A compliance software should aid in auditing. However, small businesses may be put in a precarious position. They have to implement an, configure and maintain the platform for compliance before they can organise their SOC 2 control. It raises a good question. At what point does the device designed to cut down on compliance tasks become a new initiative of its own?
CertAssist resulted from that frustration. Its creators worked on compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of options and integrations, however companies used spreadsheets for the most important components of preparation for audits. For smaller businesses, a less complicated SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical option.
Start by identifying the task you need to complete
Take away the software terms and the essential requirement is easier to comprehend. It is crucial that businesses comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This involves setting up the right controls, gathering evidence, keeping track of developments and documenting the policies. Platforms can be used to manage these tasks without having to connect them with every cloud service or identity software that the company utilizes.
Integrations that are automated can be extremely valuable. Automating can save a large organization lots of time while collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. A startup that has a limited technology environment might choose to present evidence in person and avoid the hassle of maintaining multiple integrations.
Software and Audits Are different expenses
The process of budgeting can become confusing when companies treat every compliance expense as one number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal employees are involved in making policies, addressing weaknesses in control, organizing evidence and working with the auditor. Independent audits have their own fees as well.
Companies looking into SOC 2 Certification Costs should also be aware of the distinction: SOC 2 is not a type of certificate within the meaning of ISO 27001. Instead, it is an independent attestation instead of the standard certification. When companies are searching for pricing, they frequently employ the term “certification costs”. Whatever the terminology used in a budget, software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets may be familiar and inexpensive, but they can become uncomfortable when multiple files are utilized to convey policies, control ownership, evidence, ownership and auditing communication.
Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for evidence. It also offers auditing and progress management, as well as auditors with access only to read. Multi-factor authentication is essential to safeguard the platform. The stated launch price of $225 is and will be followed by a regular price of $375 per month, or $3,999 annually.
The same kind of integration that decreases exposure is also possible without the need to it.
CertAssist does not intend to connect to the operating systems of a company. The compliance platform is not granted access to the cloud or the identity environment.
This option is not without its trade-offs. The company has to provide evidence that could have been gathered by the automated system. The additional manual work is acceptable for a small team in exchange for a simplified setup, a lower cost and fewer connections with third party.
Buy Complexity When Complexity Solves a Problem
A company that is growing may get to a point at which manually capturing evidence will become inefficient. The cost of continuous monitoring and integration is justified by the higher effectiveness.
Until then, the goal isn’t necessarily to buy the most sophisticated compliance system available. It’s essential to ensure that the evidence is credible, organize the compliance work and oversee the independent audit. Software that’s well designed can make this process much easier. Implementing the compliance platform might feel more like a project rather than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that a company does not need as many tools.