Tracking regulatory compliance is something that most enterprises struggle to do effectively.
Ensuring that every process in your company complies with the regulations in your industry you need to have transparency over all the systems and procedures in your environment. Compliance tracking software is a must-have for larger companies that want to maximize transparency.
In this article, we’re going to look at the 10 best compliance tracking software on the market.
Here is our list of the best compliance tracking software:
- ManageEngine Log360 EDITOR’S CHOICE This SIEM system includes file integrity monitoring and log management for compliance auditing. Installs on Windows Server. Start a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine ADAudit Plus (FREE TRIAL) This security package offers change tracking for Active Directory and file servers with compliance procedures built in. Runs on Windows Server. Start a 30-day free trial.
- Site24x7 (FREE TRIAL) This cloud platform of monitoring systems serves as effective compliance tracking software by continuously monitoring IT infrastructure for regulatory standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS. Start a 30-day free trial.
- Netwrix Auditor Network auditing solution with risk assessments, alerts, reports, and more.
- Workiva Wdesk Cloud-based connected reporting and compliance management software with real-time document collaboration, task workflows, and more.
- AuditBoard Cloud-based compliance and risk management software with role-based dashboards, reports, self-assessments, notifications, and more.
- ZenGRC Cloud-based risk and compliance management tool with control mapping, preconfigured framework templates, dashboards, integrations, and more.
- LogicGate Risk Cloud Compliance management tool for managing compliance tasks with dashboards, reports, task workflows, and more.
- SolarWinds Security Event Manager Log management software with event log correlation, alerts, compliance reports, and logon event auditing.
- Onspring Audit Management Software Cloud-based audit management tool for managing compliance tasks with role-based dashboards, auto-reminders, automated workflows, and more.
- Lepide Data Security Platform Data security auditing tool that allows you to monitor user access with anomaly detection, custom alerts, reports, and more.
The Best Compliance Tracking Software
Our methodology for selecting compliance tracking software tool
We’ve broken down our analysis for you based on these key criteria:
- Ability to collect and analyze log data for security events
- Features supporting compliance reporting and auditing
- Compatibility with multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS, and Linux
- User interface and ease of use for managing compliance tasks
- Cost-effectiveness and availability of free trials or demos
The list includes a mix of tools including log management software for identifying security events and compliance management platforms for managing compliance tasks for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.
1. ManageEngine Log360 (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine Log360 is both a log manager and a SIEM system. This package runs on Windows Server but it will collect log messages from other operating systems. The log server consolidates all messages into a common format and files them, which makes them available for compliance auditing. This service is suitable for compliance with GDPR, GLBA, PCI DSS, FISMA, HIPAA, and SOX.
Key Features:
- Log management
- Standards compliance
- File integrity monitoring
- SIEM
Why do we recommend it?
ManageEngine Log360 stands out for its comprehensive log management and SIEM capabilities, essential for standards compliance and threat detection in diverse IT environments.
The Log360 package gathers Windows Events and Syslog messages from operating systems. It also has integrations that enable it to communicate with more than 700 third-party software packages to extract activity data. The log server makes these records available for searching as well as filing them.
The data viewer in the console lets you perform analysis on logs as they arrive at the server. It is also possible to read records in from a file for analysis. The main purpose of this tool is to search for threats and this is performed by a SIEM, which searches through log messages.
The SIEM service uses anomaly detection. This is only possible because the system first works out a level of normal activity per user account and per device. This is called user and entity behavior analysis (UEBA).
Who is it recommended for?
Recommended for organizations looking for a dual-function tool that offers both log management and SIEM, especially those needing to comply with GDPR, GLBA, PCI DSS, FISMA, HIPAA, and SOX.
Pros:
- Integrates with over 700 third-party applications
- Effective anomaly detection through UEBA
- Capable of consolidating log messages from various systems
- Useful for a wide range of compliance requirements
Cons:
- Primarily runs on Windows Server, which may limit its use in diverse OS environments
ManageEngine Log360 has a Free edition, which is limited to collecting logs for 25 devices. The paid version is called the Professional edition and you can get it on a 30-day free trial.
