How to Automate Manual SOC 2 Evidence Drata Can't Capture

You can automate manual SOC 2 evidence that Drata misses by using screenshot automation tools to capture application-level workflows. While Drata automates infrastructure monitoring via APIs (AWS, GitHub, Okta), it cannot capture screenshots of your application UI or document manual workflows. For SOC 2 controls like CC6.1 (logical access), CC7.2 (change management), and CC8.1 (vulnerability management) that require visual evidence, screenshot automation eliminates 40–80 hours of manual work per audit by automatically generating timestamped evidence packs that sync to Drata.

Why Does Drata Leave a 20% Manual Gap in SOC 2 Evidence Collection?

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.

Which SOC 2 Controls Require Screenshots That Drata Can't Automate?

SOC 2 auditors require "sufficient and appropriate" visual evidence for application-level controls. Drata cannot capture screenshots for these controls, leaving them as "Manual Tasks" in your dashboard:

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 Do You Automate Screenshot Evidence Collection for Drata?

Screenata automates both infrastructure and application evidence collection. Instead of manually taking screenshots, cropping them, and formatting PDFs, you record the control test once. AI-powered workflow recording automatically captures screenshots, generates descriptions, and creates audit-ready evidence packs. Screenata also reads your codebase, writes your policies, and maps controls to Trust Services Criteria--replacing both the compliance platform and the consultant.

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?

For most startups, yes. Screenata is an AI compliance officer + platform that handles both infrastructure and application evidence, writes your SOC 2 policies from your actual codebase, maps controls to Trust Services Criteria, and guides you to audit readiness. You do not need Drata plus a consultant--Screenata replaces both. If you already have Drata, Screenata can also work alongside it to fill the application evidence gap. See Do You Actually Need a vCISO for SOC 2?

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

✅ Screenata is a complete alternative: It handles both infrastructure and application evidence, writes policies from your codebase, and acts as your AI compliance officer.
✅ 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.
✅ No vCISO needed: Screenata replaces both the platform and the consultant. Total cost of $15.5K-$24K vs $51K-$110K+ with a traditional platform + consultant.
✅ Continuous Compliance: Move away from "audit sprints" by recording workflows continuously throughout the year.

Learn More About SOC 2 Automation

The Bootstrapped Founder's Guide to SOC 2 -- full cost breakdown and what to expect
Do You Actually Need a vCISO for SOC 2? -- why most startups do not need a consultant anymore
Why ChatGPT SOC 2 Policies Fail Audits -- what auditors actually want in your policies
How to Automate SOC 2 Evidence Collection -- comprehensive SOC 2 automation guide