Is Drata Enough to Automate SOC 2 Compliance Completely?

No, Drata is not enough to automate SOC 2 compliance completely. Drata automates 80% of SOC 2 evidence collection through API integrations (AWS, Okta, GitHub, HRIS) but cannot capture application screenshots or manual workflow evidence. SOC 2 auditors require screenshots for application-level controls like CC6.1 (logical access), CC7.2 (change management), and CC8.1 (system operations)—leaving 40–80 hours of manual screenshot collection per audit. To automate SOC 2 evidence completely, organizations use screenshot automation tools alongside Drata to capture the 20% that APIs cannot reach.

Why Can't Drata Automate SOC 2 Completely?

In 2026, the term "compliance automation" is often misunderstood. Most organizations purchase Drata or Vanta expecting a "set it and forget it" solution. However, SOC 2 Type II audits require proof of operating effectiveness over a period of time.

Drata excels at Infrastructure Automation. It connects to your AWS, GitHub, Okta, and Rippling accounts to verify that databases are encrypted, MFA is on, and employees have signed their policies. But Drata is limited by what its APIs can "see." If a control requires a human to log into a custom dashboard to verify a setting that isn't exposed via API, Drata marks that control as "Manual."

The "20% Manual Gap" Explained

The "Manual Gap" refers to the specific Trust Services Criteria (TSC) that require visual or process-based evidence. For most SaaS companies, this includes:

CC6.1 (Logical Access): Proving that a "Viewer" role cannot access the "Admin" settings in your proprietary app.
CC7.2 (Change Management): Visually documenting that a specific emergency patch was approved by the CTO before deployment.
CC8.1 (System Operations): Capturing proof that internal monitoring dashboards are being reviewed by the security team.

What Does Drata Automate vs. What Stays Manual?

To understand why you need more than just Drata, it is helpful to look at the breakdown of a typical SOC 2 audit.

Compliance Area	Automated by Drata?	How it Works	The Missing Piece
Cloud Infrastructure	✅ Yes	API connection to AWS/Azure/GCP	Deep configuration settings not in API
Personnel/HR	✅ Yes	Integration with Rippling/Gusto/Okta	Manual offboarding of legacy systems
Policy Management	✅ Yes	Internal document editor & tracking	Proving policies are followed in-app
Endpoint Security	✅ Yes	MDM integrations (Jamf/Kandji)	Non-standard device verification
Application UI Controls	❌ No	Requires manual upload	UI-based permission testing (CC6.1)
Workflow Processes	❌ No	Requires manual upload	Change approval visual proof (CC7.2)

Why Can't Drata APIs Capture Screenshot Evidence?

The fundamental reason Drata cannot automate SOC 2 end-to-end is the API Limitation.

APIs are designed for data exchange between systems, not for observing human-to-computer interactions. Most proprietary SaaS applications do not build comprehensive "Compliance APIs" that allow Drata to query internal permission states or historical UI configurations.

The Problem with "Point-in-Time" API Checks

An API might tell Drata that a user has a "Role ID: 4." But an auditor doesn't care about the ID; they want to see that "Role ID: 4" actually restricts access to the credit card processing screen. Since Drata cannot "look" at your screen, a human must manually:

Log in as a user with Role ID 4.
Navigate to the restricted page.
Take a screenshot of the "Access Denied" message.
Upload that screenshot to Drata.

This process takes 40–80 hours per quarter for a mid-sized company. This is the manual burden that Screenata eliminates.

How Do You Achieve 100% SOC 2 Automation with Drata?

Screenata is an AI-powered evidence capture agent designed to work with Drata. While Drata acts as the "Operating System" for your compliance, Screenata acts as the "Visual Sensor."

Step-by-Step: Achieving 100% Automation

Identify Gaps in Drata: Drata’s dashboard will show "Manual Evidence" requests for controls like CC6.1 or CC7.2.
Launch Screenata: Instead of taking manual screenshots, you open the Screenata browser extension.
Perform the Test: You (or an AI agent) perform the control test once. For example, you navigate through your app to show that MFA is required for all users.
AI Evidence Generation: Screenata records the interaction, uses OCR to extract relevant text, blurs PII, and generates a structured, timestamped PDF report.
Sync to Drata: The generated "Evidence Pack" is automatically uploaded to the corresponding Drata control via API.

Example: How to Automate SOC 2 Control CC6.1 with Drata

Control CC6.1 is one of the most common "manual" hurdles in a SOC 2 audit. It requires the organization to demonstrate that access to protected information is restricted to authorized users.

