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SOC 2 and HIPAA are widely adopted security standards aimed at protecting in-scope organizations and the sensitive data they process from cybersecurity threats. While they have the same overarching security goal, HIPAA and SOC 2 differ in a few major aspects, and their implementation specifics can also vary considerably.
Depending on your security posture and compliance needs, you may need to implement one or both frameworks.
To clarify all the related compliance matters, this guide will cover:
- Concise overviews of both frameworks
- Their applicability
- Key differences and overlaps
We’ll also discuss which framework you should adopt and how to streamline compliance workflows for both.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a comprehensive federal regulation aimed at securing protected health information (PHI), such as:
- Names
- Contact data (phone numbers, email addresses, etc.)
- Social Security numbers
- Health plan beneficiary numbers
- Biometric data
The primary goals of HIPAA include the privacy and security of PHI, as well as prompt notifications of any security incidents that jeopardize it. These goals serve as the basis of several rules under the HIPAA law, most notably:
- Privacy Rule: Establishes national standards for ensuring the minimal and responsible use of PHI, as well as guidelines for its privacy and the rights of patients concerning their data
- Security Rule: Outlines the physical, technical, and administrative safeguards that in-scope organizations must set up to ensure comprehensive security of PHI
- Breach Notification Rule: Requires in-scope entities to provide notifications of any breaches that threaten the security or privacy of PHI within 60 days of their discovery
Today, HIPAA has a comprehensive set of requirements to protect sensitive data based on cybersecurity best practices in the healthcare sector. However, it can be challenging to implement if you consider the lack of prescriptive guidance on control implementation.
{{cta_withimage13="/cta-modules"}} | HIPAA compliance checklist
Who needs HIPAA compliance?
HIPAA compliance encompasses two types of organizations:
- Covered entities
- Business associates
The following table defines both with a few examples:
While HIPAA is a federal regulation, it extends beyond the U.S. Any individual who receives medical care in the U.S. (including visitors) has the right to PHI protection under HIPAA. By contrast, PHI stored outside of the U.S. (including the data of U.S. residents) isn’t protected by HIPAA. Instead, personal data is safeguarded through other country-specific regulations (e.g., GDPR in the EU or PIPEDA in Canada).
HIPAA compliance is mandatory for in-scope entities, and violations can result in considerable penalties and legal consequences.
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 is a widely accepted security framework for service organizations developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It aims to provide a set of security best practices that ensure safe and responsible data processing, storage, and sharing.
These practices are split into five Trust Services Criteria (TSCs) that SOC 2 is built around:
- Security: Data is protected from unauthorized access and disclosure, as well as damage caused by security incidents
- Availability: All relevant systems are available and make the key data readily accessible to appropriate users
- Processing integrity: Data processing is valid, accurate, timely, complete, and authorized to ensure the entity meets its objectives
- Confidentiality: Relevant information is appropriately labeled as confidential and secured through adequate measures
- Privacy: User data is kept private, and users are informed about the way it’s collected, processed, and shared
SOC 2 is a broad and flexible framework often considered more straightforward to implement than HIPAA. Besides its adaptable nature, it provides clearer guidance on adopting the necessary safeguards.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Who needs to be SOC 2-compliant?
SOC 2 is aimed at service organizations that store customer data in the cloud or on-premises. Such organizations include:
- Cloud service providers
- SaaS companies
- Financial service providers
SOC 2 is a third-party framework, so its adoption isn’t legally required or otherwise mandatory—implementation is mainly a matter of voluntary upgrades to an organization’s security posture. Still, the framework is widely adopted across sectors, so many customers and stakeholders will likely expect organizations to demonstrate adherence to SOC 2 compliance requirements.
Regardless of these expectations, SOC 2 compliance is beneficial for many reasons, most notably:
- Improved cyber resilience: SOC 2 compliance allows you to upgrade your security posture and implement effective controls that protect data from various threats
- Increased trust and transparency: SOC 2 helps you build trust with customers and other stakeholders by outlining how data is processed and protected
- Demonstrable commitment to cybersecurity: A SOC 2 report is proof that you’re willing to go beyond mandatory regulations and implement industry-standard practices to safeguard user data
Key differences between SOC 2 and HIPAA
HIPAA and SOC 2 differ significantly in several aspects, as outlined in the following table:
Despite their many differences, HIPAA and SOC 2 still have notable overlaps you should account for before starting any compliance activities.
{{cta_withimage39="/cta-blocks"}} | The Healthcare compliance checklist
Does being SOC 2-compliant make your organization HIPAA-compliant?
SOC 2 compliance doesn’t make an organization HIPAA-compliant because the two frameworks have different focus areas. Still, it can be a step in the right direction due to the several SOC and HIPAA overlaps.
