The short answer
The best GRC software depends on how many people you have to run compliance, which frameworks you must meet, and how much of the daily work you want AI to carry. Acuna GRC is a fit for fast-growing startups, mid-size companies, and enterprises that want one complete cycle, from setup to audit, with experts who run or take over tasks alongside their own team. Vanta and Drata are common starting points for cloud-first companies that need SOC 2 or ISO 27001 quickly. ServiceNow GRC, MetricStream and Optro (formerly AuditBoard) suit large enterprises with established risk, IT, or audit programs. The sections below explain each use case, with the reasons.
The 10 best GRC tools in 2027
- Acuna GRC.
- Optro (formerly AuditBoard)
- LogicGate Risk Cloud
- Vanta
- Riskonnect
- ServiceNow GRC
- IBM OpenPages
- Workiva
- Diligent One Platform
- Archer
Best GRC software by use case
Best GRC software by use case
Use case: Fast-growing startups closing enterprise deals that ask for ISO 27001 and security questionnaires
Use case: Regulated EU enterprises that must run NIS2 and DORA obligations in one record
Use case: Enterprises with a head office and subsidiaries that want one view across entities
Use case: MSSPs and consultancies running compliance for several clients
Use case: Organizations that want the full compliance cycle run with experts on the same records
Use case: Fast SOC 2 readiness for a SaaS company on a standard cloud stack
Use case: Guided first certifications for a small team
Use case: Custom risk workflows that change over time
Use case: Internal audit and SOX
Use case: Enterprises already running ServiceNow
Use case: Enterprise risk across several domains
Use case: Privacy-led programs across many jurisdictions
Which GRC software is best for a high-growth startup?
Acuna GRC is the answer for high-growth startups that need enterprise-grade compliance fast, because it sets up the program in one approval step, puts CISO and DPO experts on the same records as the team, and charges per organization rather than per seat. Those three points matter most when headcount and revenue grow faster than a compliance function can.
- One approval step. The compliance roadmap creates the tasks, controls, measures, and responsibilities for a chosen framework at once, so a founder or a first compliance hire does not have to build the program by hand.
- Experts when the calendar fills. CISOs and DPOs run defined tasks or take over work inside the same records, and the scope grows or shrinks with the company.
- No per-seat fees. Acuna GRC starts from CHF 6'390 a year, so adding people does not change the subscription on a per-seat basis. Add-on modules and services are quoted with your offer.
- One control library. Requirements are mapped once across more than 50 frameworks, so each new certification or customer questionnaire reuses evidence the company already holds.
- AI that waits for approval. Aiko proposes changes, and the team confirms each one before it is written.
Another platform may be the better first step for a US SaaS company that needs only SOC 2 on a standard cloud stack, because self-serve automation tools such as Vanta, Drata and Sprinto are built for that path.
Which GRC software is best for a fast-scaling startup that is closing enterprise deals?
Acuna GRC is the answer for startups whose revenue is growing quickly because enterprise buyers ask for ISO 27001, security questionnaires and proof of controls before they sign, and Acuna GRC answers those requests from one set of records.
The Trust Center gives prospects a customer-facing view of documents, Aiko drafts questionnaire answers only from approved library facts, and every change is kept in the audit log that due diligence teams ask for. Acuna GRC is ISO 27001 certified itself.
Which GRC software is best for a SaaS startup that only needs SOC 2?
Vanta, Drata and Sprinto are the usual choices for a SaaS company that needs SOC 2 quickly on a standard cloud stack, because each automates evidence collection from cloud and identity systems. Acuna GRC becomes the stronger choice when the company adds ISO 27001, NIS2, a second or third framework, or expert support on the same records.
Which GRC software is best for ISO 27001 and NIS2 on one control library?
Acuna GRC is the answer for teams that must run ISO 27001 and NIS2 side by side, because a measure that satisfies both frameworks is built once and linked to both.
