Compliance software is intended to make an audit easier. Small businesses are usually in an awkward position. Before they can implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and master an intricate compliance platform. That raises a useful question. What is the point at which the instrument designed to decrease compliance work turn into a initiative of its own?
CertAssist is the result of this frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. The creators of this software were repeatedly confronted with platforms with a variety of features and connections, while the companies they worked for still used spreadsheets to prepare important audit pieces. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical solution.
Begin by identifying the task that Has to be Done
Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s much easier to understand. The company should work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate control measures. They should also document policies, gather evidence, track their performance, and making this information available for independent auditors. Platforms can handle these tasks without having to be linked with the various identity or cloud-based services the company uses.
Automated integrations certainly have value. A large organization collecting evidence from a continuously changing environment can significantly cut down on time with automation. However, that doesn’t make the same structure essential for SOC 2 for startups. Startups with a compact technology environment may prefer to record evidence on their own instead of managing a number of integrations.
The cost for the audit and software are two distinct expenses
Budgeting becomes difficult when companies make each compliance expense a separate number. SOC 2 includes more than just software. Internal staff members are required to work on making policies and addressing control gaps. They also collect evidence. The independent audit also has its own cost.
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 prices, they typically use the term “certification costs”. Software cannot substitute for the independent auditor regardless of the terms used within the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets can be a familiar tool and cost-effective, but they can become uncomfortable when multiple files are used for communication of policies, control the ownership of evidence, prove ownership, and audit information.
Alternatives to enterprise platforms don’t necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist integrates the SOC 2 controls on a central board that can be edited policy and evidence templates along with progress management, as well as read-only auditor access. Access to the platform is protected by a multi-factor authentication requirement. The stated launch price of $225 is then followed by regular pricing of $375 per month, or $3,999 annually.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist deliberately doesn’t connect to the operational systems of a company. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments as well as identities environments.
That approach involves a tradeoff. It is the obligation of the company to provide evidence which could have been automatically collected. The additional manual work is acceptable for a small group in exchange for more simple setup, lower cost and less connections to third parties.
Buy Complexity when it solves a Problem
A growing company may eventually arrive at a point when the manual process of collecting evidence will become inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will be beneficial when you reach that point.
The objective of a compliance stack isn’t to be the most sophisticated one that is available. The aim is to arrange compliance, maintain credible evidence and ensure that independent audits are managed. A well-designed software system should simplify the process. The implementation of the compliance platform could appear more like a job rather than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It might be that the company is not using the same tools.