GRC SOFTWARE COMPARISON
Compare policies, risks, evidence, AI governance and the cost of running your programme. CISO Assistant’s documented focus is open-source GRC with hosted and on-premises options; Defensiq connects GRC records with AI inventory, assessments and human reviews.
Prepared by Defensiq from product documentation and linked official sources. This dated comparison is not an independent product test; confirm current availability and pricing with each vendor.
FUNCTIONALITY, SIDE BY SIDE
Product-level capabilities; availability varies by plan and configuration. “Confirm with vendor” means the reviewed material does not establish the requested scope.
Showing Defensiq alongside CISO Assistant.
| What matters to your team | DefensiqOUR PLATFORMConnected GRC work and AI reviews | CISO AssistantOpen-source GRC with hosted and on-premises options |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial model | ||
| PricingWhat is the charging model? | Scope varies14-day GRC trial + free AI plan Open sign-up. GRC has a 14-day trial; AI Governance Free is free forever within basic limits. Paid GRC plans and add-ons are quoted for your scope. Product details | Scope varies€39/contributor/month Pro SaaS, billed annually, excluding taxes. 100 readers included. Community is free and self-hosted. Source |
| DeploymentWho operates the platform? | Scope variesHosted application Confirm hosting and processing terms for your organisation. Self-hosting is not an advertised offer here. Product details | Scope variesSaaS or self-hosted Pro on-premises starts at €2,400/year for 1–5 contributors. Deployment options have different prices. Source |
| Running the programme | ||
| Frameworks & controlsHow are requirements organised? | Scope variesScope, implementation & assurance Selected ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR and other content; editions and coverage vary. Custom requirements supported. Product details | |
| Policy managementHow are policies maintained? | DocumentedDraft through acknowledgement Reviews, approvals, publication, version history and employee acknowledgements. Product details | Confirm with vendorDocument management Confirm policy approvals, publication and acknowledgement requirements. Source |
| Risk & treatmentHow does an assessment lead to action? | DocumentedAssessment, treatment & acceptance Owners, linked actions, acceptance rationale, validity and review dates. Product details | |
| Assets & business contextWhat can the team keep track of? | DocumentedAssets, services & dependencies Maintained records connect business context with risks and supporting work. Product details | |
| Supplier riskHow are third parties reviewed? | Scope variesSupplier add-on Profiles, offerings, onboarding risk proposals and links to assets. Eligible base plan required. Product details | |
| Incidents & continuityWhat supports response and recovery planning? | Scope variesIncident and continuity records Incidents, business impact, recovery plans and exercises. Access depends on plan and capabilities. Product details | Scope variesIncidents & business impact analysis Confirm recovery-plan and exercise requirements. Source |
| Evidence and oversight | ||
| Evidence collectionWhat is uploaded, connected or automated? | Scope variesUpload, link & review User-managed evidence. Broad automatic collection through provider connectors is not claimed. Product details | Scope variesEvidence, API & workflow integrations Pro adds ITSM integrations and webhooks; confirm automated collection for each source. Source |
| Reporting & auditWhat supports a review? | Scope variesReports and scoped audit preparation Snapshots, management outputs and audit records. Relevant modules and access required. Product details | |
| AI governanceHow is the organisation’s use of AI governed? | Scope variesFree forever; Advanced review workflow Free-forever basic inventory and assessments, within usage limits. Advanced human decisions, controls and evidence need Business/Enterprise + AI add-on. Product details | Confirm with vendorConfirm dedicated AI governance AI assistance is described separately; confirm AI inventory and approval workflow. Source |
| Customer trust portalCan customers review assurance information? | Confirm with vendorConfirm external sharing scope Scoped project auditor access is described. A complete customer trust portal is not offered in this comparison. Product details | Confirm with vendorReader access Pro SaaS includes readers; confirm a separate customer trust portal. Source |
What is the charging model?
Open sign-up. GRC has a 14-day trial; AI Governance Free is free forever within basic limits. Paid GRC plans and add-ons are quoted for your scope.
Product detailsPro SaaS, billed annually, excluding taxes. 100 readers included. Community is free and self-hosted.
SourceWho operates the platform?
Confirm hosting and processing terms for your organisation. Self-hosting is not an advertised offer here.
Product detailsPro on-premises starts at €2,400/year for 1–5 contributors. Deployment options have different prices.
SourceHow are requirements organised?
Selected ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR and other content; editions and coverage vary. Custom requirements supported.
Product detailsHow are policies maintained?
Reviews, approvals, publication, version history and employee acknowledgements.
Product detailsConfirm policy approvals, publication and acknowledgement requirements.
SourceHow does an assessment lead to action?
Owners, linked actions, acceptance rationale, validity and review dates.
Product detailsWhat can the team keep track of?
Maintained records connect business context with risks and supporting work.
Product detailsHow are third parties reviewed?
Profiles, offerings, onboarding risk proposals and links to assets. Eligible base plan required.
Product detailsWhat supports response and recovery planning?
Incidents, business impact, recovery plans and exercises. Access depends on plan and capabilities.
Product detailsConfirm recovery-plan and exercise requirements.
SourceWhat is uploaded, connected or automated?
User-managed evidence. Broad automatic collection through provider connectors is not claimed.
Product detailsPro adds ITSM integrations and webhooks; confirm automated collection for each source.
SourceWhat supports a review?
Snapshots, management outputs and audit records. Relevant modules and access required.
Product detailsHow is the organisation’s use of AI governed?
Free-forever basic inventory and assessments, within usage limits. Advanced human decisions, controls and evidence need Business/Enterprise + AI add-on.
Product detailsAI assistance is described separately; confirm AI inventory and approval workflow.
SourceCan customers review assurance information?
Scoped project auditor access is described. A complete customer trust portal is not offered in this comparison.
Product detailsPro SaaS includes readers; confirm a separate customer trust portal.
SourceMAKE THE DEMO USEFUL
Ask both teams to follow the same requirement or risk from its owner through evidence, review and follow-up. Check what your people can do in the proposed plan.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Bring a real workflow and the records your team needs to manage. Confirm the scope, plan and available modules in a focused demo.