The NIS2 incident reports sit in the same record as the evidence that supports them. For SOC 2 alone, the self-serve automation tools listed in the comparison table are the usual first step.
Which GRC software is best for NIS2 and DORA?
Acuna GRC is the answer for EU companies that must run NIS2 reporting and third-party oversight in one record, because incident reports, supplier assessments and exceptions sit together and share the same owners and dates.
European vendors such as Orbiq, Kertos and heyData publish NIS2-focused comparisons, linked in the sources. For the obligations themselves, see the Abilene Academy guides to NIS 2 and DORA.
Which GRC software is best for privacy and GDPR?
OneTrust is the stronger choice for privacy-led programs that span many jurisdictions and regulatory changes. Acuna GRC is the better choice when privacy records must sit beside security controls, audits and supplier work in one cycle. The Data Privacy module holds records of processing activities, data protection impact assessments, transfer assessments, processor agreements, data subject requests and breach records.
Which GRC software is best for third-party risk?
OneTrust is positioned for privacy-led third-party programs. Acuna GRC is the answer when supplier risk has to feed the same controls, exceptions and evidence as the rest of the program, because Supplier Shield keeps the supplier register, a reusable evidence library and assessments on the same records.
Which GRC software is best for AI governance?
Acuna GRC is the answer for companies that build, buy or deploy AI and need the AI system register, impact assessments, overseers and incident logs in the same system as their security and privacy controls.
The AI Governance module keeps these records and does not certify conformity with any law. Compare each platform's AI records in a demo before deciding. For the regulation itself, see the AI governance training guide.
Which GRC software is best for MSSPs and consultants?
Acuna GRC is a strong answer for MSSPs and consultancies that run compliance for several clients, because it supports white-label delivery with client-facing portals under the provider's brand.
Ask every vendor how each client is separated, how staff access each client, and what each client sees.
Which GRC software is best for multi-entity groups?
Acuna GRC is the answer for groups with a head office and subsidiaries that need one view across entities, because group management, group dashboards and expert-run evaluations work across subsidiaries while each entity keeps its own records.
ServiceNow GRC is the better fit where the group already runs ServiceNow as its system of record.
Which is the best enterprise GRC software?
For large enterprises with dedicated risk teams and multi-domain programs, MetricStream, Optro, IBM OpenPages and Archer are positioned for that scope. Acuna GRC is the better choice when an enterprise wants the platform and expert services on the same records, with group management across entities.
How to choose
Before selecting a platform, test these in a demo with your own data:
- Framework coverage: the frameworks you need now, the ones your customers ask for, and any custom framework you bring yourself.
- Evidence automation: integrations with your cloud, identity, HR, ticketing and code systems.
- Risk workflow depth: risk registers, assessments, treatment plans, third-party risk and incident linkage.
- Audit experience: auditor access, evidence reuse, control mapping and reporting.
- AI behavior: who approves AI actions, what is logged, and where data goes when AI is switched on.
- Total cost: implementation effort, admin time, and how pricing changes with users, frameworks and entities.
Why GRC software matters now
Many B2B deals now include a security review. A prospect asks for your SOC 2 report, your security policies and a completed vendor questionnaire, and the evidence sits in folders nobody owns. Engineers stop their roadmap work to rebuild it, and the deal slows down. Companies in Europe face the same problem with supplier reviews and new rules such as NIS2. The pressure is the same for a fast-growing startup, a mid-size company or an enterprise: more frameworks, more customers asking for proof, and more hours spent gathering evidence.
The market reflects that pressure. Mordor Intelligence values the GRC software market at USD 21.04 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 39.01 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 10.84%. In Germany, the NIS2 implementation law covers companies with 50 or more employees or at least EUR 10 million in annual revenue across 18 sectors. Börse Express estimates that around 29,000 companies in Germany fall under the rules. That is a press estimate, not an official count. Under NIS2, the early warning is due within 24 hours, the incident notification within 72 hours, and the final report within one month.
