Software for compliance is designed aid in audits. However, small businesses may be placed in a tough spot. They must implement the configuration, set up and manage the platform for compliance before they can organise their SOC 2 control. This raises an interesting question. When does a tool to make compliance easier turn into an entirely new project?

CertAssist developed out of this frustration. The team behind it had been involved in compliance implementations and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001 as well as other frameworks. They came across platforms that offered a variety of features and integrations, but firms were still using spreadsheets for the main elements of preparation for audits. For smaller organizations, simpler SOC 2 compliance software can sometimes be the more practical answer.

Start with the Work That Needs to Be Done

If you take away the software terminology It becomes much simpler to comprehend. It is vital that businesses comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This includes setting proper controls, obtaining evidence, tracking progress and documenting policies. A platform can organize those activities without necessarily connecting itself to every cloud service or identity system the company operates.

Automated integrations are extremely beneficial. An organization that collects data across a constantly changing environment can save time with automation. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same system will be required for SOC 2 by startups. Startups with a smaller technology infrastructure may choose to present evidence in person and not maintain a multitude of integrations.

The cost of the audit and that of the software are two separate expenses

If companies view all compliance costs in one number, budgeting may become complicated. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal staff members are required to spend time on creating policies and fixing control gaps. They also manage evidence. The independent audit has its own fee as well.

When researching SOC 2 cost, companies should be aware of a fundamental distinction in terminology. SOC 2 produces a report that is not a certification and is not a certification as specified by ISO 27001. However, “certification cost” is frequently used by companies searching for pricing information. Software is not a substitute for the independent auditor irrespective of the terminology employed in the budget.

The Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be A Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets can be cheap and familiar but become unwieldy when spread across multiple files.

It isn’t necessary to use an enterprise platform for alternative. CertAssist centralizes SOC2 controls and lets you edit policies and templates for evidence. It also provides auditing and progress management, as well as auditors with access to read-only. Access to the platform is secured by a multi-factor authentication requirement. The advertised 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 is not designed to connect to the systems that run a business. Evidence is presented, but without granting the platform with access to cloud environments or the identity environment.

This method has its pitfalls. Evidence that could have easily been captured automatically should be provided by the business. In the case of small teams, the extra work might be justified with a simple set-up as well as lower software costs and fewer external connections.

Purchase Complexity When Complexity Solves the issue

A growing organization may eventually reach a point at which the manual process of gathering evidence is no longer efficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations can earn their cost.

In the meantime, the objective isn’t to buy the most advanced compliance stack available. The aim is to arrange compliance, preserve evidence that is credible and ensure that independent audits are managed. A good software program should help in reducing the friction. If the process of implementing the compliance platform feels like it takes longer than preparing for SOC 2 in itself, the software may be overkill.