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The 10 Best GRC Tools And Platforms For 2023

10 Best GRC Tools List

Here’s a quick summary of the best governance, risk, and compliance software:

  1. StandardFusion

    Best GRC tool for internal audits

  2. ServiceNow

    Best GRC automation tool

  3. Nasdaq BWise

    Best GRC tool for visibility and oversight

  4. 6clicks

    Best AI-powered GRC software

  5. SAP GRC

    Best GRC tool for first-party integrations

  6. SAI Global Compliance 360

    Best GRC tool for flexibility and customization

  7. Riskonnect

    Best GRC tool for usability and user experience

  8. MetricStream

    Best GRC assessment tool

  9. Navex RiskRate

    Best GRC tool for risk management

  10. Soterion

    Best for SAP customers

According to Deloitte, approximately 85% of surveyed organizations said that they would benefit from integrating and streamlining the use of technology for GRC (governance, risk, and compliance) activities.

With a number like that, it’s easy to see that most organizations want to take full advantage of a GRC platform.

But even so, many have yet to take the leap. If this sounds familiar, it’s my hope that this list of the best GRC tools will help you find what you’ve been looking for.

This article will help you quickly compare and evaluate the best GRC tools and other software for compliance and risk management. In this post, I’ll provide a simple GRC tools comparison and tell you what you should look for in GRC software vendors.

GRC Tools Criteria

What are we looking for when we select tools for review? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:

  1. User Interface (UI): Is it clean and attractive?
  2. Usability: Is it easy to learn and master? Does the company offer good tech support, user support, tutorials, and training? Is the GRC program designed with users in mind?
  1. Integrations: Is it easy to connect with other tools? Any pre-built integrations?
  2. Value for $: How appropriate is the price for the features, capabilities, and use case? Is pricing clear, transparent, and flexible?

GRC Software Key Features

Here are a few features that are absolute must-haves for any GRC solution.

  • Risk Analysis– Can the software analyze and assess risks and provide suggestions for future mitigation?
  • Compliance Database – Does the tool track and teach compliance initiatives in a way that keeps each team informed and on track?
  • Auditing Tools – Is the software built for appropriate financial, resource, or procedure audits as needed?
  • Reporting and analytics – Are the reporting tools robust, customizable, flexible, and visually appealing? Can they be exported into popular files types for review?
grc tools logos list

Overviews Of The GRC Tools

Here’s a brief description of each of the most popular compliance software that is featured on this top 10 list. Use this summary as a simple GRC software comparison before making the choice on what tool to pay for.

1

StandardFusion

Best GRC tool for internal audits

StandardFusion is an end-to-end GRC platform built to deliver the visibility, centralization, and collaboration that organizations need to mitigate information security risk and enable information security teams to drive revenue growth.

The platform is made up of six core solutions (Compliance, Risk, Audit, Vendor, Policy, and Incident), each built to be highly configurable with centralized data so that users can get visibility across all their compliance programs at any stage, and at any moment, produce an evidencable report to satisfy audits and stakeholders.

The old stigma of Risk, Compliance, and Information Security teams hindering growth, slowing productivity, impeding creativity, and generally getting in the way of everyone doing their job is gone. StandardFusion is empowering Information Security teams more than ever to grow revenue, speed up productivity, and gain new business.

The tool has a simplistic and powerful interface. Navigating within the software is straightforward and you can get anywhere you need in just a few clicks. Even users with limited knowledge of the software will catch on quickly with its intuitive layout. They also offer in-depth product training sessions and user guides. Technical support, in-person training, and dedicated success managers are all accessible as well.

StandardFusion’s modules allow users to efficiently manage their risks and compliance programs in a single location. You can assess and track the impact and likelihood of individual risks, mitigating actions, and summarize their outcomes using the report generator.

The software functions using a single set of common controls where users can create, manage, and monitor their controls and security programs to ensure compliance across multiple frameworks. With versatile auditing capabilities, you can perform both internal audits and track external audits to monitor compliance.

