Sprinto vs. Tugboat: Which Compliance Automation Platform is Right for You?

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve faced the daunting task of handling complex regulations like SOC 2, GDPR, or ISO 27001. You know, the late nights, the endless spreadsheets, and the constant worry that you might have missed something crucial. It’s enough to make even the most seasoned tech leader want to scratch their head.

But here’s the thing: compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines or passing audits. It’s about building trust with your customers, partners, and investors and proving that you take their data and security seriously. 

In this post, we’ll look honestly at Sprinto and OneTrust, two of the leading players in the compliance automation space. We’ll explore their strengths, weaknesses, and most importantly – how they might fit your unique business needs. 

TL;DR 

Sprinto stands out for its simplicity, ease of use, and focus on automation. It empowers organizations to achieve compliance efficiently, without the need for extensive in-house expertise.

Tugboat, now acquired by Onetrust,  offers a more connected ecosystem of other security tools like privacy automation, data discovery and security as a part of OneTrust platform, catering to larger enterprises with complex compliance requirements. Its extensive feature set and customization options suit organizations seeking a one-stop solution for various privacy and security needs.

Both platforms excel in compliance certifications, audit preparation, security audits, and key features contributing to a strong security posture and mitigating cyber risks.

What makes Sprinto unique?

Checkbox compliance is a mirage, hence Sprinto takes a pragmatic approach aiming to transform compliance from a periodic scramble into a seamless part of daily operations. We want companies to move beyond the piecemeal approach and take a more holistic view, recognizing that effective compliance touches every aspect of an organization’s digital infrastructure. 

Sprinto’s platform jumpstarts compliance efforts through pre-built programs, an extensive controls library, and customizable policies. By automating workflows and evidence collection, Sprinto helps businesses meet tight audit deadlines without breaking a sweat.

Sprinto streamlines your path to compliance and simplifies the audit process. Our platform offers a comprehensive toolkit designed to accelerate your compliance journey. With pre-built compliance programs, an extensive controls library, ready-to-use policy templates, and automated workflows at your fingertips, you can efficiently meet audit deadlines and stay on top of evolving compliance requirements.

This is how Sprinto aims to do that;

1. Continuous automated compliance: Sprinto offers a 24/7 approach to compliance. Unlike traditional in-efficient approaches that focus on compliance only at certain times of the year, Sprinto continuously monitors controls, identifies anomalies, catches compliance drifts, and triggers remediation workflows. This ensures compliance year-round rather than just during audit season. 
2. Integration capabilities: With over 200 integrations and custom API, Sprinto connects with various aspects of your company’s ecosystem, from cloud apps and infrastructure tools to code repositories and devices. This facilitates a centralized view of assets, risks, and controls, eliminating silos in managing compliance, from a single platform.
3. Compliance-aligned device management: Unlike traditional standalone compliance tools, Sprinto is specifically designed to align device management with compliance requirements. It monitors on demand, syncs device status with compliance controls, and automatically turns device status into evidence for compliance. This streamlines device management, ensuring that the devices directly support compliance efforts.

Sprinto vs Tugboat: an overview 

Sprinto simplifies the compliance process by automatically mapping risks and controls to various regulatory frameworks. On the other hand, Tugboat provides more advanced features, such as simulation-based risk evaluation and scenario forecasting. 

Aspect	Sprinto	Tugboat
Market focus	Focused on tech-first companies, including startups, and fast-growing cloud businesses	Wide range of industries and company sizes, including large enterprises.
Pricing	Sprinto follows a custom pricing based on a business’s specific requirements. Get your custom pricing.	Custom pricing, but estimates range from $3,680/month for privacy essentials to over $2,000/month for GDPR compliance.
Scalability	Sprinto is designed to grow with you and is particularly suited for fast-growing businesses with rapidly changing  compliance needs	Designed for large-scale operations, with complex GRC needs.
Implementation	Time-to-value is faster with  out-of-the-box security programs, policy templates,  control library for various frameworks, and structured setup sessions.	It may require significant setup time due to the extensive features. Implementation delays can be common
UI and ease of use	Sprinto is known for its intuitive interface, with users liking the design and navigation with a faster learning curve.	Users have reported that Tugboat can be quite complex to use, with way too many steps for simple tasks.
Overall positive comments	“The platform is well designed for us to easily understand and follow the necessary steps.” “The dashboard and the pages make checking on compliance status a breeze.” “With just a few clicks, all our critical systems and monitors were integrated with the platform.”	“For large organizations it is an asset you can rely on.” “sync enables us to measure the cybersecurity risk and requirements from time to time” “ Assessments can be easily set up and configured according to organizational needs.”

Sprinto vs Tugboat detailed comparison 

Now that we have set broader expectations, let’s take a deeper look at both compliance solutions. Whether you are a startup that wants a scalable option or a large enterprise seeking a holistic solution, this comparison should help you navigate the nuances of each platform and make informed decisions that are better aligned with your organization’s needs and growth trajectory. 