2. ManageEngine ADAudit Plus (FREE TRIAL)
ManageEngine ADAudit Plus is an activity logging system that records changes to Active Directory instances and also watches over activity on files, forming a file integrity monitor. Records show the user involved in each activity, which is referenced from Active Directory. The audit trail provided by these activity logs helps with compliance with GDPR, GLBA, SOX, PCI DSS, and HIPAA data protection standards.
Key Features:
- Activity tracking
- Log management
- User activity profiling
- Compliance reporting for GDPR, GLBA, SOX, PCI DSS, and HIPAA
Why do we recommend it?
ADAudit Plus is an effective tool for tracking Active Directory changes and ensuring file integrity, making it a solid choice for compliance and insider threat detection.
ADAudit Plus offers a user profiling service, which establishes a pattern of typical behavior per user and raises an alert if that pattern suddenly changes. This feature is useful for identifying insider threats or account takeover. The system also records failed login attempts, a high number of which could indicate brute force credentials cracking attempts.
The console for the system includes a data viewer for accessing log files. This includes parsing and search facilities that support activity analysis. Log files can also be packaged to be forwarded to an external SIEM service. Log files can also be archived and reviewed through this system.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is best suited for organizations focusing on GDPR, GLBA, SOX, PCI DSS, and HIPAA compliance, particularly those needing detailed user activity profiling and activity tracking.
Pros:
- Detailed user activity profiling for insider threat detection
- Comprehensive log management and activity tracking
- Tailored for multiple compliance standards
- Effective in tracking failed login attempts for security
Cons:
- More focused on Active Directory, which might not cover all aspects of broader IT environment auditing needs
ManageEngine ADAudit Plus includes compliance reporting templates. The software package installs on Windows Server and it is available in two editions: Standard and Professional. You can get access to the Standard edition with a 30-day free trial.
3. Site24x7 (FREE TRIAL)
Site24x7 includes compliance tracking software that helps organizations ensure their IT infrastructure aligns with various regulatory standards, including GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and SOC 2. It provides continuous monitoring of critical components, such as servers, networks, and applications, to ensure that they meet industry-specific compliance requirements.
Key Features:
- Compliance management for SOX, HIPAA, PCI DSS
- Automated compliance checks
- Audit trail
- Customizable policies
Why do we recommend it?
Site24x7 automates the monitoring process and helps eliminate the risk of human error. It ensures that organizations maintain compliance consistently, without needing to manually track each compliance aspect. This proactive approach helps prevent costly penalties and reputational damage associated with non-compliance.
One of the key features of Site24x7’s compliance tracking capabilities is its ability to generate automated audit reports. These reports provide a detailed audit trail of changes and activities related to compliance standards, making it easier for businesses to demonstrate their adherence during inspections or audits.
The platform tracks security configurations, data access, and vulnerability scans, offering a comprehensive view of compliance status. With customizable reports, IT teams can quickly identify non-compliant areas, address issues, and stay prepared for regulatory audits at all times.
Who is it recommended for?
This system is recommended for IT teams, security officers, compliance managers, and regulatory professionals in businesses of all sizes. It is especially beneficial for organizations in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, retail, and telecommunications, where adhering to standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS is crucial.
Pros:
- Real-time alerts
- Reports on compliance status
- Network, server, and application monitoring
- Cloud-based system
Cons:
- No on-premises option
Site24x7 also offers live continuous monitoring for networks, servers, applications, and cloud platforms. The package is delivered for subscription in a SaaS format. You can examine Site24x7 by accessing a 30-day free trial.
4. Netwrix Auditor
Netwrix Auditor is an auditing monitoring solution that provides risk assessments you can use to catalog security risks throughout your environment. Risk assessments show you a list of risks throughout your environment alongside a risk level that tells you the most significant vulnerabilities.
Key features:
- Risk assessments
- Auditing for Active Directory, Windows File Server, Oracle Database, etc.
- Alerts
- Reports
Why do we recommend it?
Netwrix Auditor is recommended for its comprehensive auditing capabilities that provide detailed risk assessments and help in managing a wide range of security risks.
Systems you can audit with Netwrix Auditor range from Active Directory to Office 365, Windows File Server, Oracle database, Dell EMC, SQL Server, and more. Whenever suspicious activity is detected the program will send you an alert to tell you that your environment is at risk. For example, if a user has multiple failed logins the software will alert you so you can investigate whether this is the start of an attack.
