Secureframe vs Delve in 2025: A Practical Comparison | ISO 27001 Compliance Tools

    Secureframe vs Delve in 2025: A Practical Comparison

    If you are shortlisting compliance tools, chances are Secureframe and Delve are already on your radar. Both promise faster audits, fewer spreadsheets, and cleaner auditor handoffs. They simply take different routes to get you there.

    Snapshot: What each tool is built to do

    What is Secureframe

    Secureframe is a compliance management platform aimed at early to mid-stage companies that want a fast path to certifications like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA. Think templates, guided setup, and a big library of integrations that help teams replace screenshots with automated evidence pulls. The experience is intentionally simple, which is why many first-time compliance teams pick it.

    Strengths you will notice

    Out-of-the-box policies and control mappings for major frameworks

    300+ integrations covering cloud, HR, and identity providers

    Clean interface with low learning curve

    Fast setup for standard SaaS stacks

    Limitations buyers report

    Less granular insight into why specific checks fail

    Some integrations can be finicky and need manual intervention

    Broad alerts can create noise, including occasional false positives

    Less flexible for complex multi-framework or multi-entity setups

    What is Delve

    Delve is an AI-forward compliance platform designed for fast onboarding and deep automation across live workflows. Rather than lean on static checklists, Delve uses agents that capture evidence from real activity, scan code and infra for policy drift, and prefill vendor questionnaires from your compliance context. It appeals to teams that want speed, smart assistance, and high-touch support.

    Strengths you will notice

    AI agents that automate evidence capture, even for custom stacks

    Real-time monitoring across infra and code with proactive risk surfacing

    24/7 access to real experts via Slack and Zoom for hands-on help

    Trust report and audit prep that aim to reduce last-mile scramble

    Limitations buyers consider

    Fewer native integrations than older platforms, so some coverage relies on agents or APIs

    Rapidly evolving product that may require iteration on advanced features

    Pricing is custom and often sits in the mid to upper bracket

    Side-by-side: Secureframe vs Delve at a glance

    CategorySecureframeDelve
    Primary focusFast, template-led compliance for common frameworksAI-assisted automation tied to real workflows
    Framework coverage35+ frameworks with ready templatesCore standards plus custom programs, exact count not public
    Automation depthStrong for checklists and evidence via integrationsDeeper automation with AI agents, browser actions, and rules
    Integrations300+, broad coverage for cloud and HRAbout 100+ and growing, strong APIs for custom checks
    Evidence handlingAuto-pulls where supported, manual uploads to fill gapsAutomated capture from apps, CI, and browser agents
    Continuous monitoringGood control checks through integrationsReal-time alerts, predictive risk signals, code plus infra
    Risk managementSolid register and tracking, more manual ownershipDynamic scoring, custom workflows, risk to control mapping
    Audit experiencePartner console for auditors, structured tasksHigh-touch audit management with expert support
    Support modelGuided onboarding plus knowledge base and partners24/7 human support in Slack and Zoom, hands-on help
    Typical buyerFirst-time teams closing deals with one or two frameworksFast-growing teams with custom stacks and tight timelines

    Deep Dive on the Essentials

    1. Onboarding and Time to Value

    Secureframe

    Provides guided templates, a clean checklist, and self-serve docs. Your team does more of the setup, so pace depends on internal bandwidth. Strong fit for straightforward environments.

    Delve

    Uses an AI-native interface and assigns specialists who help map workflows and close gaps. Teams often report full setup in days, with expert help reducing back and forth.

    Verdict: Secureframe is great if you prefer a familiar, checklist-style start. Delve is better when you want a co-pilot sitting next to you, cutting setup time with hands-on guidance.

    2. Evidence Collection

    Secureframe

    Captures evidence automatically from 300+ integrations. Where no connector exists, manual uploads are required. Coverage is broad but may need workarounds for custom tools.

    Delve

    Uses AI agents to pull evidence from live workflows, browser actions, and CI/CD pipelines. This approach handles custom stacks without needing pre-built connectors.

    Verdict: Delve has the edge on breadth of capture methods. Secureframe is sufficient if you are mostly plug-and-play.

    3. Continuous Monitoring and Alerting

    Secureframe

    Monitors connected systems and flags control failures. Alerts are reliable for common scenarios, though some users want more context and fewer false positives.

    Delve

    Emphasizes live signals. It prioritizes issues based on likelihood and impact and ties alerts to remediation in tools like Jira to reduce drift between audits.

    Verdict: Delve for teams that want always-on monitoring with richer context. Secureframe for steady, integration-led checks without heavy tuning.

    4. Risk and Governance

    Secureframe

    Offers a clean risk register, ownership, and status tracking. Good enough for audit documentation and leadership visibility.

    Delve

    Adds dynamic scoring, custom formulas, and direct mapping from risks to controls and evidence. Better fit when risk posture changes quickly.

