Best 11 Cloud Compliance Software For Business (2026)
We reviewed 11 cloud compliance platforms on frameworks supported natively, audit evidence quality, and how well they handle shared responsibility model compliance obligations.
Written by
Joel Witts
Technical Review by
Laura Iannini
Quick Summary
Cloud compliance software helps organizations manage the specific regulatory obligations of operating in public cloud environments — including shared responsibility model compliance, data residency requirements, and cloud-specific controls. On-premises compliance frameworks do not map cleanly to cloud architectures. We reviewed 11 platforms and found Mitratech Alyne, AuditBoard, and Diligent HighBond to be the strongest on cloud-specific framework coverage and shared responsibility model support.
Cloud compliance software promises to reduce the manual work that makes audits painful. The reality is more nuanced. Some platforms excel at real-time monitoring across frameworks. Others shine at evidence collection and correlation. The wrong choice leaves you manually chasing findings between tools.
The core challenge is that compliance isn’t one-size-fits-all. A startup pursuing SOC 2 has completely different needs than a financial services company managing PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX simultaneously. The platform that works for agile compliance doesn’t necessarily handle complex governance well. Add multi-cloud infrastructure on top, and the software choices that worked last year may not scale this year.
We evaluated multiple cloud compliance platforms across different organization sizes, regulatory contexts, and cloud deployments. We evaluated continuous monitoring, framework coverage, evidence management, automation capabilities, and how teams actually operationalize findings. We reviewed customer feedback to understand where setup promises diverge from day-to-day reality. What we found: the gap between marketing claims and what these tools deliver in practice is significant.
This guide gives you the testing insights and decision framework to select compliance software that handles your actual regulatory requirements without creating additional overhead.
Mitratech Alyne is a cloud-based, AI-powered GRC platform designed to help CISOs and compliance teams manage risk, meet regulatory requirements, and make informed, data-driven decisions. The platform provides continuous monitoring of enterprise and third-party risk, with tools for managing cybersecurity, IT risk, ESG, and information governance.
Mitratech Alyne Key Features
Alyne offers over 1,500 pre-built templates mapped to major compliance regulations and controls, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST CSF, COBIT, and SOX. The AI and machine learning engine automatically processes and summarizes documents, helping users identify relevant regulations, assess risks, and implement mitigation strategies. The platform ensures organizations store, handle, and manage data in compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
Alyne integrates with Black Kite and SecurityScorecard for third-party risk management, and allows users to connect Snowflake or BI tools for a comprehensive view of risk across their entire tech stack. The platform is quick to deploy with no coding required, and its intuitive interface with customizable reporting dashboards simplifies ongoing management.
Our Take
We recommend Mitratech Alyne for mid-sized to large enterprises looking to automate risk assessments, strengthen data governance, and ensure compliance with evolving regulatory and cybersecurity standards.
Strengths
- Over 1,500 pre-built templates mapped to ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIST CSF, COBIT, and SOX
- AI engine processes documents and identifies relevant regulations automatically
- Integrations with Black Kite, SecurityScorecard, and Snowflake for unified risk visibility
- No-code deployment with intuitive interface and customizable dashboards
- Continuous monitoring of enterprise and third-party risk including ESG
Cautions
- Pricing not publicly available; requires contacting sales for a quote
AuditBoard
AuditBoard is a cloud-based platform that centralizes audit, risk, ESG, and compliance management into a single system of record. Over 50% of Fortune 500 companies use it, and the platform targets organizations needing connected workflows across the three lines of defense. We were impressed by the unified dashboard for tracking multiple audits, risks, and issues without switching between tools.
AuditBoard Key Features
Evidence requests, testing, and follow-ups stay organized instead of living in scattered emails and files. The drag-and-drop document attachment and version control save real time during audit cycles. Workflow automation lets you assign ownership, track progress across concurrent audits, and maintain visibility for stakeholders without constantly chasing updates. The AI features help refine control wording in risk matrices, reducing manual documentation effort.
What Customers Say
Users consistently praise the intuitive interface and real-time dashboards. SOX control testing and risk register management get easier with status tracking visible in one place. The Microsoft Office integration works smoothly for updating supporting documentation. The learning curve comes up frequently, however, and implementation is detailed and time-consuming to execute properly.