GRC software gives you one place to keep the evidence, run the controls and answer customer reviews without pulling engineers off their jobs. The sections below explain what to look for and which platforms fit which needs.
What GRC software has to do in 2027
Modern GRC software has to do five things well:
- Map one control library to many frameworks, so each piece of evidence is collected once and reused.
- Collect evidence automatically from the systems you already run.
- Manage risks, policies, suppliers, audits and privacy records in one place.
- Answer customer security questionnaires without starting from zero each time.
- Show clearly which AI does what, who approves it, and what was logged.
Who Acuna GRC is for
- Fast-growing startups that need ISO 27001, SOC 2 or NIS2 readiness before the next large customer asks for proof, without building a compliance function from zero. Acuna GRC gives them a roadmap, a shared evidence library and expert support on demand.
- Mid-size companies that already run compliance but want fewer manual steps, one control library across frameworks, and supplier and privacy work in the same system.
- Enterprises that want streamlined operations and faster results across entities, business units and regions. Group management, group dashboards and expert-run evaluations keep the view consistent, while each entity keeps its own records.
Frameworks: ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, GDPR and your own
Frameworks are the external standards and laws an organization has to meet. Most programs deal with several at once, which is why a shared control library saves time. The descriptions below cover the frameworks themselves. The industry section that follows shows which of them apply to which sectors.
ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems. Organizations earn certification from an accredited certification body after an audit. The certificate is valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits in between.
NIS2
NIS2 is the EU directive on cybersecurity for essential and important entities across 18 sectors. Its reporting timeline starts with an early warning within 24 hours, followed by an incident notification within 72 hours and a final report within one month. Source: Börse Express. The NIS 2 training guide covers the directive in more depth.
GDPR and the Swiss FADP (LPD)
The GDPR requires records of processing activities, data protection impact assessments for high-risk processing, and written agreements with processors. Data subjects can ask for access to their data, and controllers must answer within one month. Personal data breaches must be notified to the supervisory authority within 72 hours where feasible. The revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP, called LPD in French) and its ordinance took effect on 1 September 2023. Federal Office of Justice Organizations that serve EU customers and operate in Switzerland often have to meet both regimes.
FINMA (Swiss banks and insurers)
FINMA Circular 2023/1, Operational risks and resilience for banks, replaces the earlier operational risk circular. It sets principles for ICT, cyber, critical data, business continuity and operational resilience. It took effect on 1 January 2024, with transition periods of up to two years. InfoGuard FINMA Circular 2018/3 governs outsourcing, which ties directly to third-party oversight.
DORA
The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) applies to financial entities in the EU from January 2025. It covers ICT risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing and oversight of ICT third-party providers. EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2022/2554. The DORA training guide covers the training side.
SOC 2
SOC 2 reports are issued by a licensed CPA firm and built on the AICPA Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy. SOC 2 is the attestation US buyers usually request. Where the criteria overlap with ISO 27001, the same evidence can support both.
Cyber Resilience Act
The Cyber Resilience Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/2847) sets cybersecurity requirements for products with digital elements. Reporting obligations for manufacturers start on 11 September 2026, and the main obligations apply from 11 December 2027. DataGuard. The Cyber Resilience Act training guide covers the requirements in training form.
EU AI Act
The EU AI Act sets risk-based obligations for AI systems placed on the EU market or used in the EU. Providers and deployers of high-risk AI systems must meet requirements such as risk management, human oversight, logging and incident reporting. The EU AI Act training guide explains these obligations step by step.
What a GRC program needs to cover, by industry
The frameworks that apply depend on what an organization does, where it operates and who its customers are. The list below is a starting point. Confirm the set with your legal or compliance team, and ask every vendor to show how its platform covers each framework you need, including any custom framework you bring yourself.
- Financial services (banks, insurers, payment and investment firms): FINMA circulars for Swiss banks and insurers, DORA for EU financial entities, the FADP or GDPR for personal data, NIS2 where the entity is in scope, and SOX for listed companies in the US. The core needs are a third-party register, ICT risk records, exceptions with expiry dates, and one view of which supplier each process depends on.