The software is framework agnostic and can manage compliance to multiple frameworks, including: ISO27001, SOC2, PCI DSS, NIST, FedRAMP, HIPAA and CCPA. StandardFusion has multiple existing integrations including: Jira, Confluence, Slack, OpenID, DUO, and Google Authenticator. We also have the option for single sign-on, integrations with UCF, and access to our API.

A final standout aspect of this tool is the transparent pricing structure, which can be tough to find in an enterprise-grade tool. Pricing terms are laid out upfront with no surprises. All plans grant users access to the full functionality of the platform, with additional included features and integrations as the plans scale.

StandardFusion pricing starts at $1500 for 3 users/month.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.8 18

14-day free trial

Flexible pricing tiers starting at $1500/month

2

ServiceNow

Best GRC automation tool

ServiceNow was named a Leader in the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Integrated Risk Management. This GRC tool helps to drive a culture of risk management with a unified data environment by giving the front line easy access to insights and tasks via chat, mobile apps, and portals.

The Reporting and Analytics features for ServiceNow are thorough and intuitive to use, offering great flexibility for whatever metrics you need to track. Thus, they scored well in this section of the Features & Functions evaluation criteria.

A con to note is that the ServiceNow Governance Risk and Compliance software could use some sprucing up when it comes to their reporting tools, which lack advanced filters and would do well to broaden its available data visualization schemes. But as you can see from the above screenshot, it does have some very easy-to-read graphics to help you visualize basic data.

ServiceNow Governance Risk and Compliance offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo.

This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.
4.1 335

Price upon request

3

Nasdaq BWise

Best GRC tool for visibility and oversight

This integrated suite of compliance solutions—powered by BWise technology—is designed to optimize your regulatory compliance program. Collect, access, transfer, or share data assets and safeguard data privacy and data protection with the BWise GDPR Compliance Solution.

Nasdaq BWise does a lot of things well but there are a few standout features I want to note here, like its friendly customizability options that allow users to navigate different, unique compliance initiatives across the organization. Additionally, the integration with TeamMate is helpful for testing purposes.

The user interface is a bit gloomy and the organization of the data is quite stiff; though it does the trick, it looks neither modern nor appealing. Thus, Nasdaq BWise lost a few marks in the UX segment of the evaluation criteria.

A special shout-out goes to BWise’s seamless tracking of audit testing and results; if audits are giving you grief, this solution can help.

Nasdaq BWise offers pricing upon request and has a free demo.

Free demo

Offers pricing upon request

4

6clicks

Best AI-powered GRC software

6clicks was founded in 2019 and has offices in the United States, United Kingdom, India, and Australia. It was built for businesses of all shapes and sizes and is also used by advisors with a world-class partner program and white label capability available.

6clicks is an easy way to implement your risk and compliance program or achieve compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, NIST, FedRamp, and many other standards.

Hundreds of businesses trust 6clicks to set up and automate their risk and compliance programs and streamline audit, vendor risk assessment, incident and risk management and policy implementation. You can easily import standards, laws, regulations, or templates from their massive content library and use AI-powered features to automate manual tasks.

That offer tools for asset management, a content library, audits & assessments, incident playbooks, obligation management, compliance registers, risk management, compliance mapping, policies & control sets, task & project management, reporting & analytics, and workflow automation.

6clicks integrates with over 3,000 third-party apps to connect your whole tech stack; these include but are not limited to Thinkific, Google Analytics, Intercom, Intruder, Panurgy, Mailparser, Jira Service Desk, OpsGenie, Todoist, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Freshservice, Twilio, monday.com, Oracle, GitHub, HelloSign, Power BI, and Slack.

6clicks costs from $4800/year with a $450 onboarding fee and offers a 14-day free trial.

14 days free trial

From $4800/year

5

SAP GRC

Best GRC tool for first-party integrations

SAP GRC lets users integrate GRC processes on a common technology platform. Features include risk strategy and planning; a unified repository for process control information; audit planning, management, and performance; and exception detection and compliance checks.

SAP offers myriad first-party products and services available to integrate with their core GRC system. Users can customize the package they want and only pay for what they need. Thus, they scored well in the Integration segment of the evaluation.

A downside of the software is that it takes a while for implementation and training, leaving users to cope with a steep learning curve and minimal assistance-giving resources.