Our Take
We think AuditBoard fits mid-sized to large enterprises running SOX, operational audits, and cloud compliance programs that need cross-team collaboration. If your audit function still runs on spreadsheets and email chains, the centralized workflow approach solves real problems. The implementation investment is real, but the payoff in audit cycle efficiency is significant.
Strengths
- Unified dashboard tracks audits, risks, and compliance with real-time visibility
- Drag-and-drop evidence management with version control
- Workflow automation assigns ownership and tracks concurrent audits
- Pre-built Microsoft Office integration and flexible API support
Cautions
- Users report the implementation process is detailed and time-consuming
- Customers note a steep learning curve for users new to audit management platforms
Diligent HighBond
Diligent HighBond is an enterprise GRC platform covering audit management, compliance, SOX, internal controls, enterprise risk, and ESG programs. We think the module-based architecture is the key strength, separating Projects, Compliance Maps, Frameworks, and Risk/Asset Manager into distinct workspaces. This structured approach keeps different GRC activities cleanly segregated while maintaining visibility across the whole program.
Diligent HighBond Key Features
The modular approach creates clear separation between different GRC activities. Customizable storyboards and data visualizations provide real-time visibility into your risk posture without building reports from scratch. The platform integrates ACL for data analytics and connects with Microsoft Excel and cloud storage for data sharing. Task assignments and automated reminders keep teams on schedule, and the included risk library offers templates and benchmarks aligned with industry standards.
What Customers Say
Users praise the clean UI and straightforward navigation. Clear notifications show which project pages need sign-off, and the overall interface makes daily work manageable. Customer support gets strong marks, particularly during implementation and through quarterly follow-ups. Something to be aware of is that the onboarding process is lengthy for users unfamiliar with the platform, and reporting is fragmented across five different modules, which creates navigation complexity.
Our Take
We think HighBond fits enterprises needing a structured, centralized GRC platform with strong professional services support. If you want clear module separation and built-in templates for cloud compliance across multiple frameworks, this works well. The quarterly follow-up support from Diligent’s team is a nice touch that helps organizations get more value over time.
Strengths
- Module-based architecture creates clear separation between GRC activities
- Strong professional services with quarterly follow-up support
- Customizable storyboards for real-time risk posture visualization
- ACL analytics integration with Microsoft Excel and cloud storage
Cautions
- Users report a steep learning curve with lengthy onboarding
- Reviews flag reporting fragmented across five modules creates navigation complexity
Hyperproof
Hyperproof is a compliance and risk management platform that centralizes workflows, automates evidence collection, and streamlines audit preparation. We think the cross-framework control mapping is the standout feature. The platform maps common controls across frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701, letting you reuse evidence instead of duplicating work. Hyperproof recently achieved FedRAMP Moderate authorization, making it viable for government and highly regulated environments.
Hyperproof Key Features
The labels feature lets you reuse evidence across different audits, which cuts prep time significantly. The risk register centralizes identification, prioritization, and tracking in one place. Integrations with Jira, Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams work smoothly for most use cases. Automated approval workflows eliminate manual handoffs, and decentralized control ownership pushes accountability back to individual functions rather than bottlenecking everything with the InfoSec team.
What Customers Say
Users consistently highlight the responsive support team and smooth implementation process. The platform handles daily heavy use well, with some users logging in over a dozen times daily without major issues. The pain points center on scale; the interface slows down when managing large numbers of controls under heavy daily use, and reporting and dashboard customization options need more flexibility for different stakeholder needs.
Our Take
We think Hyperproof works well for mid-sized organizations managing multiple cloud compliance frameworks simultaneously. If you need cross-framework control mapping and automated evidence collection without the implementation overhead of larger enterprise platforms, this delivers solid value. The decentralized ownership model is a smart approach for organizations trying to distribute compliance responsibility.