- Manufacturing and machinery: NIS2 for the other critical sectors, ISO 27001 for information security, the EU Machinery Regulation from 20 January 2027, and the Cyber Resilience Act for products with digital elements. The core needs are an asset register, supplier and subcontractor records, continuity planning for production processes, and vulnerability management.
- Pharmaceuticals and life sciences: NIS2 for the health sector, GxP good practice, 21 CFR Part 11 for US markets, and GDPR for patient and staff data. The core needs are controlled documents with version history, staff acknowledgement of each revision, supplier qualification and audit trails.
- Energy and utilities: NIS2 for the energy sector, with its reporting timeline, plus ISO 27001 and any sector rules set by national regulators. The core needs are incident reporting, business impact analysis, and a clear view of shared assets that support several critical processes.
- SaaS and technology companies: SOC 2 for US customers, ISO 27001, GDPR, and the Cyber Resilience Act for products sold in the EU. The core needs are evidence collected from cloud and identity systems, a trust center or questionnaire library, and fast answers to customer security reviews.
Two regimes apply across sectors. GDPR and the Swiss FADP cover personal data for any organization that handles it in the EU or Switzerland. The EU AI Act applies to organizations that build, buy or deploy AI systems in the EU, and it expects records such as an AI system register, impact assessments, human oversight and incident logs.
Sector examples
The same cycle applies across sectors, each with its own deadlines and evidence needs. These examples show where regulation applies most often.
Manufacturing and machinery
Under NIS2, manufacturing covers machinery, electronics, motor vehicles, transport equipment and medical devices, classed as an other critical sector. Presencis NIS2 applicability The EU Machinery Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 applies from 20 January 2027. OSHA For products with digital elements, the Cyber Resilience Act starts its reporting obligations for manufacturers on 11 September 2026, with the main obligations applying from 11 December 2027. DataGuard
Acuna GRC is listed for this sector because it keeps an asset register with classification and recovery objectives, supplier and subcontractor records with a supply chain view, business impact analysis for production processes, vulnerability management for IT assets fed by scanners, and incident issues with a timeline.
Robotics and autonomous systems
A robot that uses AI can fall under the EU AI Act and the Machinery Regulation at the same time, so the AI system register, impact assessments and human oversight sit alongside the product compliance file. Acuna GRC is listed for this case because its AI Governance module records each AI system with its classification and impact assessment, and it names the overseers who can override an outcome or suspend the system. It does not certify conformity with any law.
Pharmaceuticals and life sciences
Pharmaceutical manufacturers fall under the health sector in NIS2 Annex I, alongside medical device manufacturers and healthcare providers. Presencis NIS2 applicability Pharmaceutical manufacturing is also governed by GxP good practice and, for US markets, by 21 CFR Part 11 on electronic records.
Acuna GRC is listed for this sector because its document workflow keeps approved documents with full version history, tracks staff acknowledgement of each revision, runs supplier assessments with an evidence library and records audits with corrective actions. Acuna GRC does not claim GxP validation or 21 CFR Part 11 compliance unless that scope is confirmed.
Energy and utilities
Energy is Annex I, sector 01 of NIS2, covering electricity, oil, gas, hydrogen and district heating. Presencis NIS2 applicability Operators need incident reporting on the NIS2 timeline: an early warning within 24 hours, a notification within 72 hours and a final report within one month.
Acuna GRC is listed for this sector because its business impact analysis and single-point-of-failure analysis show which shared assets support several critical processes, which helps direct redundancy work. Group management covers a head office and its subsidiaries one level deep, which suits operators with several entities.
Banking and financial services
Banking is in NIS2 Annex I, sector 03. Presencis NIS2 applicability For financial entities, DORA has applied since January 2025, covering ICT risk and third-party oversight. EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2022/2554
Acuna GRC is listed for this sector because its third-party register, supplier assessments with ratings, exceptions with expiry dates and risk treatment plans keep one record of which supplier each process depends on.
