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 ten best compliance tracking software:
- SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL) – Log management software with event log correlation, alerts, compliance reports, and logon event auditing. Download a 30-day free trial.
- ManageEngine Log360 (FREE TRIAL) – 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Best Compliance Tracking Software
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. SolarWinds Security Event Manager (FREE TRIAL)
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
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.
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.
2. 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
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).
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.
3. 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
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 revied through this system.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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. 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
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.
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.
10. 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
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.
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.