Outlining the entire SOC 2 and HIPAA crosswalk would be extensive, but the main high-level control overlaps include:
- Process monitoring: SOC 2 recommends activity monitoring aligned with the HIPAA monitoring requirements (though the implementation requirements can vary)
- Data processing consent: Both options stress the importance of ensuring the user is in control of the data processed by an organization and can opt out of its collection
- Third-party risk management: SOC 2 provides guidance for managing vendor risk and ensuring supply chain security, while HIPAA does the same by mandating business associate agreements between covered entities and business associates
Effective SOC 2 and HIPAA mapping is crucial for streamlined compliance activities. Compliance with both frameworks can be unnecessarily complex without tools like Vanta that are designed specifically to account for the overlaps.
Should you adopt HIPAA or SOC 2?
The decision of whether to adopt HIPAA or SOC 2 mainly depends on your industry and organizational requirements. For example, healthcare organizations, or any organization that handles PHI, must comply with HIPAA.
“
If you are in an organization that handles healthcare information (especially one that provides technology services), adding SOC 2 to your existing HIPAA compliance may unlock competitive opportunities and ultimately increase trust in the services you provide to customers and society.”
Combining SOC 2 and HIPAA is recommended for many organization types, but it’s especially useful for:
- Healthcare SaaS providers
- HealthTech companies
- Managed IT and Cloud service providers
- Healthcare BPOs
If you’re in healthcare, SOC 2 can also support ongoing HIPAA compliance. For instance, demonstrating at least one year of compliance with a recognized framework like SOC 2 reduces the risk of incidents that can result in HIPAA non-compliance.
Many organizations may be unaware of this, but reputable audit companies can support a combined SOC 2 and HIPAA report (which is often called a SOC 2+ report). It might be wise to ask your audit partner about their SOC 2+ to explore your options.
The only downside to adopting both frameworks is the potential overwhelm caused by extensive security and compliance workflows. The good news is that using a SOC 2 and HIPAA automation solution can effectively mitigate this drawback.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
Simplify SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance with Vanta
Vanta is a comprehensive trust and compliance management solution that automates most SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance workflows through dedicated products for each framework. The SOC 2 product comes with various useful features, most notably:
- Easy-to-fill system description templates
- Automated access reviews
- Continuous control monitoring through automated hourly checks
If your organization has achieved SOC 2 compliance, you may be up to 65% of the way toward HIPAA compliance, based on controls cross-mapped in Vanta. Even if it hasn’t, Vanta’s HIPAA product helps you achieve compliance effortlessly.
Whether you need to pursue HIPAA from scratch or add it to your compliance program, Vanta can support your team with seamless compliance automation, clear guidance, and multiple built-in resources. Vanta's HIPAA solution comes with:
- Automated evidence collection—up to 85% through integration with 375+ tools
- Ready-to-use document templates
- Policy templates and a policy editor
- Built-in guidance and training solutions
- A unified dashboard to monitor compliance
With Vanta, you can avoid redundant workflows for common controls and policies. It’s designed to help you maintain a single source of truth across your compliance program. You can also use Vanta’s Trust Center to publicly showcase your security and compliance posture.
If you want to see these features in action, schedule a custom demo of the HIPAA or SOC 2 product.
{{cta_simple18="/cta-modules"}} | HIPAA product page
A note from Vanta: Vanta is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute or contain legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. When determining your obligations and compliance with respect to relevant laws and regulations, you should consult a licensed attorney.
Additional resources
SOC 2 vs. HIPAA: Everything you need to know
Looking to streamline the work for HIPAA compliance?
SOC 2 and HIPAA are widely adopted security standards aimed at protecting in-scope organizations and the sensitive data they process from cybersecurity threats. While they have the same overarching security goal, HIPAA and SOC 2 differ in a few major aspects, and their implementation specifics can also vary considerably.
Depending on your security posture and compliance needs, you may need to implement one or both frameworks.
To clarify all the related compliance matters, this guide will cover:
- Concise overviews of both frameworks
- Their applicability
- Key differences and overlaps
We’ll also discuss which framework you should adopt and how to streamline compliance workflows for both.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a comprehensive federal regulation aimed at securing protected health information (PHI), such as:
- Names
- Contact data (phone numbers, email addresses, etc.)
- Social Security numbers
- Health plan beneficiary numbers
- Biometric data
The primary goals of HIPAA include the privacy and security of PHI, as well as prompt notifications of any security incidents that jeopardize it. These goals serve as the basis of several rules under the HIPAA law, most notably:
- Privacy Rule: Establishes national standards for ensuring the minimal and responsible use of PHI, as well as guidelines for its privacy and the rights of patients concerning their data
- Security Rule: Outlines the physical, technical, and administrative safeguards that in-scope organizations must set up to ensure comprehensive security of PHI
- Breach Notification Rule: Requires in