How can I automate the manual evidence Drata misses?

Direct Answer: You can automate the manual evidence Drata misses by using Screenata to record application-level workflows. While Drata automates infrastructure monitoring via APIs (AWS, GitHub, Okta), it cannot "see" inside your custom application UI. Screenata captures these UI-based control tests, generates timestamped screenshots, and produces audit-ready PDF evidence packs that sync directly back into your Drata dashboard.

Why does Drata leave a "20% Manual Gap" in compliance?

Drata and similar GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) platforms are designed as "Operating Systems" for compliance. They connect to your cloud stack via APIs to verify that databases are encrypted, MFA is enabled, and background checks are completed.

However, a significant portion of SOC 2 and ISO 27001 controls—roughly 20%—cannot be verified via API. These are Application and Process Controls. Because Drata cannot log into your proprietary SaaS product and perform a user-level test, these tasks fall back to manual effort.

What Drata Automates (The 80%)

Infrastructure: AWS/Azure/GCP configuration.
HRIS: Employee onboarding and termination.
Identity: Okta/Google Workspace MFA and SSO status.
Code: GitHub/GitLab branch protection and repository settings.

What Drata Misses (The 20% Manual Gap)

Role-Based Access (RBAC): Proving a "Viewer" cannot access "Admin" settings.
UI-Based Approvals: Documenting change management flows that happen inside Jira or proprietary tools.
Data Redaction: Proving that PII is masked in the application UI.
Non-Integrated Tools: Any third-party software that doesn't have a native Drata integration.

What specific SOC 2 controls require manual screenshots?

Auditors require "sufficient and appropriate" evidence. For application-level controls, this almost always means screenshots. Below are the primary controls that Drata users find themselves documenting manually:

Control ID	Control Name	Why Drata Misses It
CC6.1	Logical Access	Drata sees the user exists but doesn't see what they can do inside the UI.
CC6.7	Physical Access	Requires photos or logs of data center/office security that aren't API-accessible.
CC7.2	Change Management	Capturing the specific UI approval buttons and deployment logs in custom CI/CD.
CC8.1	Risk Assessment	Documenting manual vulnerability triaging within a security dashboard.
CC9.1	Business Continuity	Proving that a manual backup restoration test was successful via UI confirmation.

How does Screenata automate manual evidence collection?

Screenata acts as a "Sensor" for your GRC platform. It is an AI-powered workflow recorder that understands compliance intent. Instead of taking manual screenshots, cropping them, and pasting them into Word docs, you use Screenata to record the test once.

The Screenata Workflow

Launch the Extension: Open the Screenata browser extension within your application.
Select the Control: Choose the Drata control you are testing (e.g., CC6.1).
Perform the Test: Navigate through your app as a user would (e.g., attempting to access a restricted page).
AI Capture: Screenata automatically captures high-resolution screenshots, extracts metadata (URL, timestamps, user ID), and blurs PII.
Generate Evidence Pack: The system compiles a formatted PDF report and a ZIP file containing all artifacts.
Sync to Drata: The evidence is pushed via API or manual upload into the Drata evidence library.

Step-by-Step: Automating CC6.1 (Logical Access) for Drata

Control CC6.1 requires proof that access to protected information is restricted. Here is how to automate the evidence Drata cannot reach:

Step 1: Initialize the Session

Log into your application with a "test user" account that has restricted permissions. Launch Screenata and link the session to SOC 2 Control CC6.1.

Step 2: Record the "Denial" Path

Navigate to the /admin or /settings page. When the application displays an "Access Denied" or "403 Forbidden" message, Screenata detects the UI element and captures the screenshot automatically.

Step 3: Verify the Metadata

Screenata attaches the following to the capture:

Precise Timestamp: Synced with NTP servers.
URL: Proving the specific route attempted.
DOM Snapshot: Proving the HTML structure of the error message.

Step 4: Export to Drata

Click "Finalize." Screenata generates a PDF report titled CC6.1_Evidence_Logical_Access.pdf. You can then upload this directly to the Drata "Manual Evidence" section for that control.

