Cheap evidence-collection tool for DIY SOC 2

What to build

A self-hosted or lightweight SaaS toolkit that connects to AWS, GCP, GitHub, Google Workspace, and Okta via API, automatically pulls and timestamps SOC 2 evidence (access logs, config snapshots, user lists, MFA status) on a recurring schedule, and packages it into an auditor-ready export — built for small startups and dev teams preparing for SOC 2 without paying for Vanta, Drata, or Scytale.

Small teams pursuing SOC 2 are stuck choosing between expensive compliance platforms and brittle manual evidence collection in Notion or spreadsheets; a scoped, API-driven evidence collector could fill that gap at a fraction of the cost.

Demand

Early-stage founders and solo devs who get hit with a surprise customer requirement for a SOC 2 report are the core audience — they need to pass an audit fast and cheaply, and are actively comparing manual workarounds to paid platforms right now.

• r/microsaasDiscussion

  Thread: 'Anyone get through SOC 2 without paying for one of the big compliance tools?' — poster notes a customer asked for a SOC 2 report last week, prompting the search for cheaper alternatives

• Community discussion threadDiscussion

  Users asking whether anyone has completed SOC 2 certification without buying an expensive compliance automation platform, implying cost is a real barrier for smaller companies

• Signal opportunity descriptionAnalysis

  Opportunity framing describes manual Notion/spreadsheet evidence workflows as the current status quo being replaced, naming Vanta, Drata, and Scytale as the incumbent paid tools small teams are trying to avoid

Stack

• AWS SDK / Config API
• GCP Cloud Asset Inventory API
• GitHub REST/GraphQL API
• Google Workspace Admin SDK
• Okta API
• Postgres + cron scheduler (e.g. Supabase or self-hosted) for evidence storage and timestamping

Solo + AI difficulty

The individual API integrations (AWS, GCP, GitHub, Workspace, Okta) are each straightforward with AI-assisted coding, but covering all five reliably, handling auth/OAuth scopes, and producing a credible timestamped, tamper-evident export is the hard part; a narrow MVP covering just GitHub + AWS + Okta for one SOC 2 trust category is realistic in 3-4 weeks, with full coverage taking longer.

Entry threshold

Technically straightforward for a solo developer with AI help: scheduled API integrations and an export/report generator can be built in a few weeks. The harder part is learning enough SOC 2 control mapping and building enough trust to be chosen over established, well-funded compliance vendors.

Window

evergreen, 12+ months

Where to find first users

• r/microsaas and r/devops
• Indie Hackers compliance/startup-tools threads
• Product Hunt launch targeting early-stage SaaS founders
• Direct outreach in startup accelerator Slack/Discord communities (YC, On Deck) where SOC 2 requests are commonly discussed

Competitors

• Vanta
• Drata
• Scytale

Counter-signals & risks

• Incumbents like Vanta, Drata, and Scytale could move downmarket with cheaper tiers aimed at small teams, eroding the price gap this opportunity depends on.

• SOC 2 audits often require auditor sign-off on tooling and processes, so a DIY toolkit may face trust or credibility issues with auditors compared to established platforms.

• Building and maintaining reliable API integrations across AWS, GCP, GitHub, Google Workspace, and Okta requires ongoing upkeep as provider APIs change, which is costly to sustain for a lean toolkit.