Users will enjoy the solution’s sophisticated way of producing a global repository, which is crucial for smooth GRC processes.

SAP GRC costs from $500-15,000 per license and has a free demo.

3 days free trial

From $500-15,000/license

6

SAI Global Compliance 360

Best GRC tool for flexibility and customization

This GRC tool enables a vantage point for third-party business disruptions. It also delivers enhanced UI and intuitive-to-navigate experience along with some robust risk intelligence reports.

SAI Global Compliance 360 excels in a few noteworthy features: A) the ability to execute company-wide training on current policies and procedures, and B) automating critical workflow steps for permissions, etc, in order to hold people accountable.

As far as navigation and ease of use is considered, SAI Global Compliance 360 is a bit complex and cluttered. Users may feel like they have to execute multiple clicks for tasks that should take one or two. So, they lost a few evaluation points in the Usability criteria section.

If you are looking for the perfect GRC fit, know that SAI Global Compliance 360 is a hugely flexible product; ask their support team to help customize exactly what you need.

SAI Global Compliance 360 offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo.

30 days free trial

Offers custom pricing upon request

7

Riskonnect

Best GRC tool for usability and user experience

Riskonnect is a global leader in integrated risk management technology and the world’s largest RMIS provider. It seamlessly consolidates data from multiple sources, automates routine processes, and uses analytics to turn complicated information into actionable intelligence.

Riskonnect has extensive resources for training, scoring them well in the Usability category of the evaluation. They have a robust customer care department with many ways to reach them, a blog with case studies and testimonials about industry leaders, and a webinar series.

A critique of the Riskonnect software is that some of the features open to Admins are a bit clunky and difficult to use.

This solution empowers GRC professionals to create audit plans, store important documents, and summarize any resulting data easily.

Riskonnect offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo.

Free demo

Offers custom pricing upon request

8

MetricStream

Best GRC assessment tool

MetricStream GRC streamlines compliance processes with standardized workflows and support for self-assessments, surveys, and issue remediation; it provides real-time insights into compliance processes through intuitive dashboards and charts, enabling decision-making.

A highlight of this software is its internal audit management facilities, which allow users to easily and intuitively streamline and automate the internal audit lifecycle. Additionally, the program has means to eliminate any duplications of work and information, saving users time.

MetricStream GRC lost a few points in the Value for Cost evaluation, as the license fee is quite a hefty price point. In addition to the one-time licensing fee there are also set-up fees and ongoing support fees that come into the mix, making the cost jump further.

Anyone worried about the deployment of a new GRC solution will revel in MetricStream’s uber-easy implementation and top tier customer support.

MetricStream GRC starts at $100,000 as a one-time license fee and has a free demo.

Free demo

Pricing upon request

9

Navex RiskRate

Best GRC tool for risk management

RiskRate automatically screens your third party risks against the world’s largest risk intelligence database: more than 500 regulatory lists, 200,000 unique media publications, 1.5 million politically exposed persons (PEPs), and more than 8 million adverse media profiles.

Navex RiskRate has the modern flare and organization of sleek, contemporary software. Users of any experience level will be comfortable and familiar with this type of interface, which scored them favorably in the UX section of the evaluation.

A con to note is that determining redundancy/duplicate items or documents falls on the user, rather than being sorted by the software protocols, which will add time spent via manual intervention.

Navex RiskRate costs from $5000/year and has a free demo.

14 days free trial

From $5000/year

10

Soterion

Best for SAP customers

Soterion provides governance, risk, and compliance solutions for organisations running SAP and specialise in Security and Risk.

Soterion’s award-winning user-friendly GRC solutions provide SAP customers with in-depth access risk reporting to allow organizations to effectively manage their access risk exposure. Soterion simplifies governance, risk, and compliance processes, and uses business-friendly language and reporting to enhance decision making and business accountability.

Soterion’s product suite has a number of deployment options, including a subscription model as well as an outright purchase option. They offer an on-premise option, as well as a cloud option hosted in Soterion’s data centers, and a managed service option for customers looking to combine GRC expertise with Soterion’s GRC suite.