There is also a range of reports. For example, for managing user permissions, Netwrix Auditor enables you to generate Folder and File Permission Details reports, which show user accounts and the permissions those users have. These reports can be scheduled and shared with other key stakeholders whenever needed.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for enterprises seeking to assess and manage risks across various systems, including Active Directory, Office 365, Windows File Server, and more. It is particularly suited for organizations focused on eliminating compliance gaps.
Pros:
- Wide range of auditing capabilities for diverse systems
- Effective alert system for detecting suspicious activities
- Detailed reports for managing user permissions
- Suitable for strategic risk management and compliance
Cons:
- Limited to Windows, which may not suit environments with varied operating systems
Netwrix Auditor is a solution designed for enterprises that want to manage risks throughout their environment and strategically eliminate compliance gaps. Prices start at $1,890 (£1,515) per year for 150 Active Directory users and 10 Windows Server servers. It is only available on Windows. You can start the 20-day free trial.
5. Workiva Wdesk
Workiva Wdesk is a cloud-based connected reporting and compliance management solution that allows you to manage documents. With Workiva Wdesk multiple users can work on a single document in real-time, with audit trails and version control that show what was changed and when. An administrator can also set user permissions to control who has the ability to manage changes to a document.
Key features:
- Document audit trails
- Collaborate on documents in real-time
- Task workflows
- Integrate with structured and unstructured data
Why do we recommend it?
Workiva Wdesk is an excellent choice for cloud-based document management, offering real-time collaboration with robust audit trails and version control.
The platform comes with tasking to help remediate compliance issues efficiently. Task workflows enable users to assign tasks such as approvals, reviews, and requests to other users. Workflows make it much easier to manage multiple documents and ensure that key elements are signed-off on promptly.
To maximize efficiency, Workiva Wdesk integrates with structured and unstructured data. Any information changed at the source is updated across all instances so your team only sees the information that’s accurate and up-to-date. This cuts down on unnecessary and time-consuming manual data management tasks.
Who is it recommended for?
It’s particularly beneficial for enterprises needing efficient document management with a focus on compliance, transparency, and real-time collaboration.
Pros:
- Supports real-time document collaboration
- Efficient task workflows for compliance management
- Integrates with both structured and unstructured data
- Enhances document management efficiency and accuracy
Cons:
- Might be overly complex for smaller businesses or those with simpler document management needs
Workiva Wdesk is ideal for enterprises that need to manage multiple documents in a secure and transparent way. To view pricing information you will need to contact the company directly for a quote. You can request a demo from this link here.
6. AuditBoard (AuditBoard Compliance)
AuditBoard is a cloud-based compliance and risk management platform that you can use to audit your IT environment. With AuditBoard you can manage compliance assessments through a single platform. You can record frameworks, framework requirements, and controls alongside a Control UID to identify compliance gaps. Frameworks supported by the software include PCI DSS, SOX, ISO, GDPR, NIST, and more.
Key features:
- Manage compliance frameworks through a single platform
- Role-based dashboards
- Reports
- Notifications
Why do we recommend it?
AuditBoard is recommended for its comprehensive compliance and risk management capabilities, making it a versatile tool for managing various compliance assessments.
General compliance monitoring activities can be carried out through the dashboard, where your team can monitor issues discovered within your environment with role-based views. You can also run self-assessments to prepare for auditing. If you find a security issue, AuditBoard enables you to designate remediation owners who will be responsible for resolving the issues found.
To help you stay on top of regulatory requirements, AuditBoard comes with notifications. Automated notifications let you know about updates to controls, new tasks, review requests, and more. There is also a custom report builder you can use to create reports.
Who is it recommended for?
Best suited for enterprises requiring an all-encompassing platform for compliance assessments and managing compliance gaps, especially those dealing with standards like PCI DSS, SOX, ISO, GDPR, and NIST.
Pros:
- Single platform for managing multiple compliance frameworks
- Customizable reports and automated notifications
- Role-based dashboards for efficient monitoring
- Streamlines compliance assessments and gap remediation
Cons:
- Pricing and plan details not transparent; requires direct contact with sales team
AuditBoard is a tool that will work well for enterprises that need to manage compliance assessments and remediate compliance gaps efficiently. To view information on pricing, you need to contact the sales team directly for a quote. You can schedule a demo from this link here.