Strengths
- Cross-framework control mapping lets you reuse evidence across audits
- Integrates with Jira, Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams
- Decentralized control ownership distributes accountability across functions
- FedRAMP Moderate authorization for government and regulated environments
Cautions
- Customers note the interface slows when managing large control sets under heavy use
- Reviews mention reporting and dashboard customization needs more flexibility
Microsoft Purview
Microsoft Purview combines data governance, risk, and compliance solutions into a unified platform for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. It merges former Azure Purview and Microsoft 365 compliance services to protect sensitive data across endpoints, cloud services, and on-premises environments. We think the native integration across Microsoft 365 services is the standout advantage; policies apply consistently across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams without managing separate connectors.
Microsoft Purview Key Features
Centralized policy management means you configure once and enforce everywhere within your Microsoft environment. The exact data match and trainable classifier features provide granular control over what gets flagged. Machine intelligence and pattern matching automate sensitive data discovery, and the integration with Microsoft Defender creates a unified security posture. Purview also supports multi-cloud data governance across AWS, GCP, and on-premises databases through a single pane of glass.
What Customers Say
Users praise ease of deployment in Windows-dominated environments. Policy configuration is straightforward once you understand the structure, and real-time reporting delivers valuable insight into threat detection and exfiltration attempts. Organizations moving from Business Standard to E3/E5 licenses report positive experiences. Something to be aware of is that DLP monitoring categories lack diversity for certain use cases, and performance can slow when processing extensive datasets.
Our Take
We think Purview fits organizations with deep Microsoft 365 investments looking to consolidate cloud compliance tooling. If you run Exchange, SharePoint, and Teams, the native integration eliminates friction that third-party tools introduce. The fact that it’s included with E3/E5 licensing reduces additional vendor costs significantly. Organizations outside the Microsoft ecosystem will face integration challenges.
Strengths
- Native integration across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams
- Included with E3/E5 licensing, reducing additional vendor costs
- Exact data match and trainable classifiers for granular data detection
- Multi-cloud data governance across AWS, GCP, and on-premises
Cautions
- Users report DLP monitoring categories lack diversity for some use cases
- Reviews mention performance slows when processing large datasets
OneTrust
OneTrust is an all-in-one privacy automation platform handling cookie consent, data mapping, DSARs, privacy assessments, and regulatory compliance. The platform connects privacy, GRC, ethics, and ESG teams through a unified interface with real-time regulatory intelligence updates. We think the regulatory intelligence feature is particularly valuable; real-time updates on global privacy laws mean your team stays current without constant manual monitoring.
OneTrust Key Features
Pre-built templates for DSARs, RoPAs, and DPIAs reduce manual effort significantly. The modular architecture lets you scale from small teams to enterprise-wide programs. Integration capabilities connect well with common data systems, enabling accurate data mapping and streamlined risk assessments. Privacy assessments are easy to configure, and answers flow directly into the data mapping tool for consolidated reporting. The Winter 2026 release added AI-powered evidence analysis and automated reassessments.
What Customers Say
Users appreciate the platform stability and reliability. Long-term users report no significant outages or concerns, and the consultants and support teams get positive marks for responsiveness. The unified dashboard gives clear visibility into risks, privacy status, and breach reporting. The learning curve is the consistent criticism; the platform requires weeks of configuration before delivering value, and the interface can feel cluttered for users without technical backgrounds.
Our Take
We think OneTrust fits large organizations with dedicated privacy teams and resources for proper implementation. If you need global regulatory coverage and centralized privacy workflows for cloud compliance, this platform delivers. The proven stability over multi-year deployments is reassuring, but be prepared for a significant upfront configuration investment before you see returns.
Strengths
- Real-time regulatory intelligence updates on global privacy law changes
- Pre-built templates for DSARs, RoPAs, and DPIAs reduce manual effort
- Modular architecture scales from small teams to enterprise-wide programs
- Proven platform stability over multi-year deployments
Cautions
- Customers note weeks of configuration required before delivering value
- Reviews flag the interface feels cluttered for users without technical backgrounds
Resolver
Resolver, now a Kroll business, is a risk, compliance, and incident management platform that centralizes tracking in a single structured environment. We think the platform excels at bringing structure to previously chaotic processes; incident records, risk registers, and follow-ups live in one place, eliminating the juggle between emails, spreadsheets, and scattered reminders. Resolver holds ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, SOC 2 Type 2 coverage across all five Trust Service Principles, and HIPAA/HITECH compliance.