Comparison: Manual Collection vs. Screenata Automation

Metric	Manual Screenshot Process	Screenata + Drata Automation
Time per Control	45–60 minutes	3–5 minutes
Evidence Quality	Inconsistent, blurry, lacks context	Professional, high-res, metadata-rich
PII Risk	High (Human must manually redact)	Low (AI-powered auto-redaction)
Audit Readiness	Requires manual formatting in Word	Instant PDF/ZIP Evidence Packs
Traceability	Relies on file names	Cryptographic timestamps and DOM logs

Why do auditors trust Screenata-generated evidence?

Auditors are increasingly skeptical of static screenshots because they are easy to manipulate. Screenata builds trust by providing a Verifiable Evidence Chain.

1. Cryptographic Timestamps

Every screenshot is hashed and timestamped at the moment of capture. This prevents "backdating" evidence—a common issue in manual audits where teams scramble to take screenshots the week before the auditor arrives.

2. Contextual Narratives

Screenata uses an LLM (Large Language Model) to write a narrative for each screenshot. Instead of an image with no caption, the auditor sees: "The user 'test_viewer' attempted to access the User Management portal at 14:02 UTC. The system successfully returned a 403 Forbidden response, as shown in Screenshot 2."

3. Environment Proof

Each evidence pack includes a manifest.json file. This machine-readable file contains the browser version, OS, IP address, and session ID, proving the test occurred in a real environment.

Integrating Screenata with your Drata Workspace

The most efficient compliance stack in 2025 combines Drata’s API monitoring with Screenata’s UI recording.

Direct API Sync (Coming Soon)

Screenata is developing a direct integration that allows you to map Screenata "Projects" to Drata "Controls." Once a workflow is recorded and approved by your internal security lead, it is automatically pushed into the Drata evidence locker for the corresponding period.

The "Manual Upload" Optimization

Currently, most users utilize Screenata to generate the Evidence Pack (a structured ZIP file). Instead of uploading 10 individual images to Drata, you upload a single, professional PDF that contains the entire test narrative. This reduces the auditor's review time by up to 70%.

Best Practices for Automating the "Last Mile"

To ensure your automated evidence is 100% audit-ready, follow these guidelines:

Use Test Accounts: Always perform UI-based evidence collection using dedicated test accounts (e.g., audit-viewer@company.com) rather than real employee accounts to minimize PII exposure.
Standardize Naming: Use a consistent naming convention for your evidence packs, such as [Year]_[Quarter]_[ControlID]_[Description].
Enable Redaction: Ensure Screenata's AI redaction is active to automatically blur sensitive data like API keys, emails, or customer names that might appear during the test.
Continuous Collection: Don't wait for the audit window. Set a recurring task to record your CC6.1 and CC7.2 workflows every month. This creates a "Continuous Compliance" trail that auditors love.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Screenata replace Drata?

No. Screenata and Drata are complementary. Drata is your GRC platform that manages your entire compliance posture and infrastructure. Screenata is the automation tool that handles the application-level evidence that Drata's APIs cannot reach.

How much time does Screenata save?

For a standard SOC 2 Type II audit involving 40 manual controls, Screenata typically saves between 40 and 80 hours of manual labor per audit cycle by eliminating the need for manual screenshotting, cropping, and report writing.

Can Screenata automate evidence for ISO 27001?

Yes. While many users focus on SOC 2, Screenata is framework-agnostic. You can map workflows to ISO 27001 Annex A controls, HIPAA safeguards, or CMMC practices just as easily as SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria.

Is the evidence accepted by "Big 4" auditors?

Yes. Auditors from firms like Deloitte, PwC, and specialized compliance firms (e.g., A-Lign, Schellman) accept Screenata evidence because it provides more metadata and better traceability than manual screenshots.

Key Takeaways

✅ Bridge the Gap: Drata automates infrastructure, but Screenata automates the application UI tests that Drata misses.
✅ Save 90% of Time: Transitioning from manual screenshots to automated workflow recording reduces documentation time from 60 minutes to 5 minutes per control.
✅ Enhance Audit Trust: Use verifiable metadata, cryptographic timestamps, and AI-generated narratives to provide superior evidence.
✅ Seamless Integration: Generate structured PDF evidence packs that are designed to be uploaded directly into Drata's manual evidence library.
✅ Continuous Compliance: Move away from "audit sprints" by recording workflows continuously throughout the year.

How to automate the manual evidence Drata misses