Twelve questions to ask in a SOC 2 software demo

Frameworks and integrations

1. Which frameworks are pre-mapped on the plan you are quoting, and how many can we add later without a new contract? 2. When a control satisfies SOC 2 and ISO 27001, do we collect the evidence once? 3. Which of our tools are covered by native integrations, and which would need manual evidence? Bring your list of cloud, identity, code and HR tools and check each one.

Service model and audit path

4. Who is our named contact after signing, and how often do we meet? 5. Who writes or reviews our policies? 6. Which auditors can we use, can we bring our own, and is each one a licensed CPA firm enrolled in AICPA peer review? 7. What business arrangement, if any, do you have with the auditors you recommend?

Pricing and plan limits

8. What is the price for our headcount and frameworks, and what is it at renewal? 9. Which features in this demo sit on a higher plan? Vendors publish plan contents in different detail: Secureframe publishes a starting price of $7,500/year for Fundamentals; Drata publishes a 50 FTE limit for Foundation; Vanta publishes questionnaire allowances of 25 and 144 a year on Plus and Professional; Sprinto lists 20 a year on Foundation.

Source: Secureframe pricing · read 2026-09-29

Source: Drata plans · read 2026-09-29

Source: Vanta pricing · read 2026-09-29

Source: Sprinto pricing · read 2026-09-29

AI and trust center

10. Which AI features are live today and which are announced? Scytale, for example, marks its AI Policy Generator as coming soon. 11. Who reviews AI-drafted questionnaire answers before they go to a customer? 12. Is a trust center included, and can we publish our report and policies there under NDA?

Source: Scytale AI agent · read 2026-09-29

How do you use the answers?

Score each answer against the same criteria we use, then open the calculator and set weights that match your priorities. If two vendors are close, the head-to-head pages show where each one leads.

What red flags should you listen for?

Vague answers about who your contact is after signing; features shown in the demo that sit on a plan you are not being quoted; integration claims without a list; and timelines promised before the vendor knows your scope. None of these rules a vendor out, but each one is worth a follow-up in writing.

How should you record the answers?

Use one table: vendors as columns, the twelve questions as rows, and a short answer in each cell. Add a column for evidence: a link, a document or a note of who said it. Answers given only verbally in a demo are worth asking for in writing before you sign, especially on price, plan limits and auditor arrangements.