Software developed to aid in audits is referred to as compliance software. But small businesses can be put in a difficult position. They must implement an, configure and maintain a compliance platform before they can implement their SOC 2 control. This leads to a crucial question. What happens when the tool that is designed to reduce compliance become a separate project?

CertAssist was conceived out of the frustration. Its creators had worked on compliance-related implementations and audits for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks. They found platforms with a wide range of functions and integrations, yet companies were still using spreadsheets for the most important parts of audit preparation. Simpler SOC 2 compliance software is often the ideal solution for smaller businesses.

Begin with the Tasks that Have to be completed

Eliminate the terminology used by software and the primary requirement becomes more understandable. The company must work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish the appropriate controls, establish policies, gather evidence, keep track of progress and then make that information available to audit by an independent third party. Platforms can be used to manage these activities without having to connect them to each cloud service or identity system that the company uses.

Integrations that are automated are extremely beneficial. Automating the collection of evidence for a large company in a world which is always changing can reduce time. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. Startups with a smaller technology infrastructure may choose to make evidence by hand and not maintain a multitude of integrations.

The cost for the audit as well as the cost of the software are two different expenses

When companies treat all compliance expenses as a single number, budgeting becomes complicated. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff are required to spend time on things like preparing policies and addressing control gaps. They also collect evidence. The audit independent also has its own cost.

Companies looking into SOC 2 certification cost must be aware of a distinction in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report instead of a certification in the same meaning as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. When companies are searching for pricing, they frequently utilize the term “certification cost”. Software is not a substitute for an independent auditor, regardless of the terms employed in the budget.

The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets are often familiar and cost-effective, but they can become a source of discomfort when multiple files are utilized to communicate policies, control the ownership of evidence, prove ownership, and audit communication.

It is not necessary to utilize an enterprise platform for alternative. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and offers editable policies and templates for evidence. It also offers progress management and auditors with access only to read. The mandatory multi-factor authentication safeguards access to the platform. The initial price for the platform is $225 monthly. The normal price is $375 a month or $3999 per year.

A lack of integration can also mean less exposure

CertAssist does not intentionally connect to the operating systems of a company. The compliance platform has not been provided access to the cloud or identity environment.

This strategy is not without its pitfalls. Evidence that could have easily been taken automatically should instead be provided by the business. If you have a small staff, however, the additional manual work may be reasonable to facilitate setup, lower software expense as well as fewer connections with third parties.

Purchase Complexity When Complexity Solves the issue

A growing company could eventually get to the point that the manual process of gathering evidence becomes inefficient. Continuous monitoring and large-scale integrations will pay off at the point you are.

In the meantime, the objective isn’t necessarily to buy the most sophisticated compliance system available. It’s important to make sure that the evidence is reliable as well as organize the compliance tasks as well as manage the audit independently. Good software should remove the friction from the process. Implementing a compliance platform can seem more like a task rather than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not require the same tools.