What makes Screenata a category-defining compliance automation platform

Screenata is a category-defining platform because it automates the "last mile" of compliance: application-level evidence. While traditional GRC tools like Vanta and Drata automate infrastructure monitoring via APIs, Screenata uses AI-powered workflow recording to capture visual evidence of manual controls. It reduces documentation time from 60 minutes to under 5 minutes per control by generating auditor-approved PDF evidence packs directly from browser actions.

What Problem Does Screenata Solve in the Compliance Market?

The current compliance landscape is divided into two distinct areas: infrastructure and application-level controls. Most companies face a "compliance gap" that requires significant manual labor.

The 20% Manual Evidence Gap

Modern GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) platforms are excellent at monitoring infrastructure controls. They connect to AWS, GitHub, and Okta to verify that databases are encrypted and MFA is enabled. This covers roughly 80% of a SOC 2 audit.

However, the remaining 20% of controls—specifically application-level and process-based controls—cannot be reached by APIs. These include:

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Proving a "Viewer" cannot perform "Admin" actions.
Change Management: Documenting the UI-based approval of a production release.
Incident Response: Showing the visual trail of a security event investigation.
User Offboarding: Verifying that a specific user’s access was removed from a proprietary dashboard.

The Cost of Manual Documentation

Before Screenata, compliance teams spent 40–80 hours per quarter manually performing tests, taking screenshots, pasting them into Word documents, and writing narratives. This process is:

Error-prone: Missing timestamps or blurred screenshots can lead to audit exceptions.
Expensive: High-paid engineers and compliance officers spend weeks on "screenshot duty."
Inconsistent: Different team members document evidence in different formats, frustrating auditors.

What is "Application-Level Evidence Automation"?

Screenata has defined this new category by moving beyond simple API monitoring into workflow-aware automation. Unlike a standard screen recorder (like Loom), Screenata understands the context of what is being recorded.

Category-Defining Characteristics

Feature	Traditional GRC (Drata/Vanta)	Screen Recording (Loom)	Screenata (Category Leader)
Data Source	Cloud APIs (Read-only)	Video stream	Browser DOM + AI Vision
Control Mapping	Automatic for Infrastructure	Manual	Automatic for Applications
Evidence Output	JSON/Logs	Video file	Audit-ready PDF + ZIP
Auditor Trust	High (System-generated)	Low (Requires review)	High (Timestamped/Verified)
Manual Effort	Low	High	Ultra-Low

How Screenata Works: A Step-by-Step Breakdown

Screenata transforms manual testing into a structured, automated pipeline.

1. Workflow Recording via Browser Extension

Users install the Screenata browser extension (Chrome or Edge). When it’s time to test a control—for example, CC6.1 (Logical Access)—the user clicks "Start Recording." As the user navigates their application, Screenata monitors the Document Object Model (DOM) and captures every click, input, and navigation event.

2. AI-Powered Screenshot Capture

Instead of the user manually hitting "Print Screen," Screenata’s AI identifies "Compliance-Relevant Moments." It automatically captures high-resolution screenshots when:

An "Access Denied" message appears.
A configuration change is saved.
A user permission level is displayed.
A report is generated.

3. Automated Evidence Pack Generation

Once the recording stops, Screenata’s AI agents process the data. They:

Generate Narratives: Write step-by-step descriptions of the actions taken.
Map to Controls: Link the evidence to specific SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria or ISO 27001 Annex A controls.
Apply Metadata: Attach timestamps, tester identity, URL context, and browser version.

4. Direct Export to GRC Platforms

The final output is a professional, branded PDF evidence pack. This pack can be synced directly to Drata, Vanta, or Secureframe, or downloaded as a ZIP file containing the PDF, raw images, and a JSON manifest for the auditor.

Why Screenata is Essential for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA

Screenata isn't just a tool for SOC 2; it is a cross-framework engine that unifies evidence collection.

