Software that facilitates audits is referred to as compliance software. However, small businesses may be placed in a tough spot. They must implement the configuration, set up and manage the compliance software before they can organize their SOC 2 control. This brings up a question. What are the conditions that make a tool to make compliance easier turn into an entirely new project?

CertAssist developed out of this frustration. CertAssist’s founders had experience with compliance audits and implementations in ISO 27001 and SOC 2 frameworks. The developers of this software had to contend with platforms that offered a wide range of features and integrations, while their employers employed spreadsheets for the preparation of important audit pieces. SOC 2 software that is simple is more appropriate for smaller companies.

Start With the Job That Must Be Completed

Get rid of the software jargon, and it’s simpler to comprehend. The company must work through the pertinent Trust Services Criteria, establish adequate controls, write down policies, gather evidence, track progress, and then make that information available for independent audit. Platforms can manage these tasks without having to connect to each cloud-based service or identity system that the firm uses.

Integrations that are automated can be extremely valuable. Automation can save a huge organization lots of time when collecting evidence in a constantly changing environment. It doesn’t necessarily mean the same system will be needed for SOC 2 by startups. If a startup is operating in an insufficient technology environment it could be best to create evidence by hand and avoid having many integrations.

The cost of an audit and software are two different expenses

The process of budgeting is a challenge when businesses take each compliance expense as distinct numbers. SOC 2 costs include more than just software. Internal staff are busy making policies, addressing problems with control, organizing evidence and collaborating with the auditor. The independent audit also has 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. However the term “certification cost”, which is often used by businesses when searching for pricing information, is still frequently used. Software cannot replace an independent auditor, regardless of the terminology used within the budget.

Middle Ground Doesn’t Have to be A Spreadsheet

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

Alternatives to enterprise-grade platforms don’t necessarily have to be costly. CertAssist centralizes the SOC2 control and lets you edit policies and templates for evidence. It also provides progress management and auditors with read-only access. Multi-factor authentication is needed for security purposes to ensure the system is secure. The price of the platform’s initial launch is $225 a month. The normal price is $375 per month, or $3999 annually.

No integration can also mean less exposure

CertAssist does not intend to connect with the company’s operating systems. The platform for compliance isn’t provided access to the cloud or identity environment.

The trade-off is that this method requires an arrangement. The company must provide evidence which could have been captured by the automated system. However, for small teams, the added work can be justified by a more simple setup as well as lower software costs and less external connections.

If Complexity Solves a Problem, Purchase It

A company that is growing may reach a point where the manual process of collecting evidence can become unproductive. The expense of continuous monitoring and integration could be justified by the improved efficiency.

The purpose of a compliance stack is not to be the most technological one available. It’s to get the compliance process done, preserve credible evidence, and enable the independent audit to be manageable. Software that is designed well will help with this. The implementation of the compliance platform could be more of a challenge rather than the preparation of the SOC 2 itself. It may be because the business does not require numerous tools.