Compliance software is intended aid in audits. But small-sized companies may find themselves in a strange position: before they can organize their SOC 2 controls, they must first implement, configure, and learn an elaborate compliance system. This leads to a pertinent question. At what point does the instrument designed to decrease compliance tasks become a new initiative of its own?

CertAssist was conceived out of this discontent. The CertAssist founders had worked on compliance audits and implementations of ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. They frequently encountered platforms brimming with features and integrations, while organizations used spreadsheets for crucial aspects of audit preparation. SOC 2 software that is simple can be better for smaller companies.

Begin by identifying the job that needs to be done

If you can eliminate the terms used in software, it becomes much easier to understand. The company should work through Trust Services Criteria and establish appropriate controls. They must also create the policy, collect evidence, monitor their performance, and making this information available for independent auditors. Platforms are a great way to manage these processes without needing to connect them to every cloud service or identity system used by the company.

Automated integrations definitely have value. A large company that gathers data across a constantly changing environment may save significant time via automation. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. If a startup has a small technology environment, it may be preferable to manually provide evidence and avoid integrating too many systems.

The cost of an audit and the software are two distinct expenses

Budgeting becomes difficult when companies consider each compliance expense an individual number. SOC 2 includes more than only software. Internal staff spend time making policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence, and collaborating with the auditor. The independent audit also comes with its own fee.

Companies who are researching SOC 2 certification costs must also be aware of the distinction in terminology: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than an official certification in the same terms as ISO 27001. ISO 27001. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for pricing data. Whatever language is used in the budget, software can’t replace the independent auditor.

Middle Ground isn’t required to be A Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets are often inexpensive and familiar but become unwieldy when they are spread over multiple files.

The alternative doesn’t need be a enterprise-level platform. CertAssist centralizes SOC2 controls and allows users to edit policies and templates for evidence. It also gives auditors with progress management as well as access that is read-only. A mandatory multi-factor authentication system helps secure access to the system. The initial price for the platform is $225 monthly. Regular pricing is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.

No integration can also mean less exposure

CertAssist does not purposely connect to an organization’s operating system. The compliance platform has not been allowed access to cloud or to the identity environment.

This option is not without its drawbacks. It is the responsibility for the company to supply evidence that could have otherwise been automatically collected. For smaller teams, the added work can be justified for a less complicated setup as well as lower software costs and less external connections.

Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves a problem

A growing organization may eventually reach the point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. This is when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations will pay their fees.

It is not necessary to buy the most complicated compliance system at this point. The goal is to organize compliance, keep credible evidence and allow independent audits to be managed. Good software should remove the friction from this process. If implementing the compliance platform starts to seem like a bigger project than the process of preparing for SOC 2 itself, it could be a software than a company needs.