Resolver Key Features
Workflow automation handles alerts and approvals, reducing manual effort and ensuring tasks stay on track. The dashboards reflect real operational data, which makes leadership reviews more factual. Customizable templates and forms adapt to different business models, and graphical risk visualizations help communicate exposure clearly during quarterly reviews. Every issue, action item, and response gets assigned, tracked, and documented through structured workflows.
What Customers Say
Users consistently highlight improved accountability. Reporting provides clear snapshots of open issues, severity levels, and remediation progress without manual follow-up. Teams appreciate using standardized processes and shared data. The pain points center on setup; workflow configuration requires significant time before processes align with internal requirements, and the user interface feels dated compared to newer platforms in the space.
Our Take
We think Resolver works well for organizations replacing disconnected spreadsheets with centralized cloud compliance and risk tracking. The Kroll backing provides compliance testing expertise and advisory services beyond pure software, which is a meaningful advantage. The structure and accountability features pay off once configured, but plan for a meaningful setup investment.
Strengths
- Centralizes risk registers, incidents, and compliance tracking in one system
- ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type 2, and HIPAA/HITECH certified
- Workflow automation handles alerts, approvals, and task tracking
- Kroll advisory capabilities provide expertise beyond pure software
Cautions
- Users report significant configuration time before workflows align with internal processes
- Customers note the user interface feels dated
SAI360
SAI360 is an ESG cloud platform combining risk management, compliance, audit, and learning solutions in a single system of record. We think the no-code workflow capabilities and the built-in compliance training library are what set this apart. The platform offers extensive configurability without developer dependence, and the training content covers bribery, safety, harassment, and sustainability in multiple languages.
SAI360 Key Features
You can fix workflows and connect entities like risks and assets without calling a developer. The platform allows nearly unlimited configuration, creating custom entities, attributes, and workflows tailored to your processes. Microsoft Office integration works reliably for spreadsheet uploads. The client partnership model gives you access to the development team and input on the platform roadmap, which is unusual in this space. The December 2025 acquisition of Plural Policy adds AI-driven legislative intelligence for parsing regulatory language at scale.
What Customers Say
Users praise the responsive support team and smooth implementation process. Daily heavy users report the platform rarely lets them down, and the connection between policies, training, and risk dashboards feels intuitive once familiar. Business continuity management and disaster recovery features get strong marks from healthcare and enterprise users. Something to be aware of is that the learning curve is steep, particularly for dashboard creation, and performance slows noticeably with large control sets exceeding 2,000 items.
Our Take
We think SAI360 fits enterprises needing extensive configurability across cloud compliance, risk, and learning programs. If you want a true system of record with compliance training content included natively, this delivers. The client partnership model is a nice differentiator for organizations that want a voice in the product roadmap.
Strengths
- No-code workflow configuration without developer involvement
- Global compliance training library with multi-language content
- Client partnership model with development team and roadmap access
- Plural Policy acquisition adds AI-driven legislative intelligence
Cautions
- Reviews flag a steep learning curve, especially for dashboard creation
- Users report performance slows with large control sets exceeding 2,000 items
ServiceNow Governance, Risk, and Compliance
ServiceNow GRC transforms manual, siloed risk and compliance processes into an integrated program on the ServiceNow platform. We think the platform consolidation is the key selling point; if your organization already runs ServiceNow for ITSM, adding GRC creates a unified system for risk management, policy compliance, audit management, and vendor risk. The ITIL framework alignment works well for compliance-based ITSM, particularly in regulated industries.
ServiceNow GRC Key Features
Ticket tracking, remediation workflows, and reporting all benefit from the native ServiceNow architecture. Risk and compliance data lives alongside operational data, which improves decision-making. Continuous monitoring and real-time dashboards provide visibility across the extended enterprise. Configuration is straightforward once you understand the platform methodology, and the documentation is thorough.
What Customers Say
Users in highly regulated industries praise the extensive scope coverage and centralized management capabilities. Reporting services help teams make better decisions faster. The pain points are consistent, however. The interface is challenging to navigate, and deployment requires significant upfront work. Organizations face a choice: adopt the ServiceNow way or customize to your own methodology, and the latter is harder and more expensive.
