Engage Compliance vs Vanta | DPO vs Compliance Automation

Vanta automates security certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001). Engage handles privacy compliance (GDPR, DPO, DPIAs, breach management).
Where GDPR requires a DPO, it must be a named individual, not a software tool. Vanta does not replace a DPO.
Most Series A+ companies benefit from both: Vanta for security, Engage for privacy.

Key takeaways

Vanta and Engage solve different problems: Vanta automates security certifications (SOC 2, ISO 27001), while we handle privacy compliance (GDPR, DPO, DPIAs, breach management), and many companies use both.
Where GDPR requires a DPO, it must be a named individual rather than a software tool, so Vanta does not replace a DPO.
Vanta does not act as your named DPO, handle data subject requests or breach notification to regulators, or engage with supervisory authorities on your behalf.
Our pricing starts from €500 per month (€6,000 per year) for Advisory and €2,000 per month (€24,000 per year) for a full DPO, while Vanta’s pricing is quote-based.
We work with whatever tools you use, leveraging your existing Vanta documentation and building privacy governance on top of it.

What Vanta does well

Automated evidence collection for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS
Continuous monitoring of security controls
Streamlined audit preparation with timeline compression
Integrations with cloud infrastructure, HR tools, and developer platforms
Self-service compliance management for fast-moving startups

What Vanta does not do

Act as your named DPO with contact details communicated to a supervisory authority
Handle GDPR-specific compliance (data subject requests, DPIAs, breach notification to regulators)
Fill out enterprise vendor privacy questionnaires
Provide regulatory privacy guidance
Engage with supervisory authorities on your behalf
Handle complex cross-border data transfer assessments

When you need Vanta, Engage, or both

Vanta only: You need SOC 2 or ISO 27001 certification but don’t have significant GDPR or privacy obligations.

Engage only: You need a DPO, GDPR compliance, privacy documentation, and enterprise deal support but don’t need security certifications yet.

Both (common for Series A+ companies): Vanta handles your security certifications. Engage handles your privacy compliance, DPO appointment, and customer-facing privacy work. Many of our clients use this combination.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does Vanta replace a DPO?

No. Vanta automates security compliance workflows. A DPO provides privacy oversight, regulatory engagement, and accountability under GDPR. These are legally different responsibilities. GDPR requires a named human DPO where applicable, not a software tool.

Can Engage help with SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

We can advise on the privacy components of these certifications, but for the full certification process, a dedicated platform like Vanta is more efficient. We work alongside them.

How do the costs compare?

Vanta's pricing is quote-based and varies by company size and frameworks. Engage starts from €500 per month (€6,000 per year) for Advisory and €2,000 per month (€24,000 per year) for a full DPO. They're different budget lines solving different problems.

Can I start with Vanta and add Engage later?

Yes. Many companies start with Vanta for SOC 2 (often driven by a specific customer requirement) and add Engage later when GDPR or DPO needs arise.

Do you integrate with Vanta?

We work with whatever tools you use. If you're on Vanta, we leverage your existing compliance documentation and build privacy governance on top of it.