What Includes in Compliance Automation Tools ? How to Choose

Financial penalties for security breaches are fairly common these days. Organizations acknowledge that the root cause of compliance violations is due to lack of visibility in their compliance posture. And, automating the business compliance process is the need of the hour.

This article aims to give you an overview of what a compliance automation tool is and tips on how to pick the best one!

What is a Compliance Automation tool?

Compliance automation tool helps organizations manage compliance workflows, like self-assessment, proper planning and monitoring controls, and testing. With the help of compliance automation tools, organizations can easily automate manual system checks for compliance to track all compliance-related activities in one place.

These compliance automation solutions reduce non-compliance risk, improve efficiency, and provide better visibility into an organization’s compliance posture.

Why do you need compliance automation tools?

Compliance automation tools play a pivotal role in accurate and prompt data management, ensuring agility in making necessary adjustments while upholding precise records. Offering real-time insights into compliance status, automation empowers swift responses to regulatory shifts, enhancing risk visibility, and proactively managing gaps.

These tools streamline compliance audits, minimizing the time and costs involved. They foster improved interdepartmental communication, fostering better team oversight. By eliminating manual tracking efforts, they redirect resources to critical tasks while furnishing comprehensive reports for informed decision-making.

The integration of a compliance automation platform guarantees regulatory compliance, diminishes risks, and optimizes resource allocation, resulting in substantial time and resource savings in the long term.

How does compliance automation software work?

Compliance software software serves as a comprehensive solution, efficiently automating compliance procedures, enhancing accuracy, and offering proactive risk management measures to ensure organizational compliance. A comprehensive solution breaks the compliance process into methodical, logical steps and executes them, thereby optimizing and streamlining multiple facets of compliance management within the organization. Their operation typically involves the following key steps:

1. Data collection

These tools gather data from diverse sources like regulations, policies, procedures, and existing systems.

2. Data analysis

The software meticulously analyzes this data to pinpoint compliance risks and potential gaps.

3. Report generation

Generating comprehensive reports is another pivotal function. These reports highlight identified compliance risks and gaps for further action.

4. Recommendation provision

The tool provides actionable recommendations to mitigate or address the identified compliance risks and gaps effectively.

5. Task automation

Automation is a key feature wherein the software automates tasks like self-assessment, planning, control monitoring, testing, and reporting.

What are the common features of every compliance automation software?

Integration features: Integrating with existing systems and databases within the organization to streamline data collection and management processes.

Data aggregation: Gathering and consolidating data from various sources, including regulations, policies, and internal systems.

Data analysis: Analyzing collected data to identify compliance risks, discrepancies, or gaps within the organization.

Workflow management: Facilitating workflow processes related to compliance activities, such as approvals, document management, and audit trails.

Risk assessment and mitigation: Conducting risk assessments and offering recommendations or strategies to mitigate identified compliance risks.

Reporting and dashboard: Generating comprehensive reports and creating dashboards to visualize compliance status, risks, and performance metrics.

Task automation: Automating manual processes such as self-assessments, monitoring controls, testing, and generating compliance-related reports.

Alerts and notifications: Issuing alerts and notifications for potential compliance breaches to enable prompt action.

Documentation: Maintaining detailed records and documentation for audits and compliance purposes to ensure transparency and accountability.

Scalability: Offering scalability and customization

Top 9 Compliance Automation Tools

Like finding everything else on the web is a task, so is finding the right compliance management solution that suits your company’s requirements and budget. Don’t worry, we got you covered.

Here are the best compliance automation tools you need in 2024:

1. Sprinto

Our top pick is Sprinto—a powerful automated compliance software that assists companies in obtaining information security compliance.

A powerful full-stack compliance automation software that is also simple to use, Sprinto offers end-to-end 24/7 security monitoring and manages all compliance roadblocks, putting your security program in auto-pilot mode so you can focus on growing your business. Integrate it with your cloud setup to consolidate risk, map entity-level controls, and run fully automated checks. It offers continuous monitoring of security controls and ensures compliance in real-time.

Sprinto supports workflows for different compliance frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, NIST, and more. With the advanced mapping of all your cloud assets, Sprinto enables granular-level gap identification with fully automated checks. The tool also helps prioritize identified risks to take action steps quickly and systematically.

Sprinto’s solution suite also features real-time dashboards, automated evidence collection, auditor dashboards, compliance scores, gap analysis, readiness assessments, security training, and more. So, overall, it acts as a security enabler for improving the overall security posture of the business.