7. ZenGRC
ZenGRC is a cloud-based risk and compliance management tool that provides you top-down control of your environment’s compliance status. With ZenGRC you can map controls to regulatory frameworks so you can see what you need to do to comply with particular regulations. The tool comes with pre-configured templates for regulations including PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX, which makes preparing for compliance more efficient.
Key features:
- Map controls to regulatory frameworks
- Automate evidence requests
- Real-time reports
- Integrations with AWS, Jira, Splunk, Slack, and more.
Why do we recommend it?
ZenGRC is recommended for its ability to provide top-down control of compliance status, with a focus on mapping controls to regulatory frameworks for better compliance management.
Through the dashboard, you can monitor controls and risks throughout your environment. The platform also allows you to automate evidence requests so that you can submit evidence within the tool. Real-time status reports allow you to reflect on your compliance standing at any time.
There is a wide variety of integrations with applications including Jira, AWS, Splunk, Slack, Tableau, and Qualys, enabling the tool to mesh within your current operations smoothly. For example, you can automatically sync workflows and tickets between ZenGRC and Jira to manage audit tasks.
Who is it recommended for?
Ideal for companies needing to manage compliance across multiple regulatory frameworks and seeking a tool that offers real-time status reports and efficient integrations.
Pros:
- Effective mapping of controls to regulatory frameworks
- Real-time reporting on compliance status
- Broad range of integrations with popular applications
- Automates evidence requests for streamlined compliance
Cons:
- Might be too specialized for organizations with less complex compliance needs
ZenGRC is ideal for companies that want to manage multiple regulatory frameworks and their overall compliance status through a single solution. To view pricing information for the program you need to contact the company directly for a quote. You can request a demo from this link here.
8. LogicGate Risk Cloud Compliance Management
LogicGate Risk Cloud is a compliance management tool you can use to manage compliance tasks within your environment. With LogicGate Risk Cloud, you can create a centralized repository of compliance tasks with dashboards and reports. On the dashboard, there is a range of graphs and charts which enable you to visualize metrics such as Compliance Cases Per Month and Cases by Department.
Key features:
- Monitor compliance tasks
- Conditional task workflows
- Automated reminders
- Customizable reports
Why do we recommend it?
LogicGate Risk Cloud is recommended for its ability to centralize and automate compliance management tasks, offering a comprehensive view of compliance cases and metrics.
Conditional task workflows allow you to automate the assignment of tasks to members of your team. The process automates due dates and priority levels of compliance tasks so you don’t have to manually manage or route tasks to members of your team, which rescues the amount of time spent on administration.
To ensure that other members of your team are managing tasks efficiently the platform comes with automated reminders. Reminder notifications notify users when they need to complete a task such as signing-off on a document or uploading evidence. Reminder notifications mean you don’t have to manually message members of your team.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is ideal for enterprises seeking a centralized platform for managing compliance tasks efficiently and meeting regulatory deadlines with ease.
Pros:
- Centralizes compliance management tasks
- Conditional workflows for task automation
- Automated reminders to ensure task completion
- Customizable reports for better compliance insights
Cons:
- May require a learning curve to fully utilize its extensive features
LogicGate Risk Cloud is ideal for enterprises that want to centralize compliance management tasks and meet regulatory deadlines more easily. To view pricing, you need to contact the company directly. You can request a demo from this link here.
9. SolarWinds Security Event Manager
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a log management tool that you can use to collect and monitor logs from systems throughout your environment. SolarWinds Security Event Manager supports your compliance tracking efforts by allowing you to identify security events that pose a risk to your data.
Key Features:
- Collect and monitor log data
- Event log correlation
- Audit logon events
- Compliance Reports
- Threshold-based alerts
Why do we recommend it?
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is highly recommended for its efficient log management and compliance tracking capabilities. Its automated event log correlation and threshold-based alerts make it a powerful tool for quickly detecting and responding to security threats.
To detect security events quickly, SolarWinds Security Event Manager uses event correlation. Event log correlation automates log normalization, correlation, and analysis to automatically detect and respond to cyber threats. There are also threshold-based alerts to notify you about any other problematic activities occurring.
The software enables you to monitor audit logon events to track when users access resources. You can audit users on Active Directory to make sure that there is no unauthorized or malicious activity. Predefined compliance reports allow you to comply with regulatory frameworks such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX. Reports can be scheduled or generated on-demand and customized according to your needs.
