Meeting compliance obligations is one of the most challenging areas of managing a modern enterprise.
It only takes a single vulnerability to lead to a data breach, which can lead to your company receiving a hefty fine. Using compliance monitoring software is essential for identifying and remediating compliance gaps.
Here is our list of the nine best compliance monitoring software:
- SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL) – Log Management software with user activity monitoring, compliance reports, rule templates, and more. Start 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine Log360 (FREE TRIAL) This log manager and SIEM system includes file protection and compliance auditing. Runs on Windows Server. Start 30-day free trial.
- AuditBoard – Compliance management software for SOX with real-time monitoring, reports, documentation management, and more.
- Workiva Wdesk – Cloud-base compliance and reporting platform for risk management and SOX compliance with task workflows, real-time collaboration on documentation, and more.
- ZenGRC – Risk and compliance management platform with a compliance monitoring dashboard, automated workflows, checklists, risk calculations, and more.
- Netwrix Auditor – Compliance auditing tool that supports PCI compliance, with risk assessments, user access monitoring, and more.
- MyEasyISO – ISO compliance management software with a dashboard, scheduled, auditing, audit reports, automated alerts, and more.
- LogicGate Risk Cloud – GRC and controls management solution with an automatically updated controls library, automated workflows, automated reminders, and more.
- Onspring Audit Management Software – Cloud-based audit management software with automated risk assessments, workflows, live dashboards, and more.
Best Compliance Monitoring Software
The list includes a mix of log management tools with compliance reporting, compliance management tools with task management features, and auditing tools for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
1. SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL)
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a log management tool that you can use to collect log data and generate compliance reports. SolarWinds Security Event Manager comes with report templates for PCI DSS, GLBA, SOX, HIPAA, and NERC CIP compliance out-of-the-box. You can also create custom report templates to view other information relevant to your environment.
Key features:
- Collect log data
- Create compliance reports (over 300 templates)
- User activity monitoring
- Rule templates
Monitoring log data enables you to detect security events that could leave you at risk of non-compliance. For example, you can monitor user activity and track login and log off attempts. User activity logs will be able to tell you whether someone has accessed a resource without permission.
To help enterprise users to comply with security regulations, SolarWinds Security Event Manager has rule templates for configuring automatic responses to security incidents. For instance, you can automatically add or remove users to admin groups. Automated remediation minimizes your exposure to online threats.
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a fit for organizations looking for a log management solution that can be used to monitor security events that put overall compliance at risk. The pricing for a perpetual license starts at $4,805 (£3,855). You can download the 30-day free trial.
2. ManageEngine Log360 (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine Log360 is a log manager and SIEM system that is good for businesses that need to follow the PCI DSS, GDPR, FISMA, HIPAA, SOX, and GLBA data protection standards.
Key features:
- Log collection and consolidation
- Log file management
- Threat detection
- Threat intelligence feed
The system security package also includes a file integrity monitor (FIM). this is a great supervision system to guard against ransomware and it also protects log files from tampering. The log manager creates those log files and maintains them in a meaningful directory structure, regularly rotating files. This makes logs available for compliance auditing, which is a requirement of many data protection standards.
The log manager collects log messages from around the network, specifically from all endpoints. Its agents are able to interact with more than 700 software packages to extract activity data. The tool also collects operating system logs in Syslog and Windows Events formats. It will also gather event data from AWS, Azure, and Salesforce cloud platforms.
The log manager consolidates all arriving log messages into a neutral format. This allows them to be displayed in the system console as they arrive and it also eases the searches performed by the SIEM system that is included in the package.
The SIEM performs threat hunting by deploying user and entity behavior analytics. This uses machine learning to establish a pattern or normal activity for each user account and device. The threat detection system triggers an alert if behavior deviates from this standard.
Alerts are shown in the Log360 dashboard and they can also be sent as notifications through service desk team management tools, including ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, Jira, and Kayoko.
Log360 runs on Windows Server and ManageEngine offers it for a 30-day free trial.
