The same work, copied into another tracker
Your security lead finishes a review and updates one sheet. Another tracker has a different owner, an older evidence link or a status nobody changed. Adding a framework adds another place to check.
yrso vs Excel
Add ISO 27001 to your SOC 2 programme and the same access review can end up in separate trackers. Now someone has to reconcile the owners, evidence links and statuses. yrso maps shared controls to multiple requirements.
This comparison covers spreadsheet-based compliance tracking. Custom integrations and automation can change how an Excel setup works.
Compliance work
Each task has a next step.
Review production accessEngineeringDue Friday
Approve incident response policySecurity leadIn review
Record backup restore testInfrastructureComplete
Compare the day-to-day work.
Choose a workflow that fits how your team manages compliance obligations.
| Capability | Excel | yrso |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple frameworks | Separate trackers can repeat the same control under different requirements. You maintain the mappings and reconcile changes between sheets. | Map an organisation control to multiple reference requirements. Keep its implementation and checks together. |
| Evidence reuse | Files and links can be referenced in cells. Your team keeps track of which reporting period and requirements each piece of evidence supports. | Keep evidence with its check and reuse recurring evidence across linked checks for the relevant reporting period. |
| Deadlines and follow-up | Dates and owners live in rows. Reminders, review steps and escalation need a process or additional automation around the workbook. | Schedule recurring checks, assign owners and send reminders. Record reviewed conclusions and follow-up actions. |
| Conflicting statuses | An access review can be marked complete in the ISO tracker while its SOC 2 row still says pending. Someone has to resolve the mismatch. | Linked requirements refer to the same organisation control and its check results. Review the underlying work in one place. |
| Collaboration | Supported Excel versions offer co-authoring and version history when the workbook is stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Your team still designs the compliance process. | Owners, reviewers and evidence are part of the workflow. Technical support is included; compliance guidance depends on your plan. |
Excel details checked October 21, 2026 against its Microsoft co-authoring and version-history guidance. yrso service details follow our published plans. Confirm scope and availability when requesting a proposal.
Build automations around the tools you already use.
Connect your existing tools to yrso with custom scripts and integrations. Have a backup job submit its results, or send a scan report from your CI pipeline. The evidence API accepts messages and files and routes them to the relevant recurring check for review. Tools that email reports can use a dedicated evidence address.
For evidence a person collects, use evidence slots: submit it once for the relevant period and reuse it across linked checks.
Explore evidence automationAn access review shouldn't need a reconciliation meeting.
A shared control with linked requirements
In yrso, connect the organisation control to the requirements it supports. Keep the review and its evidence with that control. Each requirement still needs appropriate coverage; a mapping alone doesn't establish compliance.
Explore controls and evidenceCommon questions
Can Excel work for a small compliance programme?
Yes. A well-maintained workbook can be practical for a limited set of controls. The coordination effort grows when you add standards, contributors and recurring reviews, particularly when each framework has its own tracker.
Could we keep everything in one workbook?
Yes. A shared control register with requirement mappings can reduce duplication. Your team still needs to design and maintain evidence tracking, reminders and review steps. Compare that upkeep with a dedicated workflow.
Does one check satisfy every linked requirement?
No. Requirements can differ in scope and evidence periods. Reuse controls and evidence where appropriate, and assess whether each requirement is covered. yrso keeps those relationships visible.
Can you help us move away from spreadsheets?
Bring your existing trackers to a demo. We'll discuss how the controls and recurring work fit into yrso, and which level of support your team needs.
Ready for a simpler compliance workflow?
See how YRSO turns your compliance obligations into work your team can track.
Prefer email? Ask for a demo at hi@nrds.nl.