[Case Study] BARR Advisory Increases Efficiency of SOC 2 by 30% with Audora
Download PDF version.
At a glance
BARR Advisory is a cloud-based security and compliance solutions provider specializing in cybersecurity compliance for companies with high-value information in cloud environments like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. A trusted advisor to some of the fastest growing cloud-based organizations around the globe, BARR simplifies compliance across multiple regulatory and customer requirements in highly regulated industries including technology, financial services, healthcare, and government.
The challenge
Before partnering with Audora, BARR was looking for a modern solution that would help streamline the audit process. As BARR’s client base began to grow, so did the need to increase transparency, particularly in clarifying responsibilities of both BARR as the auditor and their audit clients.
“A lack of transparency in the audit process combined with the complexity of SOC 2 engagements has the potential to create what I call a ‘black hole’ for clients. This can look like lost information, ambiguous processes, and an overall decrease in clarity,” said Brad Thies, founder and CEO of BARR Advisory. “Miscommunications like these could impact the client-auditor relationship and overall business efficiency as we’re both moving toward the same goal.”
Additionally, some of the manual tasks associated with audit reporting were becoming burdensome for the BARR team to complete, and they aimed to delegate these tasks to an automation platform. This would allow BARR auditors to focus more on working through their client’s questions and unique needs throughout the audit process.
“As auditors, when in a client-facing environment, there are many moving parts, and it can be easy to let little communications slip through the cracks,” said Dariek Howard, manager of attest services at BARR Advisory. “On the other side of the table, those pieces of information are important for our clients to understand as we move through the audit. We wanted a tool that would allow our clients to see which tasks are complete and which still need to be completed in a transparent manner.”
“There’s a lot of jargon used when completing a SOC 2 engagement, and we want to make sure our clients know exactly what to expect and where they stand every step of the way. Audora speeds up the audit process while simultaneously making the process clearer, so the organizations we serve are not waiting around or confused as to what to expect.”
— Brad Thies, founder and CEO of BARR Advisory
The solution
Audora provides a unique automation platform that addresses BARR’s challenges. A highlight of the platform is the automated report generation tool, eliminating the need for manual formatting. This not only saves BARR time but also ensures that all necessary steps are completed prior generating a report—reinforcing a streamlined and accountable process.
“As an auditing firm, we have professional standards to meet. We do a lot of work documenting the audit process in the correct format, which can sometimes include the tedious processes of copying that information into a report. With Audora, we don’t have to worry about losing time to reporting anymore. Its platform provides an entirely automated process which takes away the overhead of putting all of the auditor information into the right format for professional standards.”
— Brad Thies, founder and CEO of BARR Advisory
Audora accommodates BARR’s unique needs by allowing for the customization of reports while reinforcing client ownership of controls. And BARR discovered further efficiencies through Audora’s ability for real-time communication, task-based workflows, and a straightforward system setup.
“The report generation is one of my favorite aspects of Audora,” said Howard. “Additionally, Audora allows us to easily map controls and streamline our audits through a step-by-step process, which is a huge time and cost saving. Since using Audora, I’ve noticed that as auditors, we’ve gotten time back, which allows us to focus on helping our clients meet their security and compliance goals.”
The results
Since the partnership with Audora began, BARR has made their audit process more efficient. The platform’s real-time commenting and communication features streamlined initial tasks and reduced the need for extensive task tracking. Clear accountability and customization of controls have helped BARR establish a predictable and interruption-free workflow.
The automation platform additionally contributed to flipping the accounting business model to value-based fees, which means BARR can focus its time on helping its clients achieve results. Through Audora, BARR aims to further focus on the specialization of cybersecurity and compliance professionals and increase overall job satisfaction by reducing time spent on manual tasks.
“At BARR, we want associates to continue to find joy in their work and excel in their specialized skill sets,” said Thies. “Audora’s platform helps skilled professionals, like our auditors at BARR, to focus on what they do best.”
BARR experienced the following results after working with Audora:
Efficiency. Audora streamlined the process for BARR, reducing manual tasks and increasing overall efficiency by 30% per audit.
Accountability. The platform enforced accountability for BARR and its clients at every step, ensuring a transparent and reliable audit process.
Business impact. Audora’s features contribute to BARR’s bottom line by increasing customer satisfaction, retention, and shifting toward value-based fees.
Trusted advisory status. By leveraging Audora, BARR positions itself as a trusted advisor, allowing more meaningful client interactions.
Interested in learning how you can get the same cost-saving results? Schedule a demo today.