    Verdict: Secureframe keeps risk simple. Delve gives you full risk analytics.

    5. Vendor Management and Questionnaires

    Secureframe

    Centralizes vendor records, documents, and review cycles. You can keep third-party artifacts in one place for audits.

    Delve

    Speeds vendor reviews with AI autofill for questionnaires, uses your existing compliance context, and monitors vendor access for changes.

    Verdict: Secureframe for orderly vendor files and periodic reviews. Delve for faster questionnaires and continuous vendor risk signals.

    6. Integrations and Extensibility

    Secureframe

    Wins on raw count. Coverage across clouds, HRIS, IdP, and endpoint tools is broad, which shortens setup for common stacks.

    Delve

    Supports fewer ready connectors but compensates with agents and APIs that work in custom environments.

    Verdict: If your stack matches the integration catalog, Secureframe feels easy. If you have bespoke systems or internal apps, Delve's agent approach can be faster overall.

    7. Audit Experience

    Secureframe

    Standardizes auditor collaboration with a partner console, structured tasks, and status. It keeps things tidy when your team drives the process.

    Delve

    Pairs you with real experts, manages timelines, and provides live support during busy weeks. Many teams find this reduces last-mile stress.

    Verdict: Run it yourself with Secureframe. Offload the coordination with Delve.

    Real-world Tradeoffs

    Choose Secureframe if you want

    A simple, well-trodden path to your first SOC 2 or ISO 27001

    A large library of templates and integrations that align with a standard SaaS stack

    A clean interface and light learning curve for non-security teams

    Predictable pricing for one or two certifications a year and a self-managed audit style

    Accept that you may

    Handle some manual uploads for niche systems

    See less context in certain alerts

    Do more of the coordination during audit weeks

    Choose Delve if you want

    AI-driven evidence capture that adapts to your exact workflows

    24/7 expert access for onboarding, audits, and vendor demands

    Real-time monitoring across code and infra with issue prioritization

    Faster questionnaires and tighter vendor access oversight

    Accept that you may

    Rely on agents or APIs when native connectors are not available

    Work with a newer product that is evolving quickly

    Need upfront time to align AI rules and review outputs

    Feature Checklist You Can Share with Stakeholders

    FeatureSecureframeDelve
    Supported frameworks35+ with ready templatesCore standards plus custom programs
    Automation coverageChecklist automation and auto evidence via integrationsAI agents for capture, CI plus infra scans, browser actions
    Evidence gapsManual uploads for niche systemsAgents and APIs handle most custom scenarios
    MonitoringIntegration-driven checks and alertsReal-time, context-rich alerts with prioritization
    Risk managementRegister, owners, statusDynamic scoring, custom formulas, risk to control mapping
    Vendor reviewsCentralized repository and periodic reviewsAutofill questionnaires and continuous access oversight
    Audit supportAuditor console and task workflowsHigh-touch help with experts on call

    Pricing Notes and Total Cost Thinking

    Neither vendor posts full public pricing for every tier. What shapes total cost in practice:

    Secureframe

    Tends to be friendly for first certifications. Costs can rise with more frameworks and premium add-ons, but remain predictable for smaller scopes.

    Delve

    Usually lands higher per year, but many teams recoup value through reduced manual lift, faster audits, and fewer outside consulting hours.

    Map the quote to your reality:

    • • How many frameworks will you manage in the next 12 to 18 months
    • • How custom is your stack and how much evidence is manual today
    • • Who coordinates audits and questionnaires, your team or the vendor
    • • What is the cost of drift and late surprises between audits

    Final Verdict

    Secureframe is a strong fit for teams that want speed and simplicity for a first or second certification and prefer to run a self-managed audit with a familiar integration catalog. It is straightforward, widely adopted, and easy to explain to non-security stakeholders.

    Delve is a better match for teams that value AI-assisted automation, need to cover custom stacks without babysitting connectors, and want high-touch help during onboarding and audits. If you live in code and infra and you want compliance to follow the work automatically, Delve's model will feel modern and fast.

    If your roadmap includes two or more frameworks, custom internal systems, and strict timelines, Delve's automation depth and expert support can deliver outsized ROI. If you just need to get SOC 2 or ISO 27001 done well with minimal change management, Secureframe will get you there cleanly.

    The Best Choice for Startups Racing to ISO 27001

    Startups that want to ramp up by achieving ISO 27001 quickly often choose Smartly because:

    Fast

    Most teams reach audit readiness in 15 to 30 days with clause-by-clause guidance and mock audit scoring.

    All-Inclusive

    You pay to get certified, not for a string of services along the way. Certification fees and internal audit are covered.

    Predictable

    Transparent pricing and APAC time zone support keep the project lean while your team focuses on shipping.

    If ISO 27001 is the milestone blocking your next deal, Smartly gives you a focused, guided path that removes the uncertainty and gets you to certified with confidence.

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