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Drata vs Vanta: Which GRC Tool Is Right for Your Organisation?
First Published:
January 12, 2026
Content Written For:
Small & Medium Businesses
Large Organisations & Infrastructure
Government
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Summary
Drata and Vanta are two of the most recognised GRC tools for compliance automation, particularly for organisations pursuing SOC 2 and ISO 27001. When considering Drata vs Vanta, it’s important to note that both platforms aim to reduce manual effort, improve audit readiness, and provide ongoing visibility into control effectiveness. However, they are designed for different levels of organisational maturity, risk complexity, and long-term compliance strategy.
This guide provides a clear, vendor-neutral comparison of Drata vs Vanta. It explains what each tool does well, where limitations exist, and how to choose the right platform based on your organisation’s size, regulatory obligations, and governance model.
Key Takeaways
- Drata and Vanta are GRC tools for compliance automation, particularly for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
- Drata offers deep automation for continuous monitoring, while Vanta prioritises speed and simplicity for first-time users.
- Choosing between Drata and Vanta depends on organisational maturity, regulatory needs, and internal capabilities.
- Both tools enhance audit efficiency, but neither replaces the need for professional advisory support.
- Implementing Drata or Vanta effectively requires a broader GRC strategy alongside experienced oversight.
Why organisations compare Drata and Vanta
Most organisations comparing Drata vs Vanta are facing similar challenges. Compliance requirements are increasing, audits are becoming more continuous, and internal teams are under pressure to demonstrate assurance without scaling headcount.
As a result, GRC tools are often evaluated to:
- Achieve or maintain SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certification
- Reduce audit preparation time and disruption
- Replace spreadsheets and manual evidence collection
- Improve visibility into compliance gaps and control ownership
Although Drata and Vanta solve the same core problem, they take different approaches to how compliance is implemented and sustained.
Drata overview
Drata is a compliance-first GRC tool built around continuous monitoring. Its platform is designed to keep organisations in a constant state of audit readiness by automatically testing controls and collecting evidence throughout the year.
Drata integrates deeply with cloud platforms, identity providers, and security tooling. Once controls are configured, evidence is collected with minimal manual input. Consequently, Drata is often adopted by organisations with mature security teams and recurring audit obligations.
Key strengths of Drata include:
- Continuous control monitoring rather than point-in-time checks
- Automated evidence collection across a wide integration ecosystem
- Support for multiple compliance frameworks
- Flexibility in control mapping and configuration
However, this depth can require more upfront configuration and governance discipline to achieve optimal results.
Vanta overview
Vanta focuses on speed, clarity, and ease of use. The platform is designed to guide organisations through compliance requirements using structured workflows and clear task ownership. This makes it particularly attractive for companies preparing for their first SOC 2 or ISO 27001 audit.
Vanta provides real-time compliance visibility and integrates with many common SaaS and cloud services. Its strength lies in simplifying the compliance journey rather than maximising configurability.
Key strengths of Vanta include:
- Fast onboarding and intuitive user experience
- Guided workflows for first-time certifications
- Clear task tracking and ownership
- Strong appeal to startups and mid-sized organisations
That said, highly complex or customised control environments may find Vanta’s prescriptive approach less flexible over time.
Drata vs Vanta: key differences that matter
Automation depth
Drata generally offers deeper automation once controls are established. Evidence is collected continuously, and deviations are flagged early. This suits organisations that want compliance to operate largely in the background.
Vanta also automates evidence collection, but relies more on structured workflows and manual attestations. For less mature teams, this can be an advantage rather than a limitation.
Compliance framework support
Both platforms support SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Drata typically supports a broader range of frameworks and allows greater flexibility when mapping controls across standards.
Vanta’s framework coverage is well structured but more opinionated, which simplifies implementation at the cost of customisation.
Ease of deployment
Vanta is widely regarded as easier to deploy and navigate. Organisations can move from onboarding to audit readiness quickly with limited configuration.
Drata often requires more planning and setup, particularly when supporting multiple frameworks or complex environments.
Ongoing audit experience
Both tools improve audit efficiency. Drata’s continuous monitoring model reduces last-minute audit surprises, while Vanta excels at keeping teams organised during audit preparation.
Which GRC tool is right for your organisation?
Choosing between Drata and Vanta depends less on features and more on organisational context.
Choose Drata if:
- You operate in a regulated environment with ongoing audit requirements
- You need continuous compliance across multiple frameworks
- You have a dedicated security or GRC function
- You value automation depth and flexibility
Choose Vanta if:
- You are pursuing your first SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification
- Your organisation prioritises speed and simplicity
- Your risk environment is relatively straightforward
- You want guided workflows rather than custom configuration
In both cases, tool selection should align with how compliance is actually operated within your organisation.
Where GRC tools still need advisory support
Despite their strengths, neither Drata nor Vanta replaces the need for professional judgement. GRC tools automate processes, but they do not interpret regulatory nuance, design effective controls, or determine acceptable risk.
Common areas where advisory support remains critical include:
- Control design and tailoring
- Risk assessment and acceptance decisions
- Audit scoping and strategy
- Remediation planning and continuous improvement
Organisations that rely solely on tooling often achieve certification but struggle to sustain meaningful risk management over time.
How Drata and Vanta fit into a broader GRC strategy
Drata and Vanta are most effective when implemented as part of a broader GRC operating model. This includes defined governance structures, clear ownership, and ongoing oversight of risk and compliance outcomes.
When GRC tools are paired with experienced advisory support, organisations achieve better audit outcomes, stronger risk visibility, and more sustainable compliance programmes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Drata better than Vanta?
Neither tool is universally better. The right choice depends on organisational maturity, regulatory obligations, and internal capability.
Can Drata and Vanta support ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
Yes. Both platforms support ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance workflows, including evidence collection and audit support.
Do Drata or Vanta replace auditors or consultants?
No. These GRC tools support compliance activities, but they do not replace independent audits or advisory expertise.
About CyberPulse
CyberPulse is a security-first compliance partner helping organisations reduce cyber risk, build resilience and achieve certification with confidence. Founded by former CISOs and security leaders, we align technical depth with real-world context to deliver measurable outcomes across advisory, managed services, compliance and threat defence.
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