Software that helps audits is referred to as compliance software. But small businesses can be put in a difficult position. They need to set up or configure a compliance system prior to organising their SOC 2 control. This brings up a fascinating question. What are the conditions that make a tool to decrease compliance work transform into a new project?
CertAssist is the product of this frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance and audits that were based on SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks. They had to deal with platforms that were packed with integrations and features while businesses used spreadsheets for crucial aspects of auditing process. SOC 2 is simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the best option for smaller companies.
Begin with the job you need to complete
If you take away the language used by software it will be much easier to comprehend. The company should work through Trust Services Criteria and establish suitable controls. They should also record the policies, document evidence, monitor their progress, as well as offer this documentation to independent auditors. A platform is able to manage those actions without needing to connect to every cloud service or identity system that the company uses.
Automated integrations can be beneficial. Automating the collection of evidence for large organizations in an environment that changes constantly can save time. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the same technology will be required for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in limited technology resources, it may be preferable to manually provide evidence and not have a lot of integrations.
The Audit and Software are Two Different Costs
It is difficult to budget when companies consider each compliance expense a separate number. The SOC 2 cost includes more than software. Internal staff members are required to devote time to making policies and addressing gaps in control. They also organize evidence. Independent audits also have their own costs.
Companies researching SOC 2 certification cost should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than a certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. When companies seek pricing, they often utilize the term “certification cost”. Whatever the terminology employed in a budget, software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are inexpensive and familiar But they aren’t as easy when controls, policies, ownership evidence, and auditing communication start spreading across multiple documents.
It is not necessary to use an enterprise-level platform as a substitute. CertAssist shows the SOC 2 controls in one central display, and includes editable templates to govern policies and evidence, as well as progress tracking, and auditors will only view. The platform’s access is protected by the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The cost of the platform’s launch is $225 a month. Regular pricing is $375 a month or $3999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure can be accomplished by eliminating the need for it.
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the operational systems of a company. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments and the identity environment.
The downside is that this approach requires an arrangement. The evidence that could have been captured automatically should be provided by the business. If you have a small staff, however, the additional manual effort may be worth it to facilitate installation, less software cost and less connections to third party sources.
Purchase Complexity when Complexity Solves a Problem
Growing companies may come to a point that the manual process of collecting evidence will become inefficient. Monitoring and monitoring continuously and integration could be justified by the improved effectiveness.
The goal until then isn’t to buy the most advanced compliance software available. The goal is to streamline the compliance process, collect evidence and manage independent audits. A well-designed software can make this process much easier. If the application of the compliance platform seems like it’s taking longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, it could not be enough.