Who is it recommended for?
This tool is ideal for enterprises needing a robust solution for security threat detection and compliance reporting. It is particularly useful for organizations required to comply with regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX.
Pros:
- Efficient log data collection and monitoring
- Automated event log correlation for threat detection
- Compliance reporting for major regulatory standards
- Threshold-based alerts for proactive security management
Cons:
- May be complex for smaller businesses
SolarWinds Security Event Manager is a tool for enterprises that require a solution capable of detecting security threats with compliance reporting capabilities. The cost of a perpetual license starts at $4,805 (£3,851). Software is available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. You can start the 30-day free trial.
10. Onspring Audit Management Software
Onspring Audit Management Software is a cloud-based audit and compliance management tool that you can use to manage compliance projects in real-time. The software allows you to view information on project status, risk assessments, work papers, and more.
Key features:
- Automated workflows
- Role-based dashboards
- Issue management
- Audit reports
Why do we recommend it?
Onspring Audit Management Software is highly recommended for its cloud-based audit and compliance management capabilities, particularly for real-time project management.
When you discover an issue within your environment, you can use Onspring Audit Management Software’s issue management capabilities to track those issues. Auto-reminders notify employees when there is a compliance gap that needs to be addressed.
The platform is fully-equipped to support teams and provides automated workflows that allow you to assign tasks to employees. Role-based dashboards enable each user to monitor compliance status efficiently and effectively.
Who is it recommended for?
Best for enterprise environments with teams managing regulatory compliance in real-time, offering capabilities like issue management, automated workflows, and role-based dashboards.
Pros:
- Efficient issue management for tracking compliance gaps
- Automated workflows and role-based dashboards
- Supports real-time management of compliance projects
- Tailored for team collaboration and efficient audit processes
Cons:
- Pricing per user may be expensive for smaller teams or businesses
Onspring Audit Management Software is a solid solution for enterprise environments with teams trying to manage regulatory compliance. Pricing starts at $175 (£140) per user per month for the Team Edition, which supports up to 20 users. You can schedule a demo from this link here.
11. Lepide Data Security Platform
Lepide Data Security Platform is an auditing tool that allows you to audit access to your data. With the Lepide Data Security Platform, you can monitor user changes to your data such as modifying, deleting, or copying a file. Monitoring changes allows you to verify that no malicious activity has taken place, and if any unwanted changes have been made, you can use a rollback feature to eliminate them.
Key features:
- Monitor user changes
- Machine-learning driven threat detection
- Real-time alerts
- Reports
Why do we recommend it?
Lepide Data Security Platform is recommended for its focus on auditing access to data, utilizing machine learning for threat detection and offering rollback features for data integrity.
To detect threats, the Lepide Data Security Platform uses machine learning to identify suspicious activity. When a potential security event is detected the platform generates an alert that prompts the user to take action. Users can create alerts with custom trigger conditions or set custom scripts that will launch automatically to start remediation.
Reports enable you to keep an eye on your data security throughout your environment. For example, you can generate a report on excessive permissions that displays in a table format which accounts have permissions to interact with your data.
Who is it recommended for?
Suitable for enterprises looking to closely monitor and manage data security and compliance, particularly those needing to track user changes and respond to security events promptly.
Pros:
- Machine-learning driven threat detection
- Real-time alerts for immediate response
- Monitors and audits user changes effectively
- Rollback feature for maintaining data integrity
Cons:
- Focus on data security auditing may not cover all aspects of broader IT compliance needs
Lepide Data Security Platform is a solution that’s suitable for enterprises seeking to manage general data security and regulatory compliance with compliance tracking software. To view pricing information, you need to contact the company directly for a quote. You can start the 15-day free trial.
Choosing Compliance Tracking Software: Editor’s Choice
If you want to manage compliance strategically and effectively then compliance tracking software is a must. Having top-down visibility gives you the ability to see where your compliance strategy is spot on and other areas where you need to change your approach.
Tools like SolarWinds Security Event Manager and ManageEngine Log360 are a good place to start if you want log management capabilities with compliance reporting, but if you want a complete compliance management tool AuditBoard or ZenGRC would be a better place to start.
However, we recommend that you conduct in-depth and independent research before onboarding a new solution. Evaluating a couple of potential tools will enable you to find the best fit for your environment.
