Organizations that provide software, cloud, data, and other technology services often need to demonstrate that they have appropriate controls for protecting customer information. SOC 2 is one framework used to evaluate controls at service organizations, making preparation and ongoing control management an important part of many companies' security programs.
SOC 2 compliance software helps organizations organize the policies, controls, evidence, assessments, and workflows involved in preparing for and maintaining SOC 2 readiness. These platforms can automate evidence collection, monitor controls, assign responsibilities, track remediation, and support collaboration with auditors.
SOC 2 software does not itself provide a SOC 2 report or replace an independent examination. The AICPA explains that "a SOC 2 examination evaluates controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy." Businesses should therefore view compliance software as a management and readiness tool within a broader security and audit process.
What Is SOC 2 Compliance Software?
SOC 2 compliance software is designed to help organizations manage the controls and documentation associated with a SOC 2 program.
A typical platform can centralize compliance requirements, policies, control ownership, evidence, risk information, and remediation tasks. Some products connect directly with cloud infrastructure, identity providers, HR systems, code repositories, and other business applications to collect evidence automatically.
The software can be particularly useful for organizations that need to maintain compliance activities continuously rather than preparing documentation only immediately before an audit.
Understanding SOC 2
SOC 2 is an examination framework developed by the AICPA for service organizations. The examination focuses on controls relevant to one or more of the Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Organizations may choose different criteria depending on their services and business requirements. The scope of a SOC 2 engagement should therefore be established with the organization and its service auditor rather than assumed to be identical for every company.
Key Features of SOC 2 Compliance Software
**Control Management**
Compliance platforms allow organizations to document controls, assign control owners, monitor control status, and connect controls with supporting evidence.
Centralized control management can make it easier to understand which people and processes are responsible for specific requirements.
**Automated Evidence Collection**
Evidence collection is one of the areas where compliance software can reduce manual work. Platforms can connect to business systems and automatically collect relevant information about configurations, access controls, employee activities, security processes, and other controls.
For example, "Drata describes integrations with cloud infrastructure, identity providers, HR systems, code repositories, and ticketing systems for automated evidence collection."
**Continuous Control Monitoring**
Instead of checking controls only at specific points in time, some platforms continuously monitor connected systems and run automated tests.
Continuous monitoring can help identify changes or failures that may require remediation before they become larger compliance issues.
**Policy Management**
SOC 2 programs commonly require documented policies and procedures. Compliance software can provide templates, policy repositories, review workflows, approval processes, and version tracking.
This gives organizations a centralized location for managing security and compliance documentation.
**Risk Management**
Some SOC 2 platforms include risk registers and assessment tools. Organizations can document risks, assign owners, establish mitigation plans, and monitor progress.
Risk management can also help teams connect identified risks with the controls designed to address them.
**Remediation Tracking**
When automated tests or assessments identify gaps, compliance software can create tasks and assign them to responsible employees.
Remediation tracking provides visibility into unresolved issues and can help teams document actions taken to address control deficiencies.
**Auditor Collaboration**
Some platforms provide dedicated workspaces where auditors can access relevant evidence, control information, and documentation.
A centralized workspace can reduce the need to exchange individual files and emails during an audit. Drata, for example, provides an auditor workspace containing mapped evidence, control status, and change logs.
**Reporting and Dashboards**
Dashboards can show control status, evidence coverage, open remediation tasks, and overall program progress.
These reports can help compliance teams communicate status to management and identify areas that require attention.
Common Uses of SOC 2 Compliance Software
**SOC 2 Readiness**
Organizations preparing for their first SOC 2 examination can use compliance platforms to identify required controls, organize documentation, collect evidence, and track outstanding work.
**Ongoing Compliance Management**
After an examination, companies can continue using the software to monitor controls and maintain evidence for future reporting periods.
This can reduce the need to rebuild the compliance program from the beginning each year.
**Security Program Management**
SOC 2 software can also support broader security activities by centralizing policies, risks, controls, evidence, and employee responsibilities.
**Customer Security Requests**
Technology companies may receive security questionnaires from prospective customers. A well-maintained compliance program can provide documentation that helps answer recurring questions about security practices and controls.
**Multiple Frameworks**
Some platforms allow organizations to manage SOC 2 alongside other frameworks and standards. This can be useful when the same underlying security controls support multiple compliance requirements.
Benefits of SOC 2 Compliance Software
SOC 2 compliance platforms can provide several potential benefits:
- Reduced manual work: Automated evidence collection can reduce repetitive documentation tasks.
- Centralized information: Policies, controls, evidence, risks, and remediation can be managed in one system.
- Continuous visibility: Monitoring can provide a more current view of control status.
- Improved accountability: Control owners and remediation responsibilities can be clearly assigned.
- Simplified audits: Organized evidence and auditor workspaces can reduce administrative back-and-forth.
- Reusable evidence: Evidence supporting multiple controls or reporting periods can reduce duplicate work.
These benefits depend on the quality of integrations, configuration, internal processes, and the organization's actual security controls.
SOC 2 Software vs. SOC 2 Audit
SOC 2 compliance software and a SOC 2 examination serve different purposes.
Compliance software helps an organization manage its internal controls, documentation, evidence, and readiness activities.
A SOC 2 examination is an independent examination of relevant controls performed under applicable professional standards. "The AICPA describes SOC 2 as an examination of controls at a service organization relevant to the applicable Trust Services Criteria."
Using compliance software does not guarantee that an organization will receive a SOC 2 report. The underlying controls must be appropriately designed and operated, and the examination is conducted by the service auditor.
Key Considerations When Choosing SOC 2 Software
**Framework Coverage**
Confirm that the platform supports the SOC 2 criteria relevant to the organization's examination and can accommodate the intended scope.
**Integrations**
Review integrations with cloud platforms, identity systems, HR software, code repositories, ticketing systems, endpoint tools, and other systems that contain useful evidence.
**Automation**
Determine how much evidence collection and control testing can be automated. Also understand which activities still require manual documentation or review.
**Security**
Because compliance platforms contain sensitive security information, evaluate authentication, access controls, encryption, audit logs, data retention, and administrative permissions.
**Customization**
Organizations may have controls and workflows that differ from standard templates. Consider whether the platform allows custom controls, policies, assessments, and evidence requirements.
**Auditor Support**
Review how the platform supports auditor collaboration and whether evidence can be shared securely without creating unnecessary administrative work.
**Scalability**
Consider whether the system can support additional employees, applications, cloud environments, controls, and compliance frameworks as the organization grows.
**Cost**
Evaluate subscription fees, implementation, integrations, support, additional modules, and internal administration when calculating the total cost.
Examples of SOC 2 Compliance Software
Drata provides SOC 2 compliance automation features including evidence collection, continuous control monitoring, policy management, control libraries, remediation workflows, and auditor collaboration.
Vanta provides SOC 2 automation with continuous monitoring, automated testing, integrations with business and security systems, and AI-assisted evidence review.
Other governance, risk, and compliance platforms can provide SOC 2 management alongside broader security frameworks and compliance programs.
Final Thoughts
SOC 2 compliance software helps organizations organize the controls, policies, evidence, risks, and workflows involved in a SOC 2 program. Automation can reduce repetitive evidence collection, while continuous monitoring can provide greater visibility into control status throughout the year.
When selecting a platform, businesses should consider framework coverage, integrations, automation, security, customization, auditor collaboration, scalability, and total cost. Most importantly, compliance software should complement—not replace—the organization's underlying security controls, internal processes, and independent SOC 2 examination.