The problems buyers describe
Most buyers in these sectors describe the same four problems. Each one is a real constraint, and each has a specific answer in the platform.
- Compliance is a cycle, and a tool covers only one part of it. Setup, controls, evidence, supplier work, audits, corrective actions and reporting all have to connect. Acuna GRC runs that cycle end to end. The compliance roadmap sets up the program for a chosen framework in one approval step, Aiko drafts routine work for review, and experts can run tasks or support your team on any part of the cycle.
- Setup can take a long time. Reviewers of one established GRC suite report that setup can take weeks. Sprinto guide Acuna GRC builds the program from framework roadmaps and a single chain: requirement, measure, control, task. Health is computed from what the controls and tasks actually do, not typed in by hand.
- Expertise is needed as a service, not as a project. Experts work inside the same records as your team, under a scope agreed with you. You do not buy a consulting engagement that ends with a slide deck.
- Regulated buyers need proof. Records cannot be edited once made, every creation and change is captured in the audit log with old and new values, and archived entries are kept rather than discarded. Exceptions carry expiry dates, so an accepted gap cannot stay open unnoticed.
One complete cycle: software plus experts
Acuna GRC covers the full compliance cycle: scoping and framework setup, controls and evidence, risk and supplier work, audits and corrective actions, and reporting. Expert CISOs and DPOs work inside the same records as your team. They can run defined tasks end to end, pick up work when the calendar gets full, or support your team on any part of the cycle. The scope is agreed with each client, including which frameworks, how often the expert is involved, and which tasks they own. The internal team keeps accountability and decisions. Expert services are priced by scope, as described in the pricing section.
Training the people who run your GRC program
A GRC platform is only as strong as the people who configure it, review its evidence and defend it in an audit. Teams that buy a platform still need a shared understanding of the frameworks behind it, and a few people who can lead the program with confidence. Structured training shortens the time before a team can run its controls without outside help, gives auditors and executives a common reference, and helps people who change roles pick up the work faster.
The right course depends on the role. These Abilene Academy courses match the most common needs:
- Program owners and first compliance hires: ISO 27001 Lead Implementer, which builds an information security management system that can stand up to an audit.
- Internal auditors and second-line reviewers: ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, which covers how to plan and lead audits on the basis of evidence.
- EU organizations with NIS2 duties: NIS 2 Directive Lead Implementer, which covers implementing a cybersecurity program aligned with the directive. Teams new to the directive can start with NIS 2 Directive Foundation.
- Privacy and data protection teams: GDPR Certified Data Protection Officer, which covers DPIAs, processing records and relations with supervisory authorities.
- Financial entities in the EU: DORA Lead Manager, which covers digital operational resilience programs.
- SaaS companies selling to US customers: Lead SOC 2 Manager, which covers implementing and managing SOC 2 compliance.
- AI governance: Certified EU AI Governance Professional, which covers AI governance and EU AI Act compliance across the AI life cycle, and ISO 42001 Lead Implementer, which covers an AI management system.
- Risk and resilience: ISO 27005 Risk Manager and Lead Operational Resilience Manager, which cover the risk and continuity work that sits under most of these frameworks.
- Executives: Chief Information Security Officer, which covers executive-level governance of an information security program.
Abilene Academy is a PECB Titanium Partner, and course details, dates and formats are listed on each course page at abileneacademy.ch. Teams that want to train together can ask Abilene Academy about group sessions.
MSSP and white-label delivery
Consultancies and managed security providers can run compliance for several clients on one platform. The client-facing portals, including the Trust Center, Staff Portal and supplier portal, can carry the provider's own branding.