“If you find yourself in a place where you have to choose between speed and maintaining a robust security posture when selecting a GRC tool, you’re not eyeing the right one. It should be able to deliver value quickly to eliminate long implementation cycles while collecting evidence on security continuously.”

Girish Redekar, Founder at Sprinto

Major considerations	Sprinto	Tugboat
Who is it for?	Sprinto is tailored for tech companies, start-ups, and cloud businesses that need a streamlined approach without extensive in-house expertise	OneTrust caters to various industries and company sizes, including large enterprises. It’s designed for organizations with complex compliance needs and those seeking a comprehensive suite of privacy and security tools.
Any insights?	Sprinto emphasizes simplicity and user-friendliness. It makes compliance accessible to a wider range of users. It also focuses on continuous monitoring and automation, making it highly effective in maintaining ongoing compliance.	OneTrust offers depth and breadth in features, which can lead to a more comprehensive compliance approach.
AI capabilities	While Sprinto doesn’t heavily emphasize AI, it focuses on automation and integration to simplify compliance processes. Its platform is designed to be intuitive and require minimal manual intervention.	OneTrust offers more advanced AI capabilities, including AI governance features and tools for responsible AI use. It provides more sophisticated options for organizations dealing with AI-related compliance issues.

Supported frameworks

Sprinto

Tugboat

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2)  GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) AICPA – SOC (Service Organization Control) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) ISO 27017 (Cloud Security) FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) CIS (Center for Internet Security) CSA (Cloud Security Alliance) NIST CSF (Cybersecurity Framework) NIST SP 800-53CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) ISO 27701 (Privacy Information Management) CSA STAR (Security, Trust, Assurance, and Risk) FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) OFDSS (Open Financial Data Security Standard)

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) ISO 27017 (Cloud Security)ISO 27018 (Cloud Privacy) ISO 27701 (Privacy Information Management) NIST CSF (Cybersecurity Framework) NIST 800-53 NIST 800-171 GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) CIS Controls HITRUST CSF FedRAMPAPEC CBPR (Cross-Border Privacy Rules)Australian Privacy Principles (APP) LGPD (Brazilian General Data Protection Law) PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act) Various US state privacy laws (e.g., CPRA, VCDPA, CPA)

BYOF! Sprinto also extends beyond custom frameworks, allowing you to accommodate for any custom program. This allows you to implement and manage security programs tailored to your needs and requirements. 

1. Sprinto is designed to work with virtually any security framework. 
2. The platform leverages existing security controls across multiple frameworks, eliminating redundant controls and testing. 
3. Sprinto’s mapping capabilities automate the association of compliance checks with appropriate controls, streamlining the compliance management workflow. 

Key features

Sprinto

Tugboat

Vendor risk management  Vulnerability assessment Security questionnaire  Access control Policies People Ops Security training  Audit management Integration across modules Custom reports  Custom dashboards Change management  Risk management  Automated control mapping Auditor management and coordination  200+ integrations Incident management  Custom templates for policies Questionnaire templates Trust centre Bring your own framework  Customizable risk register

Third-party risk management IT security and risk management  Policy management and notice management  Training and employee portal  Audit management Privacy and data governance  Data mapping automation Dashboards  Reporting 100+ integrations AI governance  Incident management Issue management Data guidance research

Auditing and evidence collection 

Sprinto

Sprinto addresses the complexities of modern compliance audits through its integrated audit hub. It reduces manual effort in evidence collection by up to 90%. The audit hub allows users to structure, execute, and manage single or multi-framework  audits end-to-end from one central location. Sprinto seamlessly integrates with your current tech stack, automatically creating an inventory of assets. 

Its rule-based, least-privilege automation gathers accurate, time-stamped evidence, ensuring a clear audit trail. Sprinto ensures audit readiness by cross-mapping controls across multiple frameworks. It enables you to launch multiple audits simultaneously while avoiding duplication of  efforts.

Hubengage’s automation journey

By integrating their AWS and GitHub with Sprinto, HubEngage gained comprehensive visibility into their security risks and controls against ISO 27001 standards. Sprinto’s automated workflows eliminated the need for manual coordination and reminders. They used the built-in policy templates and leveraged existing controls across multiple frameworks to reduce additional efforts. 

The culmination of these automated features resulted in the implementation of ISO27001 in just 15 hrs. 

Tugboat 

The platform provides a comprehensive set of tools for managing the entire audit lifecycle, from initial planning to final reporting. OneTrust emphasizes the importance of streamlined compliance workflows, offering features such as customizable audit templates, automated task assignments, and real-time collaboration tools.  

Control monitoring

Sprinto

Sprinto’s platform offers advanced compliance management through continuous monitoring, and pre-built workflows. It employs algorithms for anomaly detection, identifying unusual patterns that may signify compliance risks.

When problems are detected, Sprinto automatically initiates predefined remediation workflows. Additionally, the platform streamlines evidence gathering, efficiently collecting and organizing necessary documentation for compliance audits.