Additional features include the Basis Review Manager, for inspecting the SAP basis configuration to ensure compliance; the Elevated Rights Manager, for granting sensitive access in a safe and structured environment; and the Periodic Review Manager, for user access reviews performed by business users in a simple, workflow-driven web environment while facilitating external rule set and control reviews.

Soterion offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo.

Free demo

Offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo.

Need expert help selecting the right Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Software?

We’ve joined up with Crozdesk.com to give all our readers (yes, you!) access to Crozdesk’s software advisors. Just use the form below to share your needs, and they will contact you at no cost or commitment. You will then be matched and connected to a shortlist of vendors that best fit your company, and you can access exclusive software discounts!

The Best GRC Tools: Comparison Chart

Here’s my list of the best GRC tools, with a chart for quick comparison of free trials, free demos, and pricing information.

Tool Free Option Price
1
StandardFusion

Best GRC tool for internal audits

14-day free trial

Flexible pricing tiers starting at $1500/month Visit Website
2
ServiceNow

Best GRC automation tool

Not available

Price upon request Visit Website
3
Nasdaq BWise

Best GRC tool for visibility and oversight

Free demo

Offers pricing upon request Visit Website
4
6clicks

Best AI-powered GRC software

14 days free trial

From $4800/year Visit Website
5
SAP GRC

Best GRC tool for first-party integrations

3 days free trial

From $500-15,000/license Visit Website
6
SAI Global Compliance 360

Best GRC tool for flexibility and customization

30 days free trial

Offers custom pricing upon request Visit Website
7
Riskonnect

Best GRC tool for usability and user experience

Free demo

Offers custom pricing upon request Visit Website
8
MetricStream

Best GRC assessment tool

Free demo

Pricing upon request Visit Website
9
Navex RiskRate

Best GRC tool for risk management

14 days free trial

From $5000/year Visit Website
10
Soterion

Best for SAP customers

Free demo

Offers custom pricing upon request and has a free demo. Visit Website

Other Options For GRC Tools

Here’s a few more that didn’t make the best GRC tools list. If you need additional suggestions for handy compliance management tools, check these out.

  1. RSA Archer – Best GRC tool for IT teams
  2. Onspring – Best for managing vendor risk
  3. Reciprocity ZenGRC – Best GRC tool for corporate security and visibility into defense mechanisms
  4. Dataminr –  Best GRC tool for AI capabilities
  5. Resolver – Best GRC tool for information security
  6. Donesafe – Best for managing environment and workplace safety
  7. Seismic – Best GRC tool for ensuring adherence to brand and regulatory guidelines
  8. LogicGate – Best GRC tool for cross-department collaboration
  9. Refinitiv Connected Risk – Best for GRC workflow management
  10. Apptega – Best for cybersecurity compliance
  11. Procipient – Best GRC tool for audit scheduling and management
  12. Galvanize – Best GRC tool for government organizations
  13. Aylien – Best for risk management using data from the news and other media
  14. Fixnix FreshGRC – Best for real-time monitoring

GRC Tools FAQ

Have some questions about governance and compliance? Check out this handy FAQ before moving on to the tool summaries. These questions and answers allow you to better understand what the best GRC tools bring to the table.

What is GRC Software?

Governance, risk management and compliance software (GRC Software) is a means for publicly-held enterprises to manage IT-related operations that require regulation and ensure they are meeting compliance and risk standards. Risk navigation software tends to center around four components: strategy, processes, technology, and people. With this type of software solution, it’s easier and more efficient to:

  • Conduct an internal audit
  • Reduce operational risk
  • Gain control over your incident management plan
  • Implement automation to save your organization time and money
  • Focus on policy management
  • Streamline internal communication

Now that you understand the basics of GRC software, I’ll turn my attention to why implementing a compliance platform is a good idea.

What Are The Benefits Of Using GRC Tools?

The right GRC tools can help publicly-owned companies:

  • Increase their value by providing preventative strategy
  • Generate fast reporting so that decisions can be made more swiftly and surely
  • Detect exceptions in order to reduce damage as quickly as possible
  • Automate detective controls for increased efficiently
  • Reduce compliance costs going forward
  • Get real-time alerts if/when regulations change
  • Shorten audit cycles
  • Business continuity in regards to compliance processes and compliance programs
  • Configurable to meet the needs of your organization

There are other benefits of an enterprise GRC, but these are among the most important.

