Overview
Copla (formerly CyberUpgrade, rebranded in 2025) is a Lithuania-based compliance automation platform that helps companies achieve and maintain continuous compliance with major frameworks including ISO 27001, SOC 2, NIS2, and DORA. The platform combines AI-powered automation, predefined workflows, and fractional CISO support to streamline the compliance journey.
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Key Strengths
1. Advanced Automation
Copla automates up to 80% of compliance tasks, significantly reducing manual workload. The platform features:
- UpLink AI / Copla Stream: An AI chatbot that engages employees directly through Slack and Teams for real-time evidence collection
- Automatic evidence collection and storage in centralized, auditor-ready format
- Pre-built, CISO-designed workflows for major frameworks
2. Strong EU Regulatory Focus
Copla excels particularly in European compliance frameworks:
- Deep expertise in DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act) for financial institutions
- Comprehensive NIS2 support
- EU-based data handling under strict EU standards
- Automated DORA ICT Register for third-party provider tracking
3. Human Expert Support
Unlike pure software solutions, Copla pairs each customer with a fractional CISO who provides:
- Strategic guidance tailored to your business
- Audit representation (CISOs can represent you during audits)
- Expert oversight when automation alone isn’t sufficient
4. Cost Savings
Users report saving over €60,000 annually by:
- Reducing reliance on expensive external consultants
- Cutting manual compliance work by 80%
- Streamlining audit preparation significantly
Core Features
Compliance Management
- Support for 30+ frameworks (ISO 27001, SOC 2, DORA, NIS2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, etc.)
- Cross-framework control mapping to avoid duplicate work
- Guided implementation with weekly task assignments
Risk & Security
- Continuous risk monitoring and assessment
- Vulnerability scanning
- Penetration testing management
- Business continuity planning
- Security awareness training for employees
Evidence & Audit
- Automated evidence extraction from logs, systems, and user inputs
- Centralized evidence repository with timestamps and reviewers
- Real-time compliance dashboards
- Audit-ready documentation packages
Pricing
ISO 27001: €2,999/year (special offer, normally €4,000) + €499 onboarding fee
- Clear annual fee per framework
- Discounts for additional frameworks
- Optional fractional CISO packages
- Transparent, predictable pricing (no hidden first-year discounts that double later)
This positions Copla as mid-range compared to competitors like Vanta, Drata, and Sprinto, which typically start around $4,000-$10,000+ for a single framework.
User Feedback
Pros (from G2 reviews)
- Platform brings together essentials—guidance, evidence, and dashboards—eliminating need for multiple tools
- Structured workflows minimize mistakes and ensure best practices
- Significantly reduces consultant expenses
- Strong audit trail and task assignment features
- Command Center provides real-time compliance overview across frameworks
Cons
- Initial setup and learning curve can be steep for teams without dedicated IT
- Chatbot not yet fully live (some manual navigation still required)
- Team needs time to get comfortable with all features
- User interface could be improved
- Some integration limitations reported
Competitive Positioning
How Copla Differs
vs. Vanta:
- Copla offers direct CISO support (not just software)
- Stronger EU regulatory focus (DORA, NIS2)
- More emphasis on advanced security services (penetration testing, vulnerability scanning)
vs. Drata:
- More hands-on expert support versus pure automation
- Competitive pricing without the enterprise-level complexity
- Built specifically for EU compliance landscape
vs. Sprinto:
- Includes fractional CISO services as standard offering
- Deeper security capabilities beyond compliance checklists
- No hidden pricing tricks or year-over-year cost increases
Unique Differentiators
- Security-first approach: Built by cybersecurity veterans, not just compliance checklist builders
- Proactive engagement: System initiates interaction with your team via Slack/Teams
- EU data sovereignty: Data stays within EU under strict standards
- Audit representation: CISOs can directly represent you during audits
- Advanced security services: Bundled vulnerability scanning, penetration testing
Best For
Copla is ideally suited for:
- EU-based financial institutions needing DORA or NIS2 compliance
- Mid-market companies (10-200 employees) seeking comprehensive compliance
- Organizations without in-house security teams who need expert guidance
- Companies managing multiple frameworks who want cross-framework efficiency
- Businesses prioritizing security alongside compliance
Not Ideal For
- Very early-stage startups with extremely tight budgets (sub-$3,000)
- US-only companies focused solely on SOC 2 (Vanta might be simpler)
- Large enterprises needing extensive customization (Drata might be better)
- Companies wanting fully self-service with minimal human interaction
Final Verdict
Rating: 4.3/5
Copla delivers a compelling middle-ground solution that combines strong automation with essential human expertise. Users particularly value how it strikes the perfect balance—avoiding cheap tools requiring consultant hiring while avoiding expensive tools with redundant features.
The platform’s EU regulatory focus, transparent pricing, and included CISO support make it especially attractive for European companies or those expanding into EU markets. The automation claims (80% reduction in manual work, €60,000+ annual savings) appear validated by user reviews.
However, the learning curve and setup time mean it’s not quite plug-and-play. Organizations should expect to invest a few hours weekly during implementation and dedicate time to onboarding.
Bottom line: If you’re a growing company seeking compliance that’s both automated and expertly guided—especially for EU frameworks—Copla deserves serious consideration.
Get Started with Copla (affiliate link)