelines, document evidence, keep track of progress and make the material accessible for audits conducted by an independent entity. A platform can organize those processes without having to be connected to every cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Integrations that are automated can be extremely valuable. Automating can save a large company a lot of time in collecting evidence in an ever-changing environment. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same system required for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup is operating in an insufficient technology environment it could be best to make the necessary evidence available manually and to avoid the need for many integrations.
The Audit and the Software Are Two Different Costs
When companies consider all compliance costs in one number, budgeting may become unclear. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members must devote time creating policies, addressing gaps in control, arranging proof as well as working with auditors. The audit independent also has its own fee.
Businesses looking for information about SOC 2 Certification Cost should also be aware of the terminology distinction: SOC 2 is not a certificate in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it is an independent attestation rather than an official certification. When companies are searching for pricing, they frequently utilize the term “certification cost”. Whatever term is used in the budget, the software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be a familiar tool and cost-effective, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are used to convey policies, control the ownership of evidence, prove ownership, and audit communication.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms do not necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist integrates the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board and provides editable template templates for policy and evidence including progress management and auditing access that is read-only. The mandatory multi-factor authentication safeguards access to the system. The initial price for the platform is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 per month or $3999 annually.
In addition, no integration could mean More Exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to an organization’s operational systems. Evidence is presented but does not grant the platform with access to cloud environments as well as the identity environment.
The approach is a compromise. Evidence that could have been collected automatically must instead be provided by the company. For smaller teams, the added work could be justified in exchange for a less complicated setup, lower software costs, and the absence of external connections.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Purchase It
An expanding company could eventually arrive at a point when manual evidence collection is no longer efficient. Monitoring continuously and extensive integrations will pay their costs.
The goal of a compliance stack is not to be the most advanced one that is available. It’s about getting the compliance process well-organized, provide solid evidence, and allow for an independent audit to be managed. A well-designed software system should reduce friction in this process. The implementation of the compliance platform could seem more like a task rather than the preparation of the SOC 2 itself. It could be that the company does not require as many tools.