The purpose of compliance software is to help audits go more smoothly. Smaller companies often find themselves in a difficult spot. Before they can implement their SOC 2 controls they must first install, configure and master the complexities of a software for compliance. This raises an interesting question. When does the instrument designed to decrease compliance become a separate initiative of its own?

CertAssist is the result of this anger. The team behind it were involved in compliance implementations, audits as well as ISO 27001 frameworks. The developers of this software had to contend with platforms that had many functions and integrations. However, the companies they worked for still used spreadsheets to prepare important audit pieces. SOC 2 software that is simple can be better for smaller firms.

Start With the Job That Has to be Done

If you remove the software terminology it is much easier to comprehend. The company must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish appropriate controls, document guidelines, document evidence, keep track of progress and make that material available for independent audit. Platforms can be used to streamline these activities without having to connect them to each cloud service and identity system the company has in place.

Automated integrations are extremely beneficial. 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 structure is required for SOC 2 by startups. A startup with a relatively smaller technology infrastructure may choose to provide evidence manually and avoid maintaining numerous integrations.

The cost of auditing and that of the software are two different expenses

It can be confusing to budget when businesses take every compliance expense as one number. SOC 2 includes more than simply software. Internal staff members are required to devote time to making policies and addressing control gaps. They also manage evidence. The independent audit also comes with its own fee.

Companies researching SOC 2 certification cost should also understand a terminology distinction: SOC 2 produces an independent attestation report rather than a certification in the same sense as ISO 27001. Nevertheless, “certification cost” is often used by businesses searching for pricing information. Software is not a substitute for an independent auditor, irrespective of the terminology used within the budget.

The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets are inexpensive and familiar They are easy to use, but they can become a little awkward when guidelines, controls evidence, ownership and auditing communication start spreading across multiple files.

Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms do not necessarily need to be costly. CertAssist consolidates the SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for evidence. It also allows auditing and progress management, as well as auditors with access only to read. The mandatory multi-factor authentication safeguards access to the platform. The price of its launch is $225 per month with regular pricing of $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.

In addition, no integration could mean A Less Exposed

CertAssist is not apposed to connecting with a company’s operating systems. The evidence is presented without granting the platform with standing access to cloud or identity environments.

This approach is not without its trade-offs. It is the duty of the business to provide evidence which could have been collected automatically. In the case of small teams, the extra effort could be justified in exchange by a more simple setup, lower software costs, and less external connections.

If Complexity is the answer to a problem, purchase It

In a business that is expanding it is possible that manual evidence collection will become inefficient. Continuous monitoring and large-scale integrations will pay off when you reach that point.

In the meantime, the objective isn’t buying the most sophisticated compliance system available. The aim is to arrange the compliance process, collect evidence and allow independent audits to be managed. A good software program should make this process easier. Implementing the compliance platform may appear more like a job than preparing the SOC 2 itself. It could be that a company is not using the same tools.