A compliance software should make auditing easier. Small companies are often in a precarious position. Before they can begin implementing their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure, and learn the complexities of a compliance platform. It raises a good question. What is the point at which the tool that was designed to ease compliance work turn into a initiative of its own?
CertAssist is the product of this frustration. Its creators had worked on compliance and audits that were based on SOC 2, ISO 27001 and various frameworks. They encountered numerous platforms with integrations and features while companies were still using spreadsheets to manage important pieces of the actual preparation for audits. For smaller companies, a simpler SOC 2 compliance software can occasionally be the best answer.
Begin by identifying the task that Needs to Be Done
Strip away the software terminology and the essential requirement is more understandable. It is crucial that companies know the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting adequate controls, gathering evidence, monitoring progress and documenting policies. Platforms can be used to organize these tasks without having to connect them with every cloud service and identity system that the company uses.
Automated integrations are extremely beneficial. Automation can save a huge business a lot of time when it comes to collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup has a small technology environment it could be best to make the necessary evidence available manually and not have a lot of integrations.
Both the Software and Audit are different expenses
Budgeting becomes confusing when companies make every compliance expense one number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff spend time preparing policies, addressing control gaps, organizing evidence, and working together with the auditor. Independent audits also have their own set of fees.
Companies who are researching SOC 2 Certification Costs should also be aware of the terminology differences: SOC 2 is not a type of certificate within the meaning of ISO 27001. Instead, it provides an independent attestation instead of the standard certification. However the phrase “certification cost”, which is often used by businesses when searching for pricing information, is nevertheless commonly used. Whatever the terminology employed in a budget, the software cannot replace an independent audit.
The Middle Ground isn’t required to be an Excel Spreadsheet
Spreadsheets are simple and easy to use, but they become awkward when policies, controls, ownership evidence, and audit communications begin to spread across many documents.
The alternative doesn’t need to be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for proving. It also gives auditing and progress management, as well as auditors with access only to read. The mandatory multi-factor authentication safeguards access to the platform. Its advertised launch price is $225 monthly with regular pricing of $375 per month or $3,999 annually.
The absence of integration also means less exposure
CertAssist intentionally does not connect to the systems that run a business. The evidence is presented without granting the compliance platform standing access to cloud or identity environments.
The drawback is that this approach requires a compromise. Information that could have been taken automatically should instead be supplied by the company. The additional manual work is reasonable for a tiny team, but it will result in a simplified setup, a lower cost and less ties with third parties.
Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves a Problem
If a company is growing, manual evidence collection may end up being inefficient. Continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay off when you get to that point.
It’s not required to purchase the most complicated compliance stack until then. It’s crucial to maintain the credibility of the evidence, organize the compliance work, and manage the independent audit. Software that’s well designed will make this process simpler. The implementation of the compliance platform could seem more like a task than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business is not using as many tools.