Sprinto features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Anomaly Detection	Data Governance	Auditing
Data Loss Prevention	Sensitive Data Compliance	Access Control
Cloud Gap Analytics		Workflow Management

G2 Rating: 4.9/5

2. Drata

By making your compliance substructure and security system transparent while supporting compliance frameworks, Drata automates your compliance journey to help make you audit-ready. 

A customizable compliance and security automation tool, integrate Drata with your SaaS vendors to bring compliance status to a single platform. It gives you complete visibility and control into your vendor’s compliance status and across their security program.

Drata supports the frameworks SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, CCPA, ISO 27701, Microsoft SSPA, NIST CSF and NIST 800-171. 

Drata features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Anomaly Detection	Data Governance	Auditing
Cloud Gap Analytics	Sensitive Data Compliance	Access Control
		Workflow Management

G2 Rating: 4.9/5

3. Vanta

A comprehensive compliance software with automation capabilities, Vanta assists your organization to automate compliance and simplify securities. It automatically collects evidence for security alerts as it has integrations with cloud services, task trackers, identity providers and more. It ensures that you are dealing with the right vendor and are compliant with the standards.  

With Vanta you can scale your security practices and meet compliance requirements with standards like SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS and more.

It offers easy integration services with job trackers, cloud services, and identity providers. Besides evidence collection for security alerts, Vanta also informs you whether your vendor complies with all the relevant protocols. 

Vanta features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Data Loss Prevention	Data Governance	Auditing
Cloud Gap Analytics	Sensitive Data Compliance	Workflow Management

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

Find out: How to conduct a compliance risk assessment

4. Hyperproof

A robust tool, Hyperproof optimizes your compliance management and security assisting your business get audit-ready by reducing all the manual work regarding control mapping, testing and evidence management.

For compliance to fit seamlessly into your business process and workflow, Hyperproof seamlessly integrates with services across cloud storage, project management, communications, cloud infrastructure, DevOps, security and business applications.

The compliance framework includes SOC2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53, NIST CSF, NIST Privacy, PCI, SOX and others. With Hyperproof your organization also get the option of uploading your custom proprietary frameworks and manage them on the Hyperproof platform. 

Hyperproof features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Data Loss Prevention	Data Governance	Auditing
		Workflow Management

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

5. Scrut

An automation tool for compliance, Scrut collects and monitors the security control data of your business. It makes the audit process seamless by streamlining the compliance process. 

With multiple data protection regulations on a single platform including ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, PCI-DSS, CCPA, and more, Scrut also assists your business get real-time compliance roadmap progress updates till they become active. 

It cuts out the repetitive process with features such as automatic evidence mapping through several regulatory standards. Scrut also helps in monitoring employee onboarding, documents, and security training.

Scrut features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Anomaly Detection	Data Governance	Auditing
Data Loss Prevention	Sensitive Data Compliance	Access Control
Cloud Gap Analytics		Workflow Management

G2 Rating: 4.9/5

6. AuditBoard

An audit, risk, sustainability and compliance management platform, AuditBoard unifies SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST, CMMC, PCI DSS and more, scaling your compliance program with a connected risk platform. 

It not only centralizes all your compliance frameworks but also helps you manage them on a single platform while automating, avoiding and streamlining manual tasks, duplicative assessments, and reporting. 

Also, by identifying the gaps between your business and industry standards, AuditBoard ensures that your organization stays compliant with the changing compliance requirements. 

AuditBoard features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Anomaly Detection	Data Governance	Auditing
Data Loss Prevention	Sensitive Data Compliance	Access Control

G2 Rating: 4.7/5

7. Onspring

Make your business more efficient with Onspring as it automates business processes by removing process bottlenecks. The fully integrated Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) software is an easy-to-use tool that connects risks, policies and compliance that enables you to find hidden value in the team with better incident management, faster ticketing and easier problem management.

Onspring gives you a competitive edge as it captures advanced data insights across your business.

Onspring features include

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Compliance Monitoring	Governance	Policy Enforcement
Anomaly Detection	Data Governance	Auditing
Data Loss Prevention	Sensitive Data Compliance	Access Control

Pros

• Built-in controls library maps to major compliance frameworks
• Tools for managing policies, vendor risks, control evidence
• Customizable assessment questionnaires and report templates
• Automated schedule and reminders for control attestation
• Risk scoring based on control implementation and testing
• Supports user access roles and granular permissions

Cons

• Limited built-in integrations beyond the AWS stack

G2 Rating: 4.8/5

8. LogicGate

LogicGate’s Risk Cloud platform offers a user-friendly experience to streamline and effortlessly enhance your governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) program. LogicGate provides a centralized hub for managing compliance tasks, risk assessments, and control monitoring, helping organizations scale their compliance programs effectively.

