A software for compliance should help auditing become easier. But small-sized companies may be put in a tricky situation: before they are able to set up their SOC 2 controls, they first must implement the system, set up, and then learn an elaborate compliance platform. This raises an interesting question. What happens when the tool that is designed to reduce compliance, become a separate program?
CertAssist resulted from that frustration. Its creators had worked on compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. They encountered numerous platforms with features and integrations, while organizations were still using spreadsheets to manage important pieces of the actual auditing process. The simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the most effective solution for smaller organizations.
Start by identifying the tasks that Have to be completed
Get rid of the software jargon, and it’s much simpler to comprehend. The company must work through Trust Services Criteria and establish the appropriate controls. They should also record the policies, document evidence, keep track of their progress, as well as provide this information for independent auditors. Platforms can be used to manage these functions without having to connect them to every cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Integrations that are automated can be extremely useful. Automating the collection of evidence for a large company in an environment that is constantly changing could help save time. That doesn’t automatically make the same structure essential to be used for SOC 2 for startups. Startups operating in a smaller technology infrastructure might prefer to record evidence on their own instead of managing a number of integrations.
The Software and the Audit are distinct expenses
When businesses treat all compliance costs in one number, budgeting can become complicated. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members are responsible for making policies, addressing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence, and working together with the auditor. Independent audits have their own cost as well.
Companies looking into SOC 2 certification costs must be aware of a difference in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than an official certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. However the term “certification cost”, which is often employed by companies when looking for price details, is still widely used. Whatever the terminology used in a budget, software cannot replace an independent audit.
Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and cost-effective, but they can be uncomfortable when multiple spreadsheets are used to share policies, controls the ownership of evidence, prove ownership, and audit communication.
It is not required to use an enterprise-level platform as a substitute. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for proving. It also allows auditors with progress management as well as read-only access. Access to the platform is secured with a multi-factor authentication requirement. Its stated launch price is $225 per month with a price that is regular at $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.
No Integration Can Also Mean More Exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the operational systems of a company. The platform for compliance isn’t provided access to the cloud or identity environment.
The trade-off is that this option requires an agreement. The evidence that could have been taken automatically should instead be provided by the company. If the team is small, however, the additional manual work could be justified to facilitate setting up, lower costs for software and less third-party connections.
If Complexity solves a problem, buy It
If a company is growing that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could turn into inefficient. Continuous monitoring and large-scale integrations will pay off at the point you are.
It’s not necessary to buy the most complex compliance stack until later. It’s important to ensure that the evidence is credible as well as organize the compliance tasks, and manage the audit independently. A quality software application should make this process easier. Implementing a compliance platform can appear more like a job than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that the company does not require numerous tools.