The Drata-Only Approach (Manual)

Step 1: Compliance manager asks a developer to take screenshots of the user permission table.
Step 2: Developer takes 5 screenshots, blurs some emails in Photoshop, and saves them as image1.png.
Step 3: Manager creates a Word doc, pastes the images, and adds a narrative: "This proves user X can't see the DB."
Step 4: Manager uploads the Word doc to Drata.
Total Time: 45 minutes per test.

The Drata + Screenata Approach (Automated)

Step 1: Open Screenata and select "CC6.1 Logical Access Test."
Step 2: Click through the app. Screenata’s AI identifies the "Role" labels and "Access Denied" headers automatically.
Step 3: Screenata generates a 5-page, audit-ready PDF with cryptographic timestamps and tester metadata.
Step 4: The PDF is instantly pushed to Drata.
Total Time: 3 minutes per test.

How Much Time Does 100% SOC 2 Automation Save?

Moving from "80% automated" (Drata alone) to "100% automated" (Drata + Screenata) has a massive impact on the bottom line of a security team.

Metric	Drata Only (Manual Gap)	Drata + Screenata (End-to-End)
Prep Time per Quarter	60+ Hours	< 5 Hours
Evidence Quality	Inconsistent (Human Error)	Standardized (Machine Generated)
Auditor Review Time	2-3 Weeks	3-5 Days
Risk of "Gap" Discovery	High (Missing Screenshots)	Low (Continuous Capture)
Cost of Compliance	$$$ (High Labor Cost)	$ (Subscription Based)

Best Practices for End-to-End SOC 2 Automation

To ensure your audit is as seamless as possible in 2026, follow these three best practices:

1. Map Your "Manual" Controls Early

Don't wait until the audit window opens. Go into your Drata dashboard and filter by "Evidence Source: Manual." These are the controls that will cause the most stress. Map these controls to Screenata workflows immediately.

2. Use Verifiable Metadata

Auditors are increasingly skeptical of static screenshots that can be edited. Ensure your evidence capture tool (Screenata) includes verifiable metadata, such as NTP-synced timestamps and DOM snapshots. This makes the evidence "self-proving" and reduces the number of follow-up questions from your auditor.

3. Implement "Compliance Crons"

Instead of collecting evidence once a year, set up automated schedules. Use Screenata to record a "Logical Access" check every month. This ensures that if a developer accidentally breaks a permission setting, you have a record of when it happened and when it was fixed, turning a potential "Audit Fail" into a "Self-Corrected Observation."

Frequently Asked Questions About Drata and Complete SOC 2 Automation

Is Drata enough for SOC 2 compliance?

Yes, Drata is enough to achieve SOC 2 compliance, but you'll spend 40–80 hours per quarter on manual screenshot collection. Drata automates 80% of SOC 2 evidence through APIs but marks application controls as "Manual Tasks" requiring screenshots.

What SOC 2 evidence does Drata not automate?

Drata cannot automate SOC 2 evidence requiring screenshots: application UI testing (CC6.1), workflow approvals (CC7.2), vulnerability dashboards (CC8.1), custom internal tools, and any control requiring visual proof of application behavior.

How do you automate the remaining 20% of SOC 2 evidence?

Use screenshot automation tools that record application workflows and generate audit-ready evidence packs. These tools sync to Drata, moving "Manual Tasks" to "Completed" status automatically.

Does Drata have built-in screenshot automation?

No. Drata's "Autopilot" captures some cloud configuration screenshots via API, but it cannot log into your application or record custom UI workflows. Application screenshot evidence requires dedicated automation tools.

How much time does screenshot automation save for SOC 2?

Screenshot automation reduces manual evidence collection from 40–80 hours to under 5 hours per SOC 2 audit cycle—a 90%+ time savings on the 20% of controls Drata cannot automate.

Key Takeaways

✅ Drata is not enough for 100% automation: It leaves a 20% gap in application-level and process-based controls.
✅ The Gap is expensive: Manual screenshotting and formatting take 40–80 hours per quarter.
✅ APIs have limits: Drata cannot "see" your UI, so it cannot prove that your internal permissions actually work.
✅ Screenata is the "Last Mile" solution: It captures the visual evidence that APIs miss and pushes it directly into Drata.
✅ Auditors prefer AI-generated evidence: Structured "Evidence Packs" with verifiable metadata reduce audit friction and increase trust.

Learn More About SOC 2 Automation

For a complete guide to automating SOC 2 evidence collection with both Drata and screenshot automation tools, see our comprehensive SOC 2 automation guide covering platform capabilities, implementation strategies, and achieving 100% automation.