10 Best SOC2 Compliance Software Tools

Introduction

In 2026, SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) certification has evolved from a “nice-to-have” badge to a mandatory ticket for entry into the global manufacturing supply chain. For any engineering-driven organization, a data breach isn’t just a loss of records—it’s the potential theft of high-value Intellectual Property (IP), CAD schematics, and sensitive production telemetry.

Within a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) framework, SOC 2 validates the five Trust Services Criteria (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy) are woven into the very fabric of the product’s birth and growth. Modern compliance platforms have transitioned from static document repositories to Continuous Control Monitoring (CCM) systems. These tools plug directly into your tech stack to collect “machine-generated” evidence in real-time, effectively killing the “audit fire drill” and replacing it with a state of permanent audit-readiness.

1. Vanta: The Automation Pioneer

Vanta remains the gold standard for organizations that prioritize speed and deep automation. It is particularly effective for fast-scaling engineering teams that need to prove trust to enterprise clients quickly.

• Key Capabilities: Features hourly automated testing across your cloud and SaaS stack. Its “Trust Center” serves as a real-time portal where partners can view your live security posture without requesting a 200-page PDF.
• PLM Value: Seamlessly integrates with developer and design repositories (GitHub, GitLab) to ensure that only authenticated engineers are touching sensitive product code or CAD scripts.
• Pros: Over 400 integrations; exceptional “Auto-Remediation” suggestions for developers.
• Cons: High-tier features come with a premium price tag.

2. Drata: Enterprise-Grade Continuous Monitoring

Drata is favored by larger enterprises that require granular control and a “risk-first” approach to compliance. It excels in complex environments where multiple frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST) overlap.

• Key Capabilities: Its “Autopilot” feature automates 90% of evidence collection. It also provides a comprehensive “Compliance Roadmap” that prioritizes fixes based on their impact on the audit.
• PLM Value: Exceptional for tracking access reviews within sensitive PLM databases and ERP systems, providing a tamper-proof audit trail of who accessed what and when.
• Pros: Robust GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) modules and white-glove auditor support.
• Cons: The initial configuration phase is technically demanding.

3. Thoropass: The “All-in-One” Audit Concierge

Thoropass (formerly Laika) disrupts the market by providing both the software platform and the actual auditors. It provides a “closed-loop” experience where the tool is built specifically to satisfy the person checking it.

• Key Capabilities: Their proprietary AI, “Oris,” automatically maps your existing controls to new frameworks, ensuring that work done for SOC 2 applies to GDPR or ISO 27001.
• PLM Value: Perfect for manufacturing firms without a dedicated in-house InfoSec team; Thoropass acts as a virtual CISO for the entire product development chain.
• Pros: Fixed, transparent pricing that includes the audit fee; highly guided experience.

4. Scytale: The AI-First GRC Agent

Scytale stands out for its next-gen AI agent, Scy, which automates the tedious parts of compliance like policy creation and gap analysis.

• Key Capabilities: Offers 24/7 continuous monitoring and a “Smart Evidence” engine that identifies the most relevant artifacts for an auditor, reducing manual “triage” time.
• PLM Value: Specifically strong at monitoring Secure SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) for smart products and embedded industrial software.
• Pros: Highly flexible; the AI interface significantly lowers the administrative burden on engineers.

5. Sprinto: Best for High-Velocity Product Teams

Sprinto is designed to stay out of the way of engineers. It focuses on “Low-Touch” compliance, automating the most repetitive parts of the SOC 2 journey.

• Key Capabilities: Specialized in “Risk-based” compliance. Instead of a checklist, it focuses on the actual threats to your production environment.
• PLM Value: Automates the onboarding and offboarding “Kill Switch,” ensuring that when an engineer leaves, their access to CAD/PDM systems is revoked instantly across all integrated apps.
• Pros: One of the fastest implementation times in the market (audit-ready in 2-3 weeks).

6. AuditBoard: Corporate Governance for Large Manufacturers

AuditBoard is a powerhouse for large-scale industrial conglomerates that require deep integration between internal audit, risk management, and compliance. It is built for companies with dedicated internal audit departments.

