A compliance program should help auditing become easier. Yet small companies can be caught in a tense situation. Before they can arrange their SOC 2 controls, they first have to implement an SOC 2 system, then configure and master an extensive compliance platform. It raises a good question. At what point does the instrument designed to decrease compliance work become another project that is its own?
CertAssist was conceived out of the frustration. Its founders have worked on compliance implementations and audits and ISO 27001 frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations while companies were still using spreadsheets to manage crucial aspects of auditing process. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.
Start by identifying the task that needs to be done
If you remove the terms used in software it is much easier to understand. A company needs to work through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish the appropriate controls, establish policies, record evidence, track progress, and make that material available for audits by an independent auditor. A platform is able to manage those actions without needing to connect to every cloud service or identity system the company operates.
Automated integrations can be extremely useful. An organization that collects data across a constantly changing environment can significantly cut down on time via automation. However, it doesn’t mean the same system is required for SOC 2 by startups. A startup that has a compact technology environment may prefer to do the evidence themselves and avoid maintaining numerous integrations.
The Software and the Audit are separate expenses
It is difficult to budget when companies consider each compliance expense separate numbers. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal employees are involved in creating policies, addressing the issues with control, arranging evidence, and collaborating with the auditor. Independent audits have their own costs.
Businesses looking for information about SOC 2 Certification Cost must be aware of the terminology distinction: SOC 2 is not a type of certificate within the meaning of ISO 27001. Instead, it provides an independent attestation, not an official certification. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for price information. Whatever language is used in the budget, software cannot replace the independent auditor.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be A Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets might be familiar and cost-effective, but they may be uncomfortable if multiple files are used for communication of policies, control evidence, ownership, and audit information.
The alternative doesn’t need be a business platform. CertAssist centralizes SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also provides auditors with progress management as well as access that is read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required to secure the platform. The stated launch price of $225 will be and will be followed by a regular price of $375 per month or $3,999 per year.
No integration can also mean less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the operational systems of a company. It provides evidence without giving the compliance platform a permanent access to cloud and identity environments.
The method is a compromise. The company has to provide evidence which could have been captured using the automated system. For smaller teams, the extra work might be justified with a simpler set-up, lower software costs, and with fewer external connections.
Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves a Problem
In a growing organization, manual evidence collection may end up being inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations may pay their fees.
It is not required to purchase the most complicated compliance stack at this point. It’s to get the compliance task organised, keep the credibility of evidence and make the independent audit manageable. A good software program should eliminate friction out of the process. Implementing the compliance platform may appear more like a job as opposed to preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not require the same tools.