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For a high-level summary of all phases and tasks, navigate back to the Drata Rollout Toolkit Overview. |
Overview
Compliance for frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, and others is inherently cross-functional. No single team can "own" everything. This section helps you identify the teams and individuals that need to be involved, clarify what each function is responsible for in both the compliance program and in Drata, and assign roles before implementation begins.
Use this as a working document. As you identify names for each role at your company, write them in. Share it with each functional leader before implementation starts to confirm ownership.
Step 1: Identify and Secure Your Executive Sponsor
The single most important pre-implementation step is securing an Executive Sponsor with cross-functional authority. Their visible support signals to every team that this is a business priority, not just a compliance project.
Why an Executive Sponsor Is Critical
Why It Matters | What It Unlocks |
Authority to remove blockers | Breaks through organizational resistance; prioritizes Drata over competing demands |
Resource allocation | Secures budget, headcount, and time commitments from cross-functional teams |
Cultural signal | When leadership visibly supports Drata, it becomes a priority rather than another IT project |
Conflict resolution | Mediates when teams disagree on process changes or integration priorities |
6× success rate | Organizations with active executive sponsors are six times more likely to meet implementation goals |
Who Makes an Effective Executive Sponsor?
Look for leaders who:
Have cross-functional authority: CEO, COO, CFO, CRO, or CISO
Directly benefit from compliance outcomes — revenue impact, risk reduction, or operational efficiency
Have a track record of driving organizational change
Will actively participate in kickoffs, messaging, and addressing resistance
| 💡 Pro Tip: Use the Executive Leadership one-pager and email template to make the case. Frame it around business outcomes — revenue, risk, and efficiency — not compliance obligations. |
Roles & Responsibilities by Function
For each role below:
Identify the person or team at your company,
Assign their Drata access level, and
Confirm their responsibilities before implementation begins.
1. Executive Leadership / Executive SponsorTypical Titles: CEO, COO, CFO, CRO, CISO, CIO, VP of Security, VP of Engineering
Why This Team Matters: Provides strategic direction, funding, and authority. Aligns compliance with business goals, revenue, and risk appetite. Removes cross-functional blockers.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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2. GRC / Compliance / Security Program TeamTypical Titles: Director/Head of Compliance, GRC Manager, Security Compliance Lead, Information Security Officer
Why This Team Matters: Owns the overall compliance program, frameworks, and auditor relationships. Translates regulatory requirements into controls, policies, and processes.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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3. IT / IT Security / Identity & Endpoint ManagementTypical Titles: IT Director, IT Manager, IT Security Manager, Systems Administrator, IAM, Endpoint/MDM Admin
Why This Team Matters: Owns identity, access, devices, and many technical controls required by SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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4. Engineering / DevOps / Cloud InfrastructureTypical Titles: VP of Engineering, Director of Engineering, DevOps/SRE, Cloud Architect, Platform Engineer
Why This Team Matters: Owns infrastructure, SDLC, and production security — central to SOC 2 and ISO 27001. Often responsible for technical safeguards for personal data.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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5. HR / People / TalentTypical Titles: Head of People, HR Director, HR Manager, People Ops, Talent Ops
Why This Team Matters: Owns personnel lifecycle and many controls tied to employees and contractors — critical for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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6. Legal / Privacy / Data ProtectionTypical Titles: General Counsel, Legal Counsel, Privacy Counsel, Data Protection Officer (DPO), Privacy Manager
Why This Team Matters: Owns privacy obligations (GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, etc.), data processing agreements, and regulatory interactions. Especially important for privacy frameworks.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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7. Finance / Procurement / Vendor ManagementTypical Titles: CFO, Controller, Procurement Manager, Vendor Management, Third-Party Risk Manager
Why This Team Matters: Manages vendor lifecycle, contracts, and third-party risk — important for SOC 2/ISO 27001 and GDPR when vendors process personal data.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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8. Sales / Revenue TeamsTypical Titles: CRO, Head of Sales, Account Executives, , Solutions Engineering
Why This Team Matters: Front-line owners of customer trust conversations. Their needs often drive framework selection and timelines (e.g., achieving SOC 2 to unlock deals).
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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9. All Employees / General StaffTypical Titles: Individual contributors across all departments
Why This Team Matters: Many controls depend on every employee's behavior — training, device hygiene, policy adherence. Non-compliance at the individual level is a frequent audit and risk driver.
Compliance Responsibilities:
Drata Implementation Responsibilities:
Ongoing Drata Responsibilities:
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Drata Role & Responsibility Matrix
Use this matrix to assign Drata permissions and responsibilities. Adapt based on your org size and structure.
Function / Role | Typical Drata Role | Primary Responsibilities in Drata |
Executive Sponsor | Dashboard Viewer / Stakeholder | Review high-level posture; support cross-functional alignment |
GRC / Compliance / Security Program | Primary Admin, Framework Owner | Configure frameworks/controls; manage evidence; oversee audits and reporting |
IT / IT Security / IAM / Endpoint | Control Owner, Integration Owner | Connect IdP/MDM tools; own access/device-related tests and remediation |
Engineering / DevOps / Cloud | Control Owner (technical controls) | Connect cloud/dev tools; remediate infra and SDLC-related issues |
HR / People | Control Owner (personnel controls) | Connect HRIS; manage training and policy tasks; verify onboarding/offboarding |
Legal / Privacy / DPO | Control Owner (privacy controls) | Maintain privacy policies; review privacy controls and evidence |
Finance / Procurement / Vendor Mgmt | Contributor / Control Owner (vendor) | Maintain vendor data; support third-party risk workflows |
Sales / Customer-Facing | Viewer / Trust Center User | Share approved artifacts; use Drata outputs in customer conversations |
All Employees | End User | Complete assigned tasks: training, policy acknowledgments, device checks |
Pre-Implementation Checklist
□ Named Executive Sponsor identified and briefed □ GRC/Compliance confirmed as primary Drata admin □ IT and Engineering know which integrations and controls they own □ HR understands their training, policy, and lifecycle responsibilities □ Legal/Privacy is engaged for GDPR and privacy-related frameworks □ Finance/Procurement understands their vendor-related responsibilities □ Sales knows how to access and share Drata-generated artifacts □ Every relevant team has appropriate Drata access and role assignments |