Who picks the auditor when I use a GRC platform?
You do. A GRC platform like Vanta, Drata, or Secureframe suggests firms from its partner network, but you choose and contract the auditor directly. The platform never assigns one, and you can bring an outside CPA firm instead.
The full answer
When you use a GRC platform, you pick the auditor; the platform only makes introductions. Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe each maintain a partner network and will suggest firms that already integrate with them, but the engagement letter and the invoice are between you and the CPA firm. Nothing is assigned to you automatically.
There is a structural reason the platform stays out of the decision. A SOC 2 report is an attestation issued by a licensed CPA firm under the AICPA's SSAE No. 18 standards, and under AICPA independence rules the firm that tests your controls cannot design or operate them. The platform helps you build and monitor controls, so it is deliberately separate from the auditor who judges them; it prepares you, it does not attest.
Because the choice is yours, treat the platform's list as a starting point, not a mandate. You can compare several partner firms, or bring an outside auditor you already trust and simply share your platform evidence with them. When you vet a firm, confirm it is a licensed CPA firm; those performing attestation engagements undergo AICPA peer review roughly every three years.
Price still varies by who you pick and your scope. 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), versus a typical US range of $5,000 to $60,000 or more elsewhere. Browse the directory to compare auditors and their platform integrations before you commit.
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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; Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe SOC 2 pricing guides, 2024-2026. 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.