The platform’s integration abilities allow you to cross-map your controls and efficiently manage evidence for various compliance standards simultaneously. This approach  helps you layer your compliance certifications without redundant effort. This means you can pursue and maintain multiple certifications simultaneously, reusing evidence and controls where applicable across different standards. 

Tugboat 

Tugboat’s approach to control mapping emphasizes comprehensive data visibility and flexible customization. The platform offers a unified view of your data processing activities, serving as the foundation for mapping controls across various regulatory standards. 

OneTrust’s emphasis on customization allows organizations to tailor their control mapping to specific industry needs or unique organizational requirements. It also provides automated workflows to streamline these mapped controls’ ongoing management and updating.

Risk Assessment

Sprinto

Sprinto’s risk management solution not only identifies compliance risks but also immediately notifies all the relevant stakeholders when it detects a potential risk.  The system includes a pre-built library of risks with industry benchmarks, while also allowing users to create custom risk registers, assess risks empirically, and document treatment plans.

You can decide whether to accept, reject, or transfer risks, helping manage liability. This fosters accountability by documenting risk owners. 

Sprinto’s efficiency metrics are continuously monitored, and process owners are automatically notified when they fall outside a desired range. This proactive and automated approach to risk assessment enables you to maintain a state of awareness and preparedness, facilitating quick responses to emerging risks. 

Want to see how we do it? 

How Sprinto enables integrated risk management? 

Uncover’s story with Sprinto. 

Uncover, a legal-tech startup, leveraged Sprinto’s integrated risk management capabilities to achieve ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance efficiently. The platform’s automated risk assessment capabilities allowed Uncover to quickly scope out security risks, assess business impact, and identify necessary controls. 

By configuring Sprinto to pull risk and control information directly from their systems, Uncover established a repeatable, autonomous process that kept pace with their infrastructure deployment. 

Tugboat 

The platform enables you to operationalise your IT risk management processes by providing tools to streamline data collection through system integrations and assessments. Tugboat’s risk assessment capabilities allows you to categorize risks across IT and data assets, controls, and third parties. 

OneTrust’s approach to risk assessment includes features for automating key risk activities such as assessments and control management while also engaging business units in collecting information, evaluating impact, and executing remediation strategies. 

Integrations

Sprinto

Sprinto offers a comprehensive, integrated suite of over 200 cloud services and applications across various categories. The platform’s one-tap integration approach simplifies the process of connecting essential applications, from AWS and SSO solutions to specialized tools for vulnerability scanning like HRMS and MDM. 

Sprinto’s end-to-end compliance automation toolkit helps you build, implement, and manage a fully connected compliance program.

Sprinto also integrates with various business functions, including incident management, access controls, collaboration tools, and customer support system. The platform’s responsive automation and powerful Dev API further enhance its flexibility, enabling you to tailor your compliance requirements and security management processes to the specific needs of your business. 

Tugboat 

Tugboat’s integration capabilities are built on a flexible foundation, offering multiple connection methods including APIs, SDKs, data feeds, and system integrations. This versatility lets you connect their privacy and compliance efforts with various business applications, from marketing automation tools like Adobe Experience Platform to data management solutions like Snowflake. 

Support

Sprinto

Sprinto’s support model is designed to be your partner in success. It is composed of ISOLA-certified professionals who provide knowledgeable advice based on an extensive understanding of cybersecurity and compliance. This guarantees that you will receive customized answers instead of general guidance. Reactivity is another top priority for Sprinto, with a goal of 50% support ticket resolution within an hour.

Tugboat

Tugboat understands that efficient compliance management depends on a strong support network. Their committed staff is well known for their promptness and initiative. Customers frequently compliment them on their willingness to walk them through each step of the procedure. Beyond simple troubleshooting, Tugboat offers detailed explanations that enable you to take care of urgent issues and thoroughly grasp your compliance stance. 

Conclusion 

Tugboat and Sprinto stand out as strong competitors, each providing special advantages to different organizational requirements.  Sprinto’s intuitive interface and streamlined approach make it a compelling choice for tech startups and businesses seeking a simplified compliance solution. Its emphasis on automation and constant monitoring guarantees continued compliance without placing an undue burden on resources.

On the other hand, Tugboat’s extensive feature set and high degree of customizsation make it a strong choice for larger businesses with intricate compliance needs. Although its range of options can offer a one-stop shop, implementation and learning could need a larger time and resource commitment.

Ultimately, the optimal choice between Sprinto and Tugboat depends on your organization’s specific needs, size, and desired level of customization. 

FAQs   

What is the new name for tugboat logic?

Tugboat Logic has rebranded to Certification Automation, becoming a key component of the OneTrust GRC and Security Assurance Cloud platform. 

Is Vanta better than Drata?

The choice between Vanta and Drata often depends on specific organizational needs and preferences. Both platforms offer great features for compliance automation and security management. However, they may slightly differ in focus, pricing, and specific functionalities.