Does Secureframe work with any auditor?
Mostly yes, but not automatically. Secureframe partners with a network of auditors and works best when your CPA firm has a confirmed integration that pulls evidence directly. Any independent auditor can accept Secureframe evidence, though non-integrated firms review it manually.
The full answer
There are two versions of 'works with,' and they matter. Any independent auditor can accept evidence produced in Secureframe, because a SOC 2 report is an attestation a licensed CPA firm issues under the AICPA's SSAE No. 18 standards, and the firm simply needs organized proof that your controls operated. In that sense Secureframe works with essentially any auditor.
The tighter meaning is a confirmed integration. Secureframe maintains a partner network of audit firms, and GRC platforms like it automate evidence collection so that integrated auditors can pull evidence directly from the platform. That removes a lot of screenshotting and email, so an integrated firm usually moves faster than one reviewing exported files by hand.
You are not locked in, though. Nothing in the standards forces you to use a Secureframe partner, and under AICPA independence rules the firm that tests your controls must be independent of the tools and people that built them; Secureframe prepares you, it does not attest. If you already have an auditor you trust, you can generally bring them and hand over Secureframe evidence.
Before you assume compatibility, ask a prospective firm directly whether they have a confirmed Secureframe integration or will work from exports. SOC 2 audits booked through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a promotional rate and average about $5,000 (AuditNex network rate card, 2026). Browse the directory to compare auditors and confirm platform support before you book.
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Related questions
Can I pass SOC 2 with spreadsheets instead of a GRC platform?
Yes. A GRC platform is not required to pass a SOC 2 audit; the AICPA standards mandate no specific tool. Spreadsheets and manual evidence work, but they add prep and audit hours as your control count grows.
Can I switch GRC platforms mid-SOC 2 audit?
Yes, but time it carefully. You can move between GRC platforms during a SOC 2 engagement because the audit is a CPA attestation, not tied to any tool. Switching mid-observation risks evidence gaps, so plan it with your auditor.
Can any auditor work with Vanta?
Usually yes. Any licensed CPA firm can audit a company that uses Vanta, but only auditors with a confirmed Vanta integration pull evidence directly from the platform. Others still work from exported reports, which adds some manual effort.
Do I need a GRC platform for SOC 2?
No, a GRC platform is not required for SOC 2. The audit is a CPA attestation under AICPA rules, not a software purchase. Platforms like Vanta or Drata speed evidence collection but are optional, especially for small scopes.
Do auditors charge less if I use Drata?
Usually not directly. Drata doesn't lower the auditor's fee itself, but by automating evidence collection it cuts the auditor's fieldwork hours, and some auditors pass part of that time savings along in their quote.
Does Drata include the SOC 2 audit?
No. Drata is a compliance automation platform, not a CPA firm, so it does not perform or issue the SOC 2 audit. You engage a licensed auditor separately, and that attestation fee is not part of your Drata plan.
Sources: AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards; AuditNex network rate card, 2026. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.