What Are The Common Features Of GRC Tools?

Most GRC tools will have some degree of the following features: content management; document management; user event input/output, distribution, and communication; risk analytics; risk and control management; workflow management; audit management; information security; regulatory compliance management; and dashboards and reporting (with key metrics).

The best GRC tools have all these features—among others—to provide an all-in-one solution. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the healthcare industry and have to keep HIPAA in mind, or another regulated field, you need a tool that covers you across the board.

What is Integrated Risk Management (IRM)?

Integrated risk management (sometimes referred to as enterprise risk management) goes hand in hand with governance, risk, and compliance.

Gartner defines integrated risk management as follows:

Integrated risk management (IRM) is a set of practices and processes supported by a risk-aware culture and enabling technologies, that improves decision making and performance through an integrated view of how well an organization manages its unique set of risks.

Some of the many attributes of integrated risk management include:

  • Strategy
  • Assessment
  • Response
  • Communication and reporting
  • Monitoring

To understand the many risks associated with your organization, you need a comprehensive overview of all risk and compliance functions, along with any external connections, such as suppliers and business partners.

With the help of a GRC platform, you gain access to the tools you need to assist with IRM.

What’s The Average GRC Price?

Robust GRC software will typically cost upward of $200,000 for software, hardware, and implementation. GRC costs may reach as high as $600,000.

Are There Any Open Source GRC Tools?

Yes! For example, Eramba and OCEG state on their websites that they have open source solutions.

Not looking for compliant risk management software? Check out our other lists of useful project management tools:

  1. Need some alternative risk management help? We do a risk management software comparison here with additional helpful solutions.
  2. Enterprise Project Management will typically involve some form of comprehensive risk control. Check out a few enterprise project management software platforms.
  3. Risk and compliance tools should be just another item in your Business Process toolkit. You may want to consider business process management systems to stay organized.

About Managing Risk In Information Systems

Managing risk in IT is the process by which companies navigate potential uncertainty and damages using software and tools specifically designed to help do so. IT GRC tools may help determine and mitigate risks associated with the use, ownership, operation, involvement, influence, and adoption of IT within a company and for all the users involved.

Risk governance in IT is generally considered to be one part of a larger, all-encompassing risk management strategy for the enterprise. IT risk management may involve being able to define digital assets, having the ability to apply and monitor controls over IT systems, determine risks based on business criticality or technical severity, imagine and evaluate various remediation options, and set risk thresholds for IT processes.

Information technology is constantly changing—evolving in scope, capabilities, and the laws that surround it. In that sense, compliance control is vital to ensure your processes are always up-to-date, particularly around security and privacy protocols.

What Do You Think About This GRC Tools List?

Have you tried out any risk compliance performance solutions listed above? Is there any governance risk and compliance software you would add to this list? Is there a particular GRC platform that you rely on?

Related Read: Project Manager’s Guide To Implementing A Compliance Program

Worth Checking Out: What Is 6clicks? Overview & Tour Of Features

By Ben Aston

I’m Ben Aston, a digital project manager and founder of thedpm.com. I've been in the industry for more than 15 years working in the UK at London’s top digital agencies including Dare, Wunderman, Lowe and DDB. I’ve delivered everything from film to CMS', games to advertising and eCRM to eCommerce sites. I’ve been fortunate enough to work across a wide range of great clients; automotive brands including Land Rover, Volkswagen and Honda; Utility brands including BT, British Gas and Exxon, FMCG brands such as Unilever, and consumer electronics brands including Sony.

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3 Comments

  • HI Ben: I have gone through your review of GRC software companies and found it helpful. Are you open to reviewing another solution that we created? It would be worthwhile for us to get your take on how to best position it in the market. Thanks,

    Reply

  • GRC stands for Governance, Risk, and Compliance. Suggest an update to the article title : )

    Reply

    • Thank you! It's been updated.

      Reply

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