Can Drata Fully Automate SOC 2 Evidence Collection?

No, Drata cannot fully automate SOC 2 evidence collection. While Drata automates roughly 80% of SOC 2 compliance through API monitoring of infrastructure and cloud configurations (AWS encryption, GitHub MFA, Okta access), it cannot capture application screenshots or UI workflows. The remaining 20% requires manual evidence collection—specifically screenshots of application-level controls like role-based access, change management approvals, and custom internal tools. To automate SOC 2 evidence collection completely, organizations use AI-powered screenshot automation tools like Screenata alongside Drata.

Where Drata SOC 2 Automation Stops

Drata excels at automating infrastructure and cloud-based controls through API integrations. However, it cannot automate evidence collection for application-level controls that require visual proof.

What Drata Automates for SOC 2 (The 80%)

Infrastructure Controls: AWS/GCP/Azure configurations, encryption settings, backup verification
Identity & Access: Okta, Google Workspace, Azure AD user provisioning and MFA status
Code Management: GitHub, GitLab commit logs, branch protection, pull request approvals
HR & Training: BambooHR, Gusto background checks, employee onboarding, security training completion
Monitoring & Logging: CloudWatch, Datadog, Splunk log collection and retention

What Drata Cannot Automate for SOC 2 (The 20%)

Application Screenshots: UI-based role permissions, access control testing, user interface security
Workflow Documentation: Manual approval processes, change management workflows, incident response procedures
Custom Internal Tools: Admin dashboards, database management interfaces, support tools without APIs
Application-Level Testing: RBAC validation, permission boundaries, feature-level access controls
Visual Evidence: Vulnerability scanner dashboards, security tool screenshots, configuration screenshots

Why Can't Drata Capture Screenshots?

Drata is an API-based platform that monitors systems by querying their APIs. If a control is visual in nature (UI permissions, dashboard screenshots, workflow approvals), Drata has no way to "see" it. This creates the "Visibility Gap"—the 20% of evidence that requires human eyes and screenshots.

What Screenshots Does SOC 2 Require That Drata Can't Capture?

SOC 2 auditors require visual evidence for Trust Services Criteria (TSC) that verify how your application actually behaves. Even with perfect infrastructure monitoring, auditors need screenshots proving your software enforces the security controls you claim in your policies.

Which SOC 2 Controls Require Screenshots?

CC6.1 (Logical Access): Proving that a "Viewer" role in your application cannot access the "Billing" or "Admin" settings.
CC7.2 (Change Management): Documenting the visual approval of a specific emergency hotfix that bypassed standard API-tracked PR flows.
CC8.1 (System Operations): Capturing proof that a vulnerability scanner dashboard shows "Zero Critical Vulnerabilities" at a specific point in time.
Internal Tools: Any custom-built dashboard your team uses for customer support or database management that lacks a Drata-compatible API.

Control Category	Drata Automation Capability	The Remaining Manual Task
Infrastructure	Fully Automated (API)	None
HR & Training	Fully Automated (API/Portal)	None
App-Level RBAC	Manual / Not Supported	Screenshots of User Permissions
Change Management	Partial (GitHub/GitLab API)	UI proof of deployment approvals
Custom Internal Tools	None	Manual walkthroughs and PDFs

How Do You Automate Screenshot Collection for SOC 2?

Screenata serves as the "Visual Sensor" for Drata. While Drata monitors the backend, Screenata uses AI agents to record and document the frontend. By combining the two, companies move from 80% to 100% automation.

How it Works: The Unified Workflow

Identify the Gap: Drata flags a control (e.g., CC6.1) as "Ready for Evidence."
Record the Proof: You use the Screenata browser extension to perform a 60-second walkthrough of the control (e.g., clicking through your app's permission settings).
AI Generation: Screenata’s AI identifies the actions, captures timestamped screenshots, blurs PII, and generates an audit-ready PDF.
Auto-Sync: The evidence pack is automatically uploaded into the Drata evidence library and linked to the correct control.

How to Achieve 100% SOC 2 Automation with Drata

If you use Drata and want to eliminate the 40–80 hours of manual screenshot collection required for a SOC 2 Type II audit, follow this process to automate evidence collection completely.

Step 1: Mapping Your Manual Controls

Review your Drata dashboard and identify every control that requires "Manual Evidence." In most SOC 2 environments, this will be roughly 15–25 controls related to application logic and specific operational procedures.

Step 2: Deploying AI Capture Agents

Install Screenata to handle these manual requirements. Unlike a standard screen recorder, Screenata is built specifically for compliance. It knows how to format reports that satisfy AICPA standards.

Step 3: Executing "Golden Workflows"

For each manual control, perform a "Golden Workflow" recording.

Example: For CC6.1, record yourself logging in as a "ReadOnly" user and attempting to delete a resource. When the "Access Denied" message appears, Screenata captures this as definitive proof of the control's effectiveness.

