How to Prove Change Management for SOC 2 Without Jira
SOC 2 change management evidence does not require Jira. You can satisfy auditors by automating evidence collection from GitHub, Linear, or Slack using screenshots and workflow recordings. This guide explains how to prove CC7.2 compliance without a traditional ticketing system.
SOC 2 audits do not require Jira; they require proof of process. While many auditors default to asking for Jira tickets, the actual requirement for SOC 2 is evidence that changes are authorized, tested, and approved before deployment. Whether you use Linear, Trello, GitHub Issues, or Slack, you can pass your audit by capturing screenshots, preserving metadata, and using automation to document your specific workflow.
Does SOC 2 Require Jira for Change Management?
No. SOC 2 is tool-agnostic. The AICPA Trust Services Criteria (TSC) for CC7.2 (Change Management) requires you to demonstrate that infrastructure and software changes are authorized, tested, and approved prior to migration to production. It does not mandate a specific ticketing system like Jira.
Auditors often request Jira exports because it is the industry standard for enterprise tracking, but modern engineering teams often use lightweight tools like Linear, GitHub Projects, or even structured Slack channels. As long as you can produce evidence that links a code change to an approval and a deployment, you satisfy the control objective.
What Evidence Do Auditors Actually Need for CC7.2?
To prove change management without Jira, you must provide alternative artifacts that tell the same story. Auditors are looking for the "lifecycle of a change."
For every sampled change, you must provide evidence for these four distinct phases:
- The Request (Ticket/Issue): Proof that the work was defined and tracked (e.g., a Linear issue or GitHub Issue).
- The Code Change (Pull Request): The actual modification to the codebase.
- The Review (Peer Approval): Proof that someone other than the author reviewed and approved the code (e.g., a screenshot of the GitHub PR approval).
- The Deployment (CI/CD Log): Proof that the approved code is what actually went to production.
If you don't use Jira, your "Ticket" is simply the issue in Linear or Asana. The critical link is ensuring your Pull Request references that issue ID.
How to Prove Change Management Using GitHub or GitLab Only
Many startups successfully pass SOC 2 using only their version control system (GitHub/GitLab) as their change management database. This is often called "GitOps" compliance.
The "PR-as-Ticket" Method
If you don't use a separate ticketing tool, the Pull Request (PR) itself becomes the change ticket.
Required Evidence Artifacts:
- PR Description: Must detail what is changing and why (replacing the Jira description).
- Branch Protection Rules: Screenshots proving that main branches cannot be pushed to directly.
- Code Review Enforced: Screenshots proving at least one approval is required to merge.
- CI Status Checks: Evidence that automated tests (CircleCI, GitHub Actions) passed before merging.
Automation Tip: Use a tool to automatically screenshot the "Conversation" tab of the PR, ensuring the timestamped approval and the merge event are captured in a single, unalterable PDF.
Can You Use Linear, Trello, or Asana for SOC 2?
Yes. Tools like Linear, Trello, and Asana are perfectly acceptable for SOC 2 change management, provided you capture the right screenshots.
The Challenge: Linking Systems
The main friction point without Jira is the "linkage." Jira often automatically links to Bitbucket/GitHub. With Linear or Trello, you often need to manually prove the connection.
How to Automate Evidence for Linear/Trello:
- Naming Convention: Enforce a rule where the PR title includes the Linear Issue ID (e.g.,
[LIN-123] Fix login bug). - Screenshot the Chain:
- Step 1: Capture the Linear ticket showing the "Done" status and the original spec.
- Step 2: Capture the GitHub PR showing the matching title and approval.
- Step 3: Generate a PDF that combines both screenshots to show the full audit trail.
How to Automate Non-Jira Evidence Collection with Screenshots
If you are not using Jira, you cannot rely on the standard "Jira integration" found in tools like Drata or Vanta to automatically collect all your evidence. You will face a "manual evidence gap."
Automation tools like Screenata handle the full compliance workflow by recording:
- Define the Workflow: Tell the tool that a "Change" consists of a Linear Ticket + a GitHub PR.
