What is the best compliance tech stack for a B2B SaaS startup?
March 6, 20261 min readSOC 2 Tools and Platforms
The Compliance Tech Stack
You don't need to buy a dozen security products to pass SOC 2. Most B2B SaaS startups already have 80% of what they need. The stack breaks into three layers:
Layer 1: What You Already Have
| Tool | SOC 2 Purpose | You Probably Already Use |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud provider (AWS, GCP, Vercel) | Infrastructure security, logging | Yes |
| GitHub/GitLab | Change management, code review | Yes |
| Google Workspace / Okta | Identity, MFA, access control | Yes |
| Slack | Incident communication | Yes |
Layer 2: What You Might Need to Add
| Tool | SOC 2 Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| MDM (Kandji, Jamf, Mosyle) | Endpoint security, device compliance | $5-15/device/month |
| Security training (KnowBe4, Curricula) | Security awareness training evidence | $1K-3K/year |
| Vulnerability scanner (Snyk, Dependabot) | Vulnerability management evidence | Free-$500/month |
| Background check provider | Pre-employment screening evidence | $30-100/check |
Layer 3: Compliance-Specific Tools
This is where you choose your approach:
Option A — AI Compliance (recommended for startups):
- Screenata ($299+) — AI compliance officer that writes policies and collects evidence
- CPA auditor ($10K-$25K) — Issues the SOC 2 report
Option B — GRC Platform:
- Drata/Vanta ($12K-$18K/year) — Infrastructure monitoring and evidence storage
- Consultant ($5K-$15K) — Fills the expertise gap
- CPA auditor ($10K-$25K) — Issues the SOC 2 report
The Key Insight
The compliance tool you choose determines your total cost more than any other decision. The gap between a $299 AI compliance tool and a $15K GRC platform (plus $10K consultant) is significant for a startup watching its runway.