3. AuditBoard
AuditBoard is a compliance monitoring tool that can be used to manage SOX compliance. With AuditBoard you can monitor your environment’s SOX compliance in real-time through a dashboard. Role-based dashboards allow users to view the tasks most relevant to their roles.
Key features:
- Real-time SOX compliance monitoring
- Dashboard
- Reports
- Documentation management
- Role-based permissions
- Testing management
The software also enables the user to record and manage documentation. You can manage documentation with version history and role-based permissions to determine who has access to interact with your documents. The platform also comes with reports. You can use out-of-the-box report templates or you can use a custom report builder to create your own reports.
To simplify the testing process, AuditBoard allows you to manage PBC requests and test evidence in-app. Users can leave comments on tests making it easier to collaborate.
AuditBoard is a reliable compliance monitoring solution for enterprises that want to work toward SOX compliance more efficiently. To view pricing information, you need to request a quote from the company directly. You can sign up for a demo from this link here.
4. Workiva Wdesk
Workiva Wdesk is a cloud-based compliance and reporting platform designed for SOX compliance, which allows enterprises to manage documents on a centralized basis. Workiva Wdesk enables multiple users to collaborate on documents in real-time, with audit trails and version control showing who changed what information and when.
Key features:
- Collaborate on documents in real-time.
- Version control
- Task workflows
- Changes made to data sources automatically updated
Task workflows provide the option to assign approvals, reviews, requests, and more to other users. This makes it much easier for other users to stay on top of compliance tasks, which ultimately reduces the likelihood of non-compliance.
When it comes to onboarding data, if you link information from spreadsheets or documents to Workiva Wdesk all changes made at the source will be automatically updated across all instances. Automated data updating reduces the amount of time you spend consuming managing disparate data sets manually.
Workiva Wdesk is a widely-used compliance management tool that’s worth taking a look at if you’re working toward SOX compliance. For pricing information, you need to request a quote from the company directly. You can sign up for the demo from this link here.
5. ZenGRC
ZenGRC is a risk and compliance management platform designed to help manage compliance for regulatory frameworks including PCI, HIPAA, PCI, FedRAMP, and ISO. ZenGRC comes with a dashboard where you can monitor the overall compliance of your enterprise. There are also automated workflows and checklists that you can use to manage compliance risks. Checklists are useful for allowing you to see what tasks you’ve completed.
Key features:
- Dashboards
- Checklists
- Assign risks to employees and track
- Risk calculations
When you discover problems with your risk management strategy, you can assign these issues to particular users and monitor them. Assigning issues to particular users will ensure that there is an actionable response. You can also tag the most important workflows so that these are prioritized, minimizing the vulnerability of your data.
The software also has the ability to evaluate the impact of risks through your environment. You can conduct risk calculations based on SCF, NIST, Cyber Risk Catalog, RISQ Management Enterprise, CIS-RAM, and RISQ methods to see how exposed your data is to internal risks.
ZenGRC is a solid choice for enterprises in need of compliance monitoring software for identifying risks throughout an environment. To view pricing information you need to request a quote from the company directly. You can sign up for a demo from this link here.
6. Netwrix Auditor
Netwrix Auditor is a compliance auditing tool that can be used to demonstrate regulatory compliance. With Netwrix Auditor you can conduct a risk assessment of your environment, and then view an overview of risks alongside a risk level in the solution. These overviews provide you with the visibility to prioritize dealing with the most significant risks first.
Key features:
- Risk assessment
- Monitor access to cardholder data
- Compliance reports
The platform also has the ability to identify user accounts that represent a security risk. Closing the account not only reduces your exposure to threats but also reduces the likelihood of your falling into non-compliance.
To assist with PCI compliance, Netwrix Auditor enables the user to monitor access to payment card data. You can detect events like file access attempts, which helps you to identify malicious activity. Monitoring card data can ensure that your sensitive data hasn’t been compromised. There are also compliance reports that you can use to record information for regulations such as PCI, DSS, HIPAA, and GDPR.