Our Take
We think ServiceNow GRC fits organizations with existing ServiceNow deployments looking to consolidate cloud compliance onto the same platform. The integration benefits outweigh the UI challenges when you’re already committed to the ecosystem. For organizations without ServiceNow, the learning curve and customization overhead make purpose-built compliance tools a better starting point.
Strengths
- Native integration with ServiceNow ITSM creates unified operational and compliance data
- Real-time dashboards and continuous monitoring across the enterprise
- ITIL framework alignment for compliance-based ITSM in regulated industries
- Thorough documentation and straightforward configuration once familiar
Cautions
- Customers note the interface is challenging and difficult to navigate for new users
- Reviews mention deployment requires significant upfront alignment work
Vanta
Vanta is a compliance automation platform built to get startups and SMBs audit-ready fast. It automates evidence collection, continuous monitoring, and control checks across frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR through integrations with over 300 services. We think the speed-to-value proposition is the standout; connect your cloud tools, identity providers, and source control, then let the platform monitor configuration drift in real time.
Vanta Key Features
The checklist-driven workflow prioritizes what matters, and automated evidence collection eliminates the scramble before audits. The Trust Center feature stands out; instead of emailing ZIP files of PDFs, you share a clean URL showing your security posture to prospects. Policy templates and pre-built employee training modules save significant setup time, and the intuitive UI makes the platform accessible to non-security team members. Continuous monitoring catches problems before audits surface them.
What Customers Say
Users consistently highlight time savings. Teams report focusing on fixing issues rather than administrative work, and managing multiple frameworks simultaneously works well once initial setup is complete. The pain points center on customization; the platform is optimized for standard frameworks and common tech stacks, and organizations with unique architectures find some workflows rigid. Troubleshooting failed tests can feel like a scavenger hunt through menus.
Our Take
We think Vanta fits startups and SMBs pursuing SOC 2, ISO 27001, or HIPAA on common tech stacks. If you need speed to audit-readiness with minimal manual work, this delivers. The Trust Center is a smart feature for SaaS companies fielding security questionnaires from prospects. Larger enterprises with bespoke security programs may find the customization limitations restrictive.
Strengths
- Automated evidence collection and continuous monitoring eliminate manual audit prep
- Trust Center provides a shareable URL for prospects instead of PDF handoffs
- 300+ integrations including AWS, GitHub, Okta, and Jira
- Intuitive UI and checklist-driven workflows accessible to non-security teams
Cautions
- Users report limited customization for organizations with unique architectures
- Customers note troubleshooting failed tests requires navigating multiple menus
Wiz Cloud Compliance
Wiz Cloud Compliance automates compliance assessments across multi-cloud environments for enterprises juggling complex regulatory requirements. It covers 100+ frameworks out of the box and lets you build custom ones when auditors require something non-standard. We think the agentless deployment is the key differentiator; connect your cloud accounts and start scanning in hours, not weeks. The continuous compliance monitoring eliminates the spreadsheet gymnastics most teams suffer through.
Wiz Key Features
Posture scores update automatically, and the heatmap view shows cross-framework gaps at a glance. You get executive-ready reports without scrambling before audits. The auto-remediation playbooks stand out; route issues directly to Jira, trigger fixes, and cut mean time to remediation significantly. Workflow integrations with ticketing and messaging systems work smoothly across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Custom framework support means you’re not locked into pre-built mappings.
What Customers Say
Users consistently praise the agentless deployment and setup simplicity. The continuous monitoring and cross-framework visibility get strong marks from multi-cloud teams. Something to be aware of is that the initial data volume can overwhelm teams during the first few weeks of onboarding, and risk ratings sometimes update unexpectedly, creating overnight changes to critical findings that need investigation.
Our Take
We think Wiz fits enterprises operating across multiple cloud providers who need continuous compliance monitoring at scale. If you’re managing 100+ framework requirements across AWS, Azure, and GCP, the agentless deployment and auto-remediation playbooks reduce both setup time and ongoing operational overhead. The cross-framework heatmap is a strong feature for communicating compliance posture to leadership.
