Software that facilitates audits is referred to as compliance software. However, small-sized businesses are placed in a tricky position. They have to implement an, configure and maintain the platform for compliance before they can implement their SOC 2 control. This brings up a fascinating question. When did the device which is intended to lower compliance become a separate project?

CertAssist was conceived out of this discontent. Its founders have worked on compliance implementations and audits, and ISO 27001 frameworks. The people who developed this software were constantly confronted by platforms with a variety of options and integrations, while the organizations they worked for used spreadsheets to write important audit pieces. SOC 2 software that is simpler can be more suitable for smaller companies.

Start with the Tasks That Must Be Completed

Take away the software terms and the fundamental requirement will become easier to understand. It is important for a company to comprehend the Trust Services Criteria. This includes establishing appropriate controls, collecting evidence, evaluating progress and documenting the policies. Platforms are a great way to manage these processes without needing to connect them to every cloud service and identity system that the company uses.

Automated integrations can bring many benefits. Automation can save a huge organization lots of time while collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. However, this doesn’t mean the same technology is required for SOC 2 in startups. If a startup operates in a small technology environment, it may be preferable to provide the evidence manually and avoid having many integrations.

Software and Audits Are Different Expenses

If companies view all compliance costs as one number, budgeting can be confusing. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. The internal staff is required to dedicate time to the following: preparing policies and fixing control gaps. They also manage evidence. Independent audits have their own fee as well.

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. But, “certification cost” is frequently used by companies searching for price information. Whatever terminology appears in the budget, software cannot substitute for the independent auditor.

The Middle Ground Doesn’t have to be an Excel Spreadsheet

Spreadsheets can be cheap and comfortable, but they are cumbersome when they are spread over multiple files.

Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be expensive. CertAssist places the SOC 2 controls on a centralized board that can be edited templates for policy and evidence, progress management, and auditor access with read-only. Multi-factor authentication is required to secure the platform. The price of its launch is $225 per month, with a price that is regular at $375 per month, or $3,999 per year.

No integration can also mean less exposure

CertAssist is not designed to connect to the operational systems of the company. The evidence is presented without giving the platform with access to cloud environments and identity environments.

The downside is that this method requires a compromise. Information that could have been captured automatically should be provided by the company. For smaller teams, the extra work might be justified by a more simple setup, lower software costs, and the absence of external connections.

Buy Complexity If Complexity Solves the issue

A growing company could eventually reach the point where manual evidence gathering becomes inefficient. The expense of monitoring and integration could be justified by the higher effectiveness.

It is not necessary to buy the most complicated compliance stack at this point. It’s important to ensure that the evidence is credible and organize the compliance process as well as manage the independent audit. The best software will remove any friction from that process. If implementing the compliance platform is beginning to seem like a bigger project than preparing for SOC 2 itself, it may be simply a more powerful software than a company requires.