It supports the complete compliance lifecycle, aiding in rule identification, evaluating compliance program effectiveness, and facilitating seamless communication of processes to maintain compliance standards. 

Pros:

• Highly customizable platform with an intuitive interface
• A centralized hub for compliance tasks and risk assessments
• Scalability for compliance programs
• Streamlined risk and compliance operations
• Extensive training for administrators to navigate the platform

Cons:

• Specific features may require customization
• The initial learning curve may require significant time 

LogicGate features include:

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Data privacy management	Control mapping	Policy management
Compliance monitoring	Regulatory compliance	Audit management
Third-party risk management	Lifecycle visualization	Access control

G2 Rating: 4.6/5

9. ZenGRC

ZenGRC, a cloud-based compliance management solution, streamlines compliance assessment, control testing, and risk analysis. This platform offers an intuitive user interface, empowering businesses to manage compliance programs and reduce reliance on third-party consultants independently. 

With a customizable dashboard enabling easy access to risk heat maps, 360-degree audit reports, and evidence collections, ZenGRC simplifies team collaboration, manages audits efficiently, and ensures streamlined compliance efforts.

Pros:

• Automates compliance management, simplifying tasks
• Supports multiple compliance frameworks
• User-friendly interface for collaboration and audits
• Simplifies compliance assessment and risk analysis

Cons:

• Limited integrations beyond standard compliance framework

ZenGRC features include:

SECURITY	COMPLIANCE	ADMINISTRATION
Assessment management	Compliance tracking	Policy management
Controls audit	Regulatory compliance	Workflow management
Risk management	Audit management	Access control

G2 Rating: 4.4/5Get audit-ready in record time with Sprinto. Talk to our experts now

How do Compliance Software Tools Work?

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Advanced Analytics, these security compliance automation tools help encrypt and protect specific data types as per regulatory standards.

• Local
• National
• International

What these tools do is make data collection, monitoring and evaluation fast and easy. And if any compliance violation crises arise, they warn you timely by raising quick alerts. Also, you can track and monitor your business compliance roadmap on a single platform.

How Much Does Compliance Management Software Cost?

The cost of compliance software varies per provider as pricing is usually based on the number of users and the feature package. While some companies offer free accounts, most compliance management solutions offer quote-based plans. A premium compliance management solution could cost you as high as USD 200,000 per year.

Recommended: How to optimise the compliance budget

The Bottom Line On Compliance Management Software

An essential part of operating a business, staying aware of compliance obligations can be challenging as it’s nearly impossible to ensure that all your employees, processes, and policies abide by the endless sets of regulations and requirements. 

With the right compliance software, you can streamline all of your business processes making sure that your organization is fully compliant, all with the click of a button. Choose a scalable and flexible compliance management software as it can enhance your company’s compliance management. 

“Sprinto has a comprehensive suite of features that allow us to automate tasks, track progress over time, and make necessary changes quickly and accurately” says Ajay Vardhan, co-founder and CTO at Spendflo

Check out how Spendflo streamlined the security compliances with Sprinto

Switching to the best compliance management system will be a game-changer. Schedule a demo today to know how Sprinto can automate your company’s compliance management system.

FAQs

What are the four stages of compliance automation?

Compliance automation is a set of many complex tasks however, a thorough and effective systematic approach to compliance automation is divided into four phases: analysis, implementation, integration, and maintenance and support.

What are the advantages of compliance automation?

Compliance automation offers a lower risk of non-compliance, enhanced productivity and efficiency, and better accuracy and consistency. Moreover, compliance automation reduces the chances of human error and thus helps you avoid any possible penalties.

Can compliance automation suit specific industry standards?

Yes, compliance automation frameworks are often customizable to align with diverse industry regulations and standards. Tailoring automation tools allow organizations to address unique compliance needs, ensuring adherence to specific industry guidelines and protocols.

How does compliance automation improve regulatory adherence?

Compliance automation streamlines processes, ensuring timely updates to align with evolving regulations. This proactive approach reduces non-compliance risk by maintaining up-to-date practices and protocols.

What key capabilities should I look for in compliance automation software?

Key capabilities include workflow automation for controls implementation and testing, evidence collection, standards libraries and content packs mapped to regulations, customizable assessment templates and reports, risk analysis, and scoring, role-based access and permissions, and integration support with existing tools.