• Key Capabilities: Provides high-level executive dashboards and advanced “Control Management” modules that allow for cross-departmental accountability.
• PLM Value: Connects directly with enterprise ERP and PLM systems (SAP, Oracle) to manage risks associated with global supply chain data and vendor relationships.
• Manufacturing Impact: Facilitates the transition from “siloed” security to an enterprise-wide “Digital Thread” where every business unit is aligned on risk.
• Pros: Highly scalable; industry-leading reporting for Board of Directors.
• Cons: Often too complex for small-to-mid-sized engineering firms.

7. Secureframe: Precision and Scalability for R&D

Secureframe is the preferred choice for R&D-heavy companies that need to protect complex industrial secrets while maintaining a lean compliance team.

• Key Capabilities: Features an integrated vulnerability scanner and a library of over 100+ auditor-vetted security policies that can be customized for specific plant or lab environments.
• PLM Value: Their Vendor Risk Management module is critical for manufacturers who outsource components, as it allows for the continuous monitoring of third-party design partners.
• Manufacturing Impact: Dramatically reduces “audit fatigue” by automating the evidence gathering from cloud-based PLM instances.
• Pros: Exceptional customer success team; clear remediation instructions for non-technical staff.

8. LogicGate (Risk Cloud): The No-Code Flexibility Champion

LogicGate is for the manufacturing firm that doesn’t fit into a “standard” box. Its “no-code” platform allows you to build a compliance program that mirrors your unique physical and digital workflows.

• Key Capabilities: Its “Graph” architecture shows exactly how a single control failure (e.g., a door sensor in a server room) impacts your overall SOC 2 posture.
• PLM Value: Ideal for Defense or Aerospace manufacturers who must map SOC 2 controls to more stringent frameworks like CMMC or NIST 800-171.
• Manufacturing Impact: Allows for the ingestion of data from proprietary Industrial Control Systems (ICS) that aren’t supported by standard “out-of-the-box” tools.
• Pros: Complete freedom to customize; excellent for “Model-Based” compliance.

9. Scrut Automation: The Mid-Market Sentinel

Scrut offers a balanced mix of automation and affordability, specifically targeting mid-market manufacturing and technology service providers.

• Key Capabilities: Provides a unified view of risk across cloud infrastructure, employees, and third-party vendors. Its “Audit Hub” allows you to collaborate with auditors directly inside the tool.
• PLM Value: Automates the quarterly access reviews of PDM/PLM systems—a critical SOC 2 requirement that is frequently overlooked by manual processes.
• Manufacturing Impact: Includes specialized modules for security awareness training tailored to industrial environments (e.g., preventing social engineering on the factory floor).
• Pros: Great ROI; rapid deployment and highly responsive support.

10. OneTrust: The Guardian of Industrial Data Privacy

OneTrust is the global leader in privacy. While they handle the full SOC 2 spectrum, they are the undisputed choice for companies whose primary concern is the “Privacy” and “Confidentiality” criteria.

• Key Capabilities: Features the world’s most comprehensive regulatory database. It automates data mapping—knowing exactly where every bit of sensitive customer and product data lives.
• PLM Value: Crucial for Industry 4.0 products (IoT devices) that collect user data and must comply with global privacy laws while maintaining SOC 2 processing integrity.
• Manufacturing Impact: Provides a structured framework for managing the “Privacy-by-Design” requirement in new product development.
• Pros: Globally recognized; unbeatable for data sovereignty and multi-national compliance.

Technical Comparison Table: SOC 2 Software in 2026

Conclusion: Compliance as the Foundation of Digital Trust

In the Compliance Management chapter of your PLM strategy, SOC 2 should be viewed as the “Safety Valve” of the Digital Thread. Implementing one of these top-tier tools doesn’t just “pass an audit”—it protects your most valuable asset: your Intellectual Property.

• If you need speed and high-velocity automation: Choose Vanta or Sprinto.
• If you need deep governance and board visibility: Look at AuditBoard or OneTrust.
• If your manufacturing processes are highly unique and niche: LogicGate is your best bet.

By choosing an automated platform, you transform compliance from a reactive, yearly “pain” into a proactive competitive advantage that opens doors to the world’s most demanding markets.

Check out the 14-day free trial at Visure and experience how AI-driven change control can help you manage changes faster, safer, and with full audit readiness.