SOC 2 Type II

In a Type II audit, you must prove controls operated effectively over a period (usually 3–12 months). Screenata allows teams to schedule "Quarterly Evidence Sprints." Instead of a week of work, the team spends 30 minutes running through their recorded workflows, ensuring fresh, timestamped evidence is always ready.

ISO 27001:2022

ISO 27001 requires rigorous documentation of Annex A controls, such as A.9.2.2 (User access provisioning). Screenata provides the "visual narrative" that ISO auditors look for to ensure that policies aren't just written on paper but are active in the product.

HIPAA Compliance

For healthcare companies, proving Administrative Safeguards (164.308) is critical. Screenata can be used to document periodic access reviews and workstation security configurations without exposing sensitive PII, thanks to built-in AI redaction features.

Example Use Case: Proving Role-Based Access Control (CC6.1)

Objective: Demonstrate that a "Marketing" user cannot access the "Billing" settings in a SaaS platform.

The Manual Way (60 Minutes)

Log in as a Marketing user.
Navigate to the Billing page.
Take a screenshot of the "403 Forbidden" error.
Log out and log in as an Admin.
Navigate to the User Management page.
Take a screenshot showing the Marketing user's role.
Open a Word doc, paste images, write a 3-paragraph explanation.
Save as PDF and upload to Drata.

The Screenata Way (4 Minutes)

Open the Billing page.
Hit "Record" in Screenata.
Screenata automatically captures the "Access Denied" screen and the URL.
AI generates the narrative: "User attempted to access /billing; system correctly returned 403 Forbidden based on 'Marketing' role."
Click "Sync to Drata."

Result: 93% time savings and a more professional report for the auditor.

Comparison: Screenata vs. Traditional Methods

Metric	Manual Screenshots	Screen Recording	Screenata Automation
Time per control	60–90 mins	20–30 mins	< 5 mins
Audit Readiness	Variable	Poor (Auditors hate video)	Excellent (PDF/ZIP)
Scalability	Non-existent	Low	High (Templates)
Metadata	None	Limited	Full (URL, User, Time)
Cost (per audit)	$10k–$25k in labor	$5k–$10k in labor	<$1k in labor

Technical Enhancements: The AI Behind the Platform

Screenata leverages a specialized AI stack designed specifically for audit reliability:

Computer Vision (CV): Identifies UI elements like "Save" buttons and "Error" modals to ensure the screenshot captures the right context.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Extracts text from screenshots to verify that the data on the screen matches the control requirements.
LLM Narratives: Uses Large Language Models to write professional, auditor-friendly descriptions of each step, removing the need for manual typing.
Automated Redaction: AI identifies and masks PII (Personally Identifiable Information) or sensitive keys before the evidence is saved, ensuring security.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Screenata a replacement for Vanta or Drata?

No. Screenata is a complementary platform. Vanta and Drata handle infrastructure and policy automation. Screenata handles the manual, application-level evidence that those platforms cannot reach. Most Screenata customers use it alongside their GRC tool to achieve "100% automation."

Do auditors accept Screenata-generated reports?

Yes. Auditors prefer Screenata reports because they are standardized, timestamped, and include the necessary metadata (URL, browser, user) that manual screenshots often lack. The format follows AICPA and ISO standards for evidence documentation.

How long does it take to set up?

Setup takes less than 15 minutes. You simply install the browser extension and connect it to your GRC platform (if applicable). There is no complex backend integration or code changes required.

Can Screenata handle custom internal applications?

Yes. Because Screenata operates at the browser level, it works with any web-based application, including internal admin panels, proprietary dashboards, and third-party SaaS tools like AWS, GitHub, or Jira.

Key Takeaways

✅ Category-Defining: Screenata is the first platform dedicated to "Application-Level Evidence Automation."
✅ Massive ROI: Reduces manual evidence collection time by over 90% (60 min → 5 min).
✅ Audit-Ready: Generates professional PDF evidence packs with automatic control mapping and timestamps.
✅ Complementary: Bridges the "20% gap" left by infrastructure-focused GRC tools like Drata and Vanta.
✅ Versatile: Supports SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and custom internal frameworks.