Screenata

SOC 2 Tools and Platforms

How does Screenata write SOC 2 policies from my codebase?

December 14, 20252 min read

How Does Codebase-Aware Policy Generation Work?

Traditional SOC 2 policies are written from templates. A consultant interviews your team, learns about your systems, then customizes generic documents. The result often has gaps because consultants learn through conversation, they can miss implementation details, edge cases, or recent changes.

Screenata takes a different approach. It reads your source code and cloud configuration directly, building a technical understanding of how your systems actually work. Then it writes policies that reference those specific systems.

What Screenata Analyzes

System AreaWhat It ReadsPolicy It Generates
AuthenticationNextAuth, Auth0, Clerk configsAccess control policy with your actual auth provider
DeploymentVercel, AWS, GitHub Actions configsChange management policy with your CI/CD pipeline
Data storageDatabase schemas, encryption settingsData protection policy with your actual storage setup
Access controlsIAM policies, RBAC implementationsLogical access policy with your permission model
MonitoringLogging configs, alerting rulesIncident response plan with your actual tools

Why This Matters for Audits

SOC 2 auditors test whether your controls operate as your policies describe. If your policy says "all code changes require pull request approval" but your GitHub repo allows direct pushes to main, that's a finding. When policies are generated from your actual codebase, they describe what you actually do, not what a template assumed you do.

The Process

  1. Connect: Grant Screenata read access to your GitHub repos and cloud accounts.
  2. Analyze: Screenata scans your authentication, deployment, access control, and data handling code.
  3. Generate: Policies are written referencing your specific tools, configurations, and workflows.
  4. Review: You review each policy, make adjustments, and approve.
  5. Evidence: Screenata maps each policy statement to the evidence it can collect automatically.

Related questions

SOC 2 Tools and Platforms

Can I switch compliance platforms during a SOC 2 observation period?

Yes. A SOC 2 Type II report covers how your controls operated across the observation period, and the platform that stored the evidence is not part of that test, so switching mid-window does not restart it. Agree a cutover date with your auditor first. Before your access ends, export what exists only inside the old platform: policy approvals, employee acknowledgments, access reviews, uploaded evidence with its original dates, and test history. Keep evidence continuous across the cutover, and pick a platform that leaves the audit to the firm you already use.

SOC 2 Tools and Platforms

Drata vs Vanta vs Screenata: which is best for a small startup?

For small startups (under 50 employees) without compliance expertise, Screenata is the most cost-effective path because it provides the compliance knowledge that Drata and Vanta assume you already have. Drata and Vanta are better for larger teams with a dedicated compliance or security person. Screenata also signs and timestamps its evidence, which matters more in 2026 as auditors scrutinize AI-generated work.

SOC 2 Tools and Platforms

Drata vs Vanta vs Secureframe: which GRC platform is best?

Drata, Vanta, and Secureframe are all GRC platforms that automate infrastructure monitoring for SOC 2. Drata has the most integrations, Vanta has the largest user base, and Secureframe offers slightly lower pricing. All three require compliance expertise and usually a consultant to be effective.

Connect and see

See your SOC 2 with your real systems.

Connect GitHub and cloud read-only. Vera shows your control matrix, policy gaps, and prioritized next actions before you commit to anything.