A compliance software will help auditing become easier. However, small companies can be placed in a tough spot. They need to set up the configuration, set up and manage the compliance software before they can organise their SOC 2 control. It’s a great question. When does a tool to lower compliance work become a new project?

CertAssist was created out of this discontent. The team behind it had been involved in compliance implementations and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001 and other frameworks. The people who developed this software faced numerous challenges with platforms with a variety of features and connections, while the organizations they worked for still used spreadsheets to prepare important audit pieces. SOC 2 software that is less complicated may be better suited for smaller enterprises.

Begin with the job you need to complete

Eliminate the jargon of software and it’s simpler to comprehend. A business must go through the relevant Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, record evidence, track progress, and then make that information available for audits conducted by an independent entity. Platforms are able to handle these tasks without having to be linked with the various identity or cloud-based services companies use.

Automated integrations can bring significant value. Automation can save a large organization lots of time while collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. That doesn’t automatically make the same architecture necessary for SOC 2 for startups. A startup with a relatively small technology environment might prefer to present evidence in person and avoid the hassle of maintaining multiple integrations.

The Software and the Audit are two different costs.

Budgeting becomes a mess when companies treat every compliance expense as one number. SOC 2 costs include more than software. Internal employees are involved in preparing policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence, and collaborating with the auditor. Independent audits also have its own fees.

Companies looking into SOC 2 Certification Cost must also be aware of the differences: SOC 2 is not an official certificate as per the definition of ISO 27001. Instead, it creates an independent attestation instead of an official certification. However the term “certification cost”, which is often employed by companies when looking for pricing data, is popular. Whatever terms are used in the budget, software can’t take the place of an independent auditor.

The Middle Ground Doesn’t Need to Be A Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets are simple and easy to use But they aren’t as easy when policies, controls, evidence, ownership and auditing communication start spreading across several files.

The alternative doesn’t need be a platform for enterprise. CertAssist provides the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board that can be edited policy and evidence templates including progress management and auditor access with read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required for security purposes to ensure the system is secure. Its advertised launch price is $225 monthly, with a price that is regular at $375 monthly or $3,999 annually.

A lack of integration could also mean less exposure

CertAssist does not intend to connect to the operating systems of a company. The compliance platform has not been given access to the cloud or the identity system.

The approach is a compromise. The evidence that could have been obtained automatically has to be supplied by the company. The extra manual work is reasonable for a smaller team in exchange for a simplified setup, a lower cost and less connections to third parties.

If Complexity is the answer to a problem, purchase It

Growing companies may get to the point that manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. That’s when continuous monitoring and extensive integrations could pay their costs.

For now, the aim isn’t to buy the most sophisticated compliance system available. It’s about getting the compliance tasks organized, maintain reliable evidence, and make the independent audit manageable. A well-designed software system should reduce friction in this process. If the installation of the compliance tool feels like it is taking longer than the preparation for SOC 2 in itself, the software may be too expensive.