Software that helps audits is called compliance software. However, small companies can be put in a difficult position. They must set up, configure and master a compliance system prior to organising their SOC 2 control. This raises an interesting question. What happens when the tool that is designed to reduce compliance become a separate project?
CertAssist was born out of that frustration. CertAssist’s creators had previous experience in compliance audits and implementations of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of options and integrations, however organizations were still using spreadsheets for the primary components of preparation for audits. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin by identifying the job you need to complete
If you take away the language used by software, it becomes much easier to comprehend. An organization must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish the appropriate controls, establish policies, collect evidence, keep track of progress and then make the information available for audits conducted by an independent entity. Platforms are able to manage these tasks without having to be linked with all cloud services or identity systems companies utilize.
Integrations that are automated offer many advantages. Automating the process of gathering evidence for a large company in a world that is constantly changing could reduce time. However, it doesn’t mean the same technology will be needed for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in a small technology environment it might be better to provide the evidence manually and avoid having many integrations.
The cost for the audit and software are two distinct expenses
Budgeting can be difficult if companies take each compliance expense as an individual number. SOC 2 includes more than just software. The internal staff is required to devote time to the following: preparing policies and fixing control gaps. They also collect evidence. The independent audit comes with its own cost as well.
Businesses looking for information on SOC 2 certification costs must be aware of a difference in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report instead of an official certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. When businesses are looking for prices, they typically use the term “certification costs”. Whatever term is used in the budget, the software is not a substitute for an independent audit.
The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and cheap, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are used to communicate policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and auditing communication.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily need to be costly. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for proving. It also allows auditors and progress management with read-only access. Access to the platform is protected by the requirement for multi-factor authentication. Its stated launch price is $225 per month, with a regular cost of $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist deliberately doesn’t connect to any company’s operational systems. The compliance platform has not been provided access to the cloud or the identity environment.
This approach is not without its drawbacks. The business must present evidence that could have been gathered using the automated system. In the case of a small group however, the manual effort may be worth it as a way to get a more simple set-up, lower cost of software and less connections to third party sources.
If Complexity Solves a Problem, Purchase It
In a growing organization that is growing, the manual collection of evidence could turn into inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay off at the point you are.
It is not necessary to buy the most complex compliance stack up to the point of. The objective is to manage the compliance process, collect evidence and manage independent audits. A good software program should eliminate friction from that process. If the implementation of the compliance platform is a feeling that it is taking longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, the software may be too much.