Netwrix Auditor is a reliable tool for enterprises that want a compliance auditing tool that can be used to manage risks. It is available for $1,890 (£1,516) per year. You can start the 20-day free trial from this link here.
7. MyEasyISO
MyEasyISO is an ISO compliance solution that’s designed to help enterprises comply with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018. MyEasyISO enables you to monitor your regulatory compliance through a dashboard. The dashboard displays a breakdown of compliance obligations alongside graphs and charts so you can see where your current internal controls fall short.
Key features:
- Monitor compliance obligations through the dashboard
- Define audit schedule
- Create audit reports
- Upload documents
- Create HSE inspection checklists
You can use the software to create a record of compliance obligations and record your current compliance status. You also have the option to upload documents, which helps to speed up the approvals process. In addition, with the HSE Key Performance Indicator module, you can monitor KPIs and create HSE inspection checklists.
To help prepare for auditing, MyEasyISO allows you to define an internal audit schedule for departments and processes. You can view non-compliance in the non-conformance module, which helps you to identify and remediate compliance gaps. There are also automated alerts that notify employees about upcoming audits and reports that enable users to review the findings of completed audits.
MyEasyISO is a solution fit for enterprises preparing for auditing and ISO compliance. Prices start from $29 (£23.26) per month for the Light Growth Plan with two years and two users included. You can start the 30-day free trial from this link here.
8. LogicGate Risk Cloud
LogicGate Risk Cloud provides a controls audit management solution that allows you to monitor controls within your organization. LogicGate Risk Cloud offers you the ability to manage security assessments in one place. The platform has a controls library that is compatible with NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, ISO 27002, ISO 27018, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more.
Key features:
- Manage security assessments
- Controls library
- Reports
- Automated workflows
The controls library automatically updates so you stay on top of current regulatory requirements. Similarly, automated workflows allow you to assign requests to other employees and collect feedback on current controls within your environment. Reports provide you with an opportunity to reflect on your procedures.
Automated reminders notify employees when they need to take action to update controls. Automated reminders and collection of control data can free up employees’ time so that they can focus on more important tasks.
LogicGate Risk Cloud is a GRC tool for enterprises that want to take control of compliance management with a single solution. To view pricing information, you need to request a quote from the company directly. You can schedule a demo from this link here.
9. Onspring Audit Management Software
Onspring Audit Management Software is a cloud-based audit management tool that allows you to automatically generate risk assessments according to schedule and audit controls within your organization. The platform enables you to audit your environment and identify risks. You can then assign issues found in auditing to employees, who are sent auto-reminders to help them manage tasks promptly.
Key features:
- Automatically generate risk assessments
- Assign issues to employees
- Role-based dashboards
- Auto-reminders
- Data visualization
There are also automated workflows that you can use to manage compliance tasks and assign them to employees. Workflows allow you to route particular tasks to users based on the results of assessments. A live dashboard allows you to monitor your internal environment in real-time.
Dashboards are role-based so that each user sees the information most relevant to their position. The dashboard is broken down with data visualizations, which help to display compliance gaps. Each user has a My Agenda view they can use to prioritize compliance tasks.
Onspring Audit Management Software is an audit management solution fit for teams in search of a simple compliance monitoring software. To view pricing information you need to request a quote from the company directly. You can schedule a demo from this link here.
Choosing Compliance Monitoring Software
Fundamentally, maintaining regulatory compliance is all about preparation and consistency. Identifying the controls you need to have in place in advance and then consistently applying or updating those controls will help you to eliminate compliance gaps.
Compliance management software can be extremely useful for giving you top-down visibility over compliance concerns and security events that could leave you at risk of a security breach.
Tools like SolarWinds Security Event Manager, ManageEngine EventLog Analyzer, LogicGate, and Workiva Wdesk can all help you to manage your compliance strategy. We recommend conducting additional research and evaluating multiple products so that you find the solution that’s the best fit for your environment.