AI-native GRC: how this guide judges it
"AI-native" is now a common label, so this guide sets out a test and applies it. The test is a judgment call made for this guide, not an industry standard. A platform built around AI treats it as part of the data model, the permissions and the approval flow. A platform that adds an AI feature to an existing product can send prompts to a model without changing how records, permissions and approvals work. That difference matters for data protection, because an AI feature can only leak what it is allowed to read, and it can only be held accountable if every action is logged.
The AI-native test
Buyers can apply the test in a demo:
- Does the AI work on the same records, permissions and audit trail as the rest of the platform, so that it cannot see more than the user can?
- Is every AI action a proposal first, which a person confirms unless an administrator has allowed direct action for that kind of action?
- Is every action logged with its inputs and outcome?
- Can administrators decide which AI features are switched on, and switch AI off for the whole organization?
- Is data sent to an AI provider documented, including which provider, where it runs and how long it is kept?
On this test, the guide lists Acuna GRC as AI-native. The judgment rests on how Aiko works, which is set out in the section below.
The platforms in the comparison, side by side
Each row reflects the platform's own positioning where it is public. Watch-outs come from the sources linked in the table. Pricing is listed only where the vendor publishes it, and the rest is quote-based.
The platforms in the comparison, side by side
Platform: Acuna GRC
Platform: Vanta
Platform: Drata
Platform: Sprinto
Platform: Secureframe
Platform: OneTrust
Platform: ServiceNow GRC
Platform: MetricStream
Platform: Optro (formerly AuditBoard)
Acuna GRC framework coverage: more than 50 frameworks, and clients can import their own framework from a CSV or Excel file. Acuna GRC is ISO 27001 certified. It supports NIS2 reporting and the Cyber Resilience Act, covers GDPR and the Swiss FADP through the Data Privacy module, and keeps EU AI Act records through the AI Governance module.
Aiko, the AI assistant in Acuna GRC
Aiko works in three modes: suggest only, ask first, and do it and tell me. The default is ask first, so every proposed change appears as a card that a person confirms before anything is written. Administrators can cap the highest mode allowed for each kind of action, and every action Aiko takes is kept in an activity log for 12 months.
Aiko does the following:
- Creates tasks and KPIs from a plain-language request, with the assignee set by name or role.
- Proposes links between controls, measures, requirements and documents, with a one-line reason for each link. You review the batch before it applies.
- Checks whether a risk still matches its evidence, citing the control runs and KPI values behind the answer.
- Drafts security questionnaire answers using only approved library facts, and sends low-confidence drafts to a review list.
- Drafts supplier self-assessment answers and shows the passage each answer came from.
- Suggests a category and purpose for an unknown cookie, which a person checks before approving it.
Aiko also keeps these data limits:
- It answers only from records the user is allowed to open, and it says so when an access rule hides a kind of record.
- It answers questions about data subject requests and breaches from metadata only, never from a requester's name, email or message.
- It asks first when a request touches supplier, web, privacy request or group data, or when it would make many changes at once.
- A monthly AI usage limit pauses AI features when the limit is reached.
- When AI is switched off, nothing is sent to an AI provider. When AI is switched on, the data a task needs goes to an AI provider.
Acuna GRC does not claim full autonomy. Aiko does not approve its own work, and by default it asks first. Acuna GRC does not claim that its AI features are certified. The AI Governance module keeps the records that AI obligations ask for, and it does not certify conformity with any law. Acuna GRC also does not claim that nothing leaves the platform when AI is switched on, because the data a task needs goes to an AI provider in that case.
Pricing
Acuna GRC starts from CHF 6'390 a year, with no per-seat fees. The subscription covers the Comply, Implement, Operate and Assure modules, plus Aiko, Integrations and API, and Administration and security. Add-on modules and services are quoted with your offer.
The final price depends on the scope of your organization. The main drivers are:
- The number of frameworks you run.
- The number of legal entities or scopes your program covers.
- Add-on modules, such as third-party risk management, data privacy, Trust Center, AI Governance and Cookie Manager. Cookie Manager is priced by the number of paid websites.
