Compliance software is supposed to facilitate audits. Smaller businesses often find themselves stuck in an awkward situation. Before they are able to implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure, and learn the complexities of a platform for compliance. This brings up a fascinating question. When does the instrument designed to decrease compliance become a separate initiative of its own?
CertAssist was conceived out of this frustration. Its creators worked on compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. They discovered platforms that had many options and integrations, however companies were still using spreadsheets for the most important parts of audit preparation. For smaller companies, a simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Begin by listing the Tasks That Must Be Completed
If you take away the software terminology, it becomes much easier to comprehend. An organization must work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish appropriate controls, document policies, gather evidence, track progress, and then make that information available to audit by an independent third party. A platform can organize those tasks without having to connect to every cloud service or identity system that the firm uses.
Automated integrations certainly have value. Automation can save a huge company a lot of time while collecting data in a dynamic environment. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the same structure will be needed to be used for SOC 2 by startups. Startups that have a small technology infrastructure might prefer to collect evidence manually instead of maintaining a multitude of integrations.
The cost of the audit as well as the cost of the software are two separate 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 preparing policies, addressing control gaps, organizing evidence and working together with the auditor. The independent audit comes with its own fees as well.
Companies looking into SOC 2 Certification Cost should be aware of the terminology distinction: SOC 2 is not a certificate in the sense of ISO 27001. Instead, it produces an independent attestation instead of an official certification. However, the term “certification cost” is commonly employed by businesses looking for price details, is still widely used. Software cannot substitute for the independent auditor irrespective of the language used within the budget.
Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are often inexpensive and familiar, but they can become a hassle when they are spread over multiple files.
The alternative doesn’t need to be a business platform. CertAssist displays the SOC 2 controls in an integrated board. It also includes editable templates to govern policy and evidence, and progress monitoring, and auditors are able to only read. Mandatory multi-factor authentication helps protect access to the system. The price of its launch is $225 monthly, with regular pricing of $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.
The same system that minimizes exposure can also be achieved by removing the need for it.
CertAssist does not intentionally connect to an organization’s operating system. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments or identities environments.
This approach is not without its trade-offs. It is the responsibility of the business to provide proof that could have been collected automatically. For a small team however, the extra manual work could be justified in exchange for a simpler set-up, lower cost of software and less connections to third party sources.
Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves the problem
In a growing organization the manual process of collecting evidence may be inefficient. The expense of monitoring and integration could be justified by the higher effectiveness.
It is not required to purchase the most complex compliance platform until later. It’s to get the compliance work well-organized, provide reliable evidence, and make the independent audit manageable. Software that’s designed properly will make this process simpler. If the application of the compliance tool feels like it takes longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, it could be too expensive.