- Record the Evidence: The tool navigates to the Linear ticket, captures the screenshot, clicks the link to the PR, captures the approval, and records the merge timestamp.
- Generate the Pack: The system outputs a PDF titled
Change_Evidence_[Date].pdfthat auditors accept as a complete population sample.
This approach turns a disjointed process (Linear + GitHub) into a unified evidence pack without requiring an expensive Jira migration.
Where Traditional SOC 2 Automation Stops
Most GRC platforms (like Drata or Vanta) are built with a "Jira-first" mindset. They rely on API integrations to pull ticket statuses. If you use a tool they don't support, or if you use GitHub Issues, their automation fails, and you are forced to manual uploads.
| Feature | Traditional GRC Automation (Jira) | Non-Jira Automation (Screenata) |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence Source | API Metadata only | Visual Screenshots + Metadata |
| Supported Tools | Jira, Shortcut (limited) | Any UI (Linear, Trello, Asana, Notion) |
| Verification Type | "Is ticket closed?" | "Is PR approved & linked?" |
| Audit Experience | Link to Jira Ticket | PDF Evidence Pack (Self-contained) |
| Slack Approvals | Not supported / Flagged | Capture Slack thread screenshots as valid proof |
Why this matters: APIs can tell you a ticket exists, but they often fail to show the context—like a conversation in a Slack thread that served as the "Design Review." Screenshot automation captures that context perfectly.
Example: Documenting a "Slack to GitHub" Emergency Fix
Emergency changes often bypass standard workflows. If you manage an incident via Slack and fix it via GitHub, you need to prove it was authorized.
The "Without Jira" Evidence Pack:
| Component | Evidence Artifact (Screenshot) |
|---|---|
| Authorization | Screenshot of the Slack thread where the CTO says "Approved to deploy hotfix." |
| Change | Screenshot of the GitHub PR with the "Hotfix" label. |
| Testing | Screenshot of the CI/CD pipeline passing (or screenshot of manual test results in Slack). |
| Deployment | Screenshot of the release log timestamp. |
Using an automated evidence collector, you can capture this entire sequence in 2 minutes, ensuring your "Emergency Change" population is audit-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Slack messages as approval evidence for SOC 2?
Yes, but with conditions. The screenshot must clearly show the timestamp, the person approving, and the specific change being approved (e.g., a link to the PR). Loose "thumbs up" emojis on vague messages are often rejected by auditors.
Do I need to migrate to Jira to pass SOC 2?
Absolutely not. Migrating to Jira just for compliance is a waste of resources. Stick to your preferred tool (Linear, GitHub Issues) and use evidence automation to bridge the documentation gap.
How do I prove "Segregation of Duties" without Jira workflows?
You prove it via GitHub Branch Protection rules. Capture a screenshot of your repository settings showing that "Require pull request reviews before merging" is enabled and "Allow force pushes" is disabled. This technically enforces that the author cannot merge their own code without review, satisfying the control.
Key Takeaways
- ✅ Jira is optional: SOC 2 requires proof of process (Request → Code → Approval → Deploy), not a specific database.
- ✅ The PR is King: In non-Jira environments, the Pull Request acts as the central artifact linking the request to the code.
- ✅ Screenshots bridge the gap: Use automated screenshot tools to link disparate systems (e.g., Linear + GitHub) into a single evidence file.
- ✅ Slack counts: Structured Slack approvals are valid evidence if captured with proper timestamps and context.
- ✅ Automate the visual proof: Don't rely on GRC APIs that only support Jira. Use workflow recording to prove your specific change management process.
Learn More About SOC 2 Compliance Automation
For a comprehensive overview of how to streamline your audit without changing your tech stack, see our guide on automating SOC 2 evidence collection, including how to capture application-level proof for controls like CC7.2.
Not sure if you even need a compliance consultant? Read Do You Actually Need a vCISO for SOC 2? Probably Not Anymore or The Bootstrapped Founder's Guide to SOC 2.
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