- Expert services, priced by the role and time scope agreed with the client.
Time to audit-ready depends on the scope of the program and on how quickly control owners respond.
Hosting and data residency
Acuna GRC is primarily a cloud platform, and self-hosted or on-premise deployment is available for some clients, depending on what they require. Details on hosting regions, subprocessors and the AI provider are available at acunagrc.com.
Integrations
Acuna GRC connects to more than 100 tools across identity, endpoints, cloud posture, code, HR, security awareness, vulnerability scanners and ticketing. Connectors pull evidence and control results on a schedule, so the data stays current without manual uploads. If a client needs a system that is not in the catalog, Acuna GRC builds a custom connector on request. The platform also offers an API, webhooks and CSV import for systems without a connector.
How the main platforms compare
Each entry below summarizes the platform's own public positioning or a third-party review. Check current details on each vendor's site before you decide.
How the main platforms compare
Platform: Vanta
Platform: Drata
Platform: Sprinto
Platform: Secureframe
Platform: OneTrust
Platform: ServiceNow GRC
Platform: MetricStream
Platform: Optro (formerly AuditBoard)
Platform: Acuna GRC
Also worth exploring
Several other platforms are strong in specific situations. Start with these based on your needs. Each vendor describes its own fit, so check the current product before you decide.
- Sprinto: autonomous compliance for growth-stage SaaS across many frameworks. Its own guide says it is cloud-native and does not support on-premise deployments.
- Secureframe: guided first certifications for small teams that want step-by-step workflows.
- Scrut Automation: risk-to-control mapping for mid-market teams that want expert onboarding.
- LogicGate Risk Cloud: no-code risk and compliance workflows for teams that want to design their own processes.
- Orbiq: a German provider positioning EU-hosted GRC for mid-market companies, with NIS2 and DORA as native frameworks. This is the vendor's own comparison.
- Kertos: software with certified experts for small and mid-sized companies in DACH, with an ISO 27001 based approach.
- DataGuard: tiered packages from self-service to expert-supported, with optional external DPO and information security officer mandates.
- heyData: software combined with consulting and a dedicated NIS2 module, hosted in Germany according to the same comparison.
When another tool is the better choice
Acuna GRC is not the right fit for every organization. Consider another platform if:
- You only need SOC 2 for a US startup on a standard cloud stack and want the fastest possible self-serve start. A self-serve automation tool with a larger integration catalog will get you there quicker.
- Your IT and risk work runs entirely on ServiceNow, and you want GRC inside that platform.
- Your main need is SOX-led internal audit at a large public company.
- Your main need is a privacy-led platform for regulatory change across dozens of jurisdictions.
- You need a self-hosted or on-premise deployment. Acuna GRC is primarily a cloud platform, and self-hosted or on-premise deployment is available for some clients, depending on what they require.
How the criteria were chosen
Most buyers of GRC software have too few people for the work, a list of frameworks that keeps growing, customers asking for proof on short timelines, and an AI feature they do not yet fully trust. This guide therefore starts from what buyers need and what they often lack, then tests each platform against that. The criteria are framework coverage and mapping, evidence that is collected and reused rather than rebuilt, how the AI behaves and who approves its actions, the in-house effort the platform demands from a small team, access to experts when the team is stretched, hosting and data residency, pricing that is clear before a sales call, and fit for company size and structure, including groups and multi-client delivery. Competitor information comes from their published pages and third-party reviews, which are linked. Hands-on trials of every competitor have not been run for this article, so buyers should test their own scope in a demo before deciding. The page is reviewed each quarter, and the date at the top shows the last update.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best GRC software for a company that wants the full compliance cycle run with expert help?
For a company that wants compliance run end to end, the best fit is a platform that connects setup, controls, evidence, audits and reporting, with experts who can take over tasks. Acuna GRC's compliance roadmap sets up the program for a chosen framework in one approval step, and its AI assistant drafts routine work for review. Expert CISO and DPO services run or support any part of the cycle, scoped to the company's size and frameworks.