Strengths
- 100+ compliance frameworks with custom framework support
- Agentless deployment connects cloud accounts in hours
- Auto-remediation playbooks route issues to ticketing systems
- Cross-framework heatmap visualizes compliance gaps across environments
Cautions
- Reviews mention initial data volume can overwhelm teams during onboarding
- Customers note risk ratings sometimes update unexpectedly overnight
What To Look For: Cloud Compliance Software Checklist
When evaluating cloud compliance platforms, we’ve identified seven essential criteria. Here’s the checklist of questions you should be asking:
Framework Coverage: Does the platform cover your specific regulatory requirements out of the box? Can you customize or add frameworks when auditors change requirements? How frequently does the platform update framework mappings when regulations change?
Evidence Collection and Automation: Can the platform automatically collect evidence from your cloud environments without manual work? How easy is it to reuse evidence across multiple frameworks? Does it integrate with your deployment pipelines and ticketing systems?
Cloud Coverage: Does the platform support AWS, Azure, and GCP equally? Are there specific cloud-native services that require manual verification? How well does it handle hybrid and on-premises infrastructure?
Reporting and Visibility: Can you generate executive-ready compliance reports without additional work? How customizable are dashboards for different stakeholder views? Does it provide real-time risk scoring or only point-in-time snapshots?
Remediation Workflows: Can you route findings directly to teams for action? Does the platform track remediation progress and provide SLA enforcement? How automated is the evidence update when teams fix issues?
Implementation Complexity: How long does initial deployment take? Does it require custom connectors or deep integration work? How much expertise do teams need to get value on day one versus after weeks of configuration?
Total Cost of Ownership: Is pricing per framework, per cloud account, or per user? How does cost scale as your environments grow? Are there hidden charges for advanced features or high-volume evidence collection?
How We Compared The Best Cloud Compliance Software
Expert Insights is an independent editorial team that researches, tests, and reviews cybersecurity and IT solutions. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products. Our Editor’s Scores are based solely on product quality. Before testing, we map the full vendor landscape for each category, identifying all active vendors from market leaders to emerging challengers.
We evaluated 11 cloud compliance platforms across different organization sizes, frameworks, and multi-cloud configurations. We evaluated framework coverage, automated evidence collection, dashboard usability, reporting flexibility, and how smoothly teams could transition findings into remediation. We assessed setup effort, ongoing configuration, and operational overhead after deployment.
Beyond hands on testing, we conducted in depth market research and reviewed customer feedback and interviews to understand where vendor claims diverge from operational reality. We spoke with compliance teams managing these platforms at scale across different industries. Our editorial and commercial teams operate independently. No vendor can pay to influence our review of their products.
This guide is updated quarterly. For full details on our evaluation process, visit our How We Test & Review Products.
The Bottom Line
No single cloud compliance platform handles every organization equally. Your choice depends on your framework requirements, team size, cloud infrastructure, and how much ongoing configuration work you can absorb.
If you manage multiple compliance frameworks simultaneously and need to reuse evidence across audits, Hyperproof delivers the cross-framework control mapping that cuts real work.
If you’re a startup or SMB pursuing standard frameworks on common tech stacks, Vanta automates evidence collection and keeps teams focused through its checklist-driven workflow. The Trust Center feature makes it easy to share compliance status with prospects.
If you operate in multi-cloud and need continuous compliance monitoring across 100+ frameworks, Wiz Cloud Compliance connects in hours and provides auto-remediation playbooks that reduce remediation time.
If you’re already deep in Microsoft 365, Microsoft Purview delivers native integration without managing separate connectors. You get strong DLP capabilities and compliance automation within your existing licensing.
If you run ServiceNow for ITSM, ServiceNow GRC consolidates risk and compliance onto your existing platform of engagement. The UI challenges and implementation effort are worth it if you’re already committed to the ecosystem.
Read the individual reviews above to dig into framework coverage, evidence automation, and which trade-offs matter for your compliance program.
FAQs
Everything You Need To Know About Cloud Compliance Software (FAQs)
Cloud compliance software is used to ensure that cloud computing services are meeting the compliance requirements of their enterprise customers. These software solutions are designed to support organizations in managing and maintaining compliance with a variety of regulatory requirements, security standards, and industry specific guidelines within cloud computing environments. These environments might include public platforms like Google Cloud, AWS, and Azure, or private cloud infrastructure.
