A compliance program should make auditing easier. Yet small companies can be put in a tricky position: before they can manage their SOC 2 controls, they first have to implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master the intricacy of a compliance platform. It raises a good question. What are the conditions that make a tool to make compliance easier turn into a new project?
CertAssist was born out of frustration. The founders of the company have worked on compliance implementations and audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They found platforms with many features and integrations, but businesses were still using spreadsheets for the primary parts of audit preparation. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start with the Work That Should Be Done
Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s much more understandable. It is essential that a company be aware of the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting appropriate controls, collecting evidence, monitoring the progress of the process and establishing the policies. Platforms can manage these activities without needing to be connected with the various identity or cloud-based services companies utilize.
Automated integrations can be very valuable. A large organization collecting evidence in a constantly evolving environment may save significant time through automation. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same architecture will be needed to be used for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup operates in a small technology environment, it may be preferable to manually provide evidence and not have a lot of integrations.
The Software and the Audit are distinct expenses
Budgeting becomes difficult when companies take each compliance expense as separate numbers. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff are required to dedicate time to creating policies and addressing control gaps. They also organize evidence. The independent audit has its own set of fees.
Businesses looking for information on SOC 2 certification cost should also be aware of the distinction in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than an actual certification in the same meaning as ISO 27001. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is frequently used by companies searching for pricing data. Whatever terminology is employed in a budget, the software doesn’t replace the independent audit.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be a Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are inexpensive and familiar They are easy to use, but they can become a little awkward when policies, controls, evidence, ownership and audit communications begin to spread across several files.
It isn’t necessary to use an enterprise platform as a substitute. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also provides progress management and auditors with access to read-only. The platform’s access is secured with the requirement for multi-factor authentication. The stated price for the launch is $225 monthly with a regular cost of $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.
A lack of integration could also mean less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the company’s operational systems. It provides evidence without giving the platform with standing access to cloud or identity environments.
The disadvantage is that this method requires the use of compromise. Evidence that could have easily been collected automatically must instead be provided by the company. The additional manual work is acceptable for a small group in exchange for simplified setup, a lower cost and fewer connections with third parties.
Purchase Complexity when it solves the issue
A growing company may eventually come to a point that the manual method of gathering evidence can become unproductive. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations can earn their price.
The objective of the compliance stack isn’t to be the most sophisticated one available. It’s about getting the compliance task well-organized, provide credible evidence, and enable the independent audit to be manageable. Software that’s designed properly should make this process easier. Implementing the compliance platform may appear more like a job than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It might be that the company doesn’t require more tools.