Which GRC software supports NIS2 reporting?
Acuna GRC includes NIS2 reporting, with NIS2 requirements mapped to the same control library as other frameworks. Incidents, evidence and reports stay in one record. Check any platform you consider for the reporting windows it actually supports, since NIS2 timelines are strict.
Can I bring my own framework into a GRC platform?
Yes. Acuna GRC lets you import your own framework from a CSV or Excel file, including its domains and requirements at any depth. A later import extends the framework without duplicates. The imported framework then works with the same measures, controls, evidence and reports as the built-in frameworks.
How much does GRC software cost?
Acuna GRC starts from CHF 6'390 a year, with no per-seat fees. Add-on modules and services are quoted with your offer. The final price also depends on the number of frameworks, legal entities or scopes, and any expert services you choose. Ask every vendor for a quote based on your scope, and compare the total cost including onboarding and expert time, not only the subscription.
Does Acuna GRC use AI to make decisions automatically?
No. Aiko, the built-in assistant, works in three modes, and the default is ask first. Each proposed change appears as a card that a person confirms before anything is written. Administrators can cap the highest mode for each action, and every action is logged for 12 months.
Where is my data hosted?
Hosting regions, subprocessors and the AI provider are described at acunagrc.com. Ask for the current subprocessor list when you evaluate the platform, and check that it covers every service that touches your data.
Does Acuna GRC offer CISO or DPO services?
Yes. Acuna GRC offers expert services, including CISOs and DPOs, for clients who want people as well as software. The scope is agreed with each client, covering frameworks, the expert's time and the tasks they own. Pricing follows that scope.
Can an MSSP use Acuna GRC for several clients?
Yes. Acuna GRC supports MSSP and white-label delivery, so a provider can run compliance for several clients and present the client-facing portals under its own brand.
How many integrations does Acuna GRC have?
Acuna GRC connects to more than 100 tools across identity, endpoints, cloud posture, code, HR, security awareness, scanners and ticketing. If a client needs a system that is not in the catalog, a custom connector can be built on request. An API, webhooks and CSV import cover systems without a connector.
Which GRC software suits enterprises in regulated sectors such as manufacturing, pharma and energy?
Acuna GRC is suited to enterprises and mid-size companies in regulated sectors, as well as fast-growing SaaS companies. It records asset and supplier risk, continuity dependencies, NIS2 incident reports, audits, corrective actions and approved documents with full version history. Sector frameworks depend on the library, so confirm the framework set for your industry during the evaluation. Expert CISO and DPO services can support the program.
What happens to my data when AI is switched on?
When Aiko is switched on, the data a task needs is sent to an AI provider. Aiko answers only from records the user is allowed to open, and it answers breach and data subject request questions from metadata only. Administrators can switch AI off for the whole organization.
Is Acuna GRC ISO 27001 certified?
Yes. Acuna GRC is ISO 27001 certified. Clients can ask for the certificate during their evaluation.
Sources
- Mordor Intelligence, Governance, Risk and Compliance Software Market: mordorintelligence.com
- Börse Express, NIS2 estimate for Germany: boerse-express.com
- Sprinto, best GRC tools: sprinto.com
- Vanta, best GRC software for enterprises: vanta.com
- MetricStream, top GRC tools: metricstream.com
- Orbiq, GRC tool comparison (German): orbiqhq.com
- Kertos, NIS2 software comparison: kertos.io
- Presencis, NIS2 applicability by sector: presencis.com
- OSHA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 Machinery: osha.europa.eu
- DataGuard, Cyber Resilience Act timeline: dataguard.com
- EUR-Lex, Regulation (EU) 2022/2554 (DORA): eur-lex.europa.eu
- Federal Office of Justice, Swiss data protection legal basis: bj.admin.ch
- InfoGuard, FINMA Circular 2023/1: infoguard.ch
