Does Vanta include the SOC 2 audit?
No. Vanta is compliance software that automates evidence and readiness; it does not perform or issue the SOC 2 audit. A separate licensed CPA firm conducts the attestation, and that audit fee is billed separately from your Vanta subscription.
The full answer
Vanta is a governance, risk, and compliance platform, not an audit firm. Under the AICPA's SSAE No. 18 attestation standards, only a licensed CPA firm can perform a SOC 2 examination and sign the report. Vanta automates evidence collection, maps controls, and monitors your environment, but it cannot issue the opinion that a customer's security team actually wants to see.
The separation is also a rule, not just a business choice. Under AICPA independence requirements, an attestation firm cannot design or operate the controls it audits. That keeps the party building your compliance program distinct from the party judging it, which is why the platform vendor and the auditor are never the same entity.
In practice you buy Vanta to get audit-ready, then engage a CPA firm to run the examination. Vanta maintains a roster of audit partners, and an auditor with a confirmed integration can pull evidence directly from your Vanta instance, cutting fieldwork time. You are not locked into their referrals, though — you can bring your own qualified firm.
Budget for the two things separately. The Vanta subscription is one cost; the audit is another. SOC 2 audits booked through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 as a promotional rate and average about $5,000 per the AuditNex 2026 rate card, while the wider US market runs $5,000 to $60,000 or more by scope. Comparing several auditors before you commit helps you match a firm to your platform and your budget.
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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; AICPA independence rules (attestation); 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.