Step 4: Automating the Evidence Pack

Once the recording is finished, Screenata generates a structured PDF containing:

Control ID and Objective.
Tester Identity and Timestamp.
Sequential, annotated screenshots.
Cryptographic hashes to prove the images haven't been tampered with.

Comparison: Drata Alone vs. Drata + Screenata

Metric	Drata (Standalone)	Drata + Screenata
Automation Level	~80% (Infrastructure only)	100% (Infrastructure + App)
Manual Effort	40-80 hours per quarter	< 2 hours per quarter
Evidence Type	API JSON data	API data + Verifiable Screenshots
Auditor Experience	High volume of manual queries	Self-contained evidence packs
Risk of Human Error	High (Missing/Wrong screenshots)	Low (AI-generated documentation)

Example Case: Automating Control CC6.1 (Logical Access)

The Objective: Prove that access to sensitive functions is restricted based on the user’s role.

The "Drata-Only" Way (Manual)

A security engineer logs into the production app.
They take 5 screenshots: the user list, the role settings, and the "Access Denied" screen.
They paste these into a Word doc, add captions, and export as a PDF.
They manually upload the PDF to Drata and write a description.
Time spent: 45 minutes per quarter.

The "Drata + Screenata" Way (Automated)

The engineer launches Screenata and selects "CC6.1 - Logical Access."
They perform the test in the browser (30 seconds).
Screenata AI creates the report and pushes it to Drata via API.
Time spent: 2 minutes per quarter.

Integration: How Screenata and Drata Talk to Each Other

Screenata is designed to be the "last mile" companion to Drata. The integration ensures that your GRC platform remains the "Single Source of Truth."

API Connection: Screenata connects to your Drata instance using a secure API key.
Control Mapping: You can map Screenata recording templates directly to Drata control IDs (e.g., DC-101, DC-102).
Continuous Sync: As soon as a Screenata evidence pack is finalized, it appears in Drata’s "Evidence Library," ready for auditor review.
Status Updates: Screenata can trigger a status change in Drata, moving a control from "Incomplete" to "Compliant" automatically.

Best Practices for Full SOC 2 Automation

To ensure your audit goes smoothly when using automated tools, follow these three best practices:

Standardize Your Narratives: Use Screenata’s AI to generate consistent descriptions for every screenshot. This makes it easier for auditors to follow your logic.
Enable PII Redaction: Ensure that any automated capture tool you use can blur sensitive data (like customer emails or credit card numbers) before the evidence reaches Drata.
Schedule Quarterly "Crons": Don't wait for the audit window. Set a reminder to run your Screenata workflows once a quarter to ensure your Type II evidence is continuous and up-to-date.

Frequently Asked Questions About Drata and SOC 2 Automation

Can Drata capture screenshots for SOC 2 audits?

No. Drata is an API-based platform and cannot capture screenshots of your application's user interface. For SOC 2 controls that require visual evidence (CC6.1, CC7.2, CC8.1), you need screenshot automation tools that work alongside Drata.

Do SOC 2 auditors accept automated screenshots?

Yes. Auditors prefer automated screenshots because they include verifiable metadata (timestamps, URLs, browser versions, and tester identity) that manual screenshots often lack. Automated evidence follows AICPA guidelines for sufficient and reliable evidence.

Does Vanta have the same screenshot limitation as Drata?

Yes. Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe all rely on APIs for automation. The "20% manual gap" exists across all GRC platforms because they cannot capture UI-based evidence or workflow screenshots.

How much time does screenshot automation save for SOC 2?

For a typical SaaS company, manual screenshot collection takes 40–80 hours per SOC 2 audit cycle. Screenshot automation reduces this to under 5 hours total—a 90%+ time savings on evidence collection.

Why doesn't Drata just build screenshot automation?

Drata focuses on being the compliance platform that integrates with thousands of vendors via API. Building AI-powered screenshot capture, OCR, and computer vision is a specialized field, which is why companies use dedicated screenshot automation tools alongside Drata.

Key Takeaways

✅ Drata is not 100% automated: It handles infrastructure well but cannot see into your application's UI or manual processes.
✅ The "20% Gap" is the bottleneck: Application-level controls like CC6.1 and CC7.2 are the most time-consuming parts of a SOC 2 audit.
✅ Screenata provides the solution: By using AI agents to record and document UI workflows, Screenata automates the evidence Drata misses.
✅ Integration is seamless: Screenata pushes audit-ready PDF packs directly into Drata, ensuring a single source of truth.
✅ Auditors prefer automation: Structured, timestamped evidence packs are more reliable and easier to review than manual folders of images.

Learn More About SOC 2 Automation

For a complete guide to automating SOC 2 evidence collection, including platform comparisons, implementation strategies, and time savings, see our comprehensive SOC 2 automation guide.