When storing important and sensitive information on a third-party cloud server it is vital to take steps to ensure that the third-party host is fully compliant with all the necessary data privacy and protection regulatory standards. Cloud hosts are required to pass certain audits and have specific compliance certification for cybersecurity assurance, but when it comes to meeting business industry security requirements the responsibility is ultimately with the organization to find the right provider. In highly regulated industries like finance, government, and healthcare, for instance, there are specific standards that must be met, and if any provider you use is non-compliance your organizations would be liable for costly fees and penalties.
Cloud compliance software is a highly valuable business tool that can help businesses to stay compliant. Some key benefits of utilizing one of these solutions include:
- Enhanced security. Cloud compliance tools help to secure sensitive data by scanning configuration files and logs so they can detect changes to posture or compliance policies, thereby preventing unauthorized access and keeping the environment secured.
- Higher productivity. Cloud compliance software not only helps organizations to meet their compliance needs and reduce the risk of data errors, it also helps to improve the organizations ability to retain and serve their client base by improving visibility, safety, and agility, leading to better productivity and better overall satisfaction.
- More scalability. If you’re looking for a way to scale your compliance software, cloud-based software is the way to go. These solutions are typically priced based on usage and the dimensions of the enterprise, making them easier to tailor to your specific needs as a business.
Cloud compliance software should provide a range of capabilities to facilitate effective compliance, and while different solutions may vary in their feature sets some key capabilities you should expect include the following:
- Compliance Management. It is essential that any solution you choose to use is able to support compliance with a wide range of regulatory frameworks, such as HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and particularly any guidelines that are specific to your organization’s industry. These solutions should provide tools for mapping regulatory requirements to certain policies and controls.
- Meet Security Standards. A good cloud compliance software solution should support adherence with security standards and best practices that relate to cloud security, encryptions, access control, and data protection. This is good both for meeting compliance needs and for the general bolstering of the organization’s security posture.
- Automation. These solutions should be capable of conducting regular automatic compliance scans which check all actions and behaviors against predefined security policies. By automating compliance assessments tasks manual efforts are minimized and the window for human error is significantly reduced. They will also often automate remediation action to address security and compliance issues when they are detected so they can be resolved quickly.
- Policy Management. In order to maintain strict compliance, it is important to have a way to properly define, implement, and enforce compliance and security policies across the organizations cloud infrastructure. Any good cloud compliance software should offer policy customizations to support this.
- Risk Assessment. You should be able to scan for vulnerabilities on cloud resources to assess and analyze security and compliance risk, so any vulnerable points, misconfigurations, and areas of concern can be prioritized based on severity and then remedied.
- Keep An Audit Trail. These solutions support users in keeping an extensive audit trail of any cloud related activities in the form of logs and records, to make sure that there is full accountability and traceability.
Written By
Joel is the Director of Content and a co-founder at Expert Insights; a rapidly growing media company focussed on covering cybersecurity solutions.
He’s an experienced journalist and editor with 8 years’ experience covering the cybersecurity space. He’s reviewed hundreds of cybersecurity solutions, interviewed hundreds of industry experts and produced dozens of industry reports read by thousands of CISOs and security professionals in topics like IAM, MFA, zero trust, email security, DevSecOps and more.
He also hosts the Expert Insights Podcast and co-writes the weekly newsletter, Decrypted. Joel is driven to share his team’s expertise with cybersecurity leaders to help them create more secure business foundations.
Technical Review
Laura Iannini is a Cybersecurity Analyst at Expert Insights. With deep cybersecurity knowledge and strong research skills, she leads Expert Insights’ product testing team, conducting thorough tests of product features and in-depth industry analysis to ensure that Expert Insights’ product reviews are definitive and insightful.
Laura also carries out wider analysis of vendor landscapes and industry trends to inform Expert Insights’ enterprise cybersecurity buyers’ guides, covering topics such as security awareness training, cloud backup and recovery, email security, and network monitoring. Prior to working at Expert Insights, Laura worked as a Senior Information Security Engineer at Constant Edge, where she tested cybersecurity solutions, carried out product demos, and provided high-quality ongoing technical support.
Laura holds a Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity from the University of West Florida.