Agency vs Drata

Drata gives you the software. Agency runs the program.

Drata is GRC software your team configures and operates. Agency is the operated alternative — U.S.-based forward-deployed engineers and proprietary AI implement controls, collect evidence, and run continuous monitoring for you, on top of Drata, Vanta, or your existing stack.

1,500+ programs delivered · Top-ranked Drata & Vanta partner · Rated 4.9 on G2

SOC 2ISO 27001HIPAACMMCGDPRFedRAMPHITRUSTISO 42001and more

Talk to a compliance engineer Compare side by side ↓

Agency runs it, you don't

Virtual CISO coverage
Control implementation
Evidence collection
Continuous monitoring
Vendor risk management
Penetration testing

Operated by forward-deployed engineers + proprietary AI, on top of Drata.

Trusted by Thousands, Partnered With The Industry's Elite

The verdict

Drata's automation depth is strong for hands-on, in-house GRC teams that want to run compliance themselves. Agency is the operated alternative for companies that want the work done for them — forward-deployed U.S.-based engineers and AI that implement controls, collect evidence, and run continuous monitoring on top of Drata, Vanta, or your existing stack, across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, CMMC, and more.

DIY compliance software still leaves the work to you

Drata automates dashboards and evidence pipelines, but the program still runs on your team. Agency operates it instead.

Running Drata yourself

Engineers pulled off the roadmap to configure and maintain it
Software flags the gaps, but your team still closes them
Policies, controls, and auditor prep land on whoever is free
vCISO, pen testing, and audits sourced from separate vendors

With Agency

Forward-deployed engineers own the program end-to-end
AI plus engineers implement controls and collect evidence
We operate on top of Drata, Vanta, and your existing stack
vCISO, monitoring, vendor risk, and pen testing in one program

Agency vs Drata, side by side

Drata gives you the software to manage compliance yourself. Agency runs the program for you — on top of Drata, Vanta, or whatever you already use.

Capability	Agency	Drata (DIY GRC tool)
Delivery model	Operated service + AI	Self-serve software
Compliance automation platform	Runs on top of yours	Yes
U.S.-based forward-deployed compliance engineers	Yes	No
Virtual CISO included	Yes	Via partner network
Control implementation done for you	Yes	No
Evidence collection run for you	Yes	Automated, you operate it
Continuous control monitoring	Yes	Yes
Auditor coordination managed for you	Yes	Auditor network
Penetration testing included	Yes	Via partner network
Vendor / third-party risk management	Operated for you	Yes
Multi-framework (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, CMMC)	Yes	Yes, plus custom framework builder
Platform-agnostic (experts in Vanta and Drata)	Yes	No
Commercial model	Managed service	Software subscription
Best for	Teams that want it run for them	Teams that run it themselves

Where Drata genuinely wins — automated evidence, continuous monitoring, and a custom framework builder — we say so. The point isn't that the software is weak; it's that the software still needs someone to run it.

What the operated model delivers

Agency runs your GRC platform so it actually pays off — bringing down the all-in cost of Drata while your engineers stay on the roadmap.

200+

Hours saved per year — what the average Agency client reclaims by handing compliance busywork to our engineers and AI.

$100K+

Engineering & compliance time recovered — typical yearly savings versus running the program in-house.

1,500+

SOC 2 programs delivered across Drata, Vanta, and the rest of the stack over the last five years — platform-agnostic by design.

Which one is right for you

Both are legitimate paths to compliance. The deciding factor is whether you want to run the program or have it run for you.

Choose Drata when

You have a hands-on, in-house GRC team that wants deep compliance automation and a custom framework builder, with the time and expertise to configure the platform and run the program themselves.

Choose Agency when

You want the program operated for you — forward-deployed engineers and AI handling control implementation, evidence, monitoring, vendor risk, and audits across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and CMMC, on top of Drata or Vanta.

Agency vs Drata, answered

The questions buyers ask most when weighing operated compliance against DIY GRC software.

What is the difference between Agency and Drata?

Drata is compliance automation software your own team configures and operates. Agency is a managed service — U.S.-based forward-deployed engineers and AI implement controls, collect evidence, and run monitoring for you, on top of Drata, Vanta, or your existing stack.

Is Agency better than Drata?

Agency and Drata solve different problems. Drata is better for hands-on teams that want deep automation to run compliance themselves. Agency is better for teams that want the program operated for them by forward-deployed engineers across SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and CMMC.

Can Agency replace Drata?

Agency does not replace Drata — Agency operates on top of it. Agency is platform-agnostic, with deep expertise in both Drata and Vanta, so clients keep their existing GRC tool while Agency runs the control implementation, evidence collection, and audit coordination.

Is Agency cheaper than Drata?

Drata's software subscription is lower-cost on its own, but it leaves the work to your team. Agency is a managed service that bundles the platform with the people running it, and the average Agency client saves over 200 hours and $100K in engineering and compliance time per year.

Who should use Drata instead of Agency?

Drata is the better fit for teams with an in-house GRC function that want deep, self-serve compliance automation and have the time and expertise to run the program themselves. Agency is for teams that want that program operated for them.

Does Agency work with Drata?

Yes. Agency is a top-ranked Drata partner; our forward-deployed engineers and AI work directly inside Drata — no rip-and-replace and no migration. Agency also supports Vanta, CrowdStrike, and the rest of your stack, bringing down the all-in cost of whichever GRC platform you use.

Does Agency include a virtual CISO and penetration testing?

Yes. Agency includes virtual CISO coverage, control implementation, evidence collection, continuous monitoring, vendor risk management, and penetration testing as one operated program. With Drata, those services are typically sourced separately through its partner network.

Is Agency a Drata alternative?

Not in the usual sense. Agency isn't a rival GRC tool you swap Drata for — it's a managed layer that runs on top of Drata or Vanta. You keep the platform; Agency's forward-deployed engineers and AI operate it for you, implementing controls, collecting evidence, and running monitoring.

Do I still need a compliance team if I use Drata?

With Drata alone, effectively yes — the software automates checks, but your team still implements controls, closes gaps, and preps audits. With Agency, forward-deployed engineers and AI do that work for you, so you get the full program without hiring the headcount.

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