If you are a technology company that offers a service to
someone, somewhere in your future there will be a security assessment that will
give you permission to manage customer data and operate on their devices.
Nobody takes safety issues lightly anymore. Business cyberattack costs hit an
all-time high. Governments, businesses, and consumers need to be confident that
the next software they download is not an open door for hackers.
It's not for nothing that safety certifications like SOC 3
really put you in a quandary. My company Waydev just received SOC 3
certification, becoming one of the first development analysis tools to receive
this accreditation. We were educated so much from this process that we decided to
share our experience with other people who might be intimidated by the
prospect.
As a non-tech founder, it was difficult not only to navigate
the process but also to appreciate its value. But by setting the limits of our
business, our team was able to optimize our approach and minimize the time and
effort required to achieve our goal. Thus, we achieved SOC 3 compliance in two
weeks, as opposed to two months that some companies require.
We also turn evaluation into an opportunity to improve our
product, align our internal teams, enhance our brand, and even build
partnerships.
So here's our advice on how teams can smoothly achieve SOC
3, balancing workloads and minimizing interruptions for users.
First, connect your teams
Since we cannot expect employees to accumulate these hours
in addition to their regular workdays, as a manager, you must accept and
communicate that your production rate will inevitably slow down.
As the founder, you will act as the captain navigating the
ship to the port of SOC 3, and you will need all your team members to join
forces. This is not just a job for a dedicated security team, and will require
deep involvement from the developers as well as other teams. This can create
internal resistance as they still work full time serving your product and
customers.
This is why it is so important to start by clearly
explaining to your employees what this process will mean for their work lives.
However, they must accept the real benefits that will emerge. SOC 3 will immediately
increase your brand's appeal, and as a result, you are more likely to see new
customers coming.
Each employee will also find themselves on the other side
with well-honed cybersecurity skills - they will have a deep understanding of
the potential cyber threats to business, and all security initiatives will
carry a much lighter burden. There is also a sense of pride and satisfaction
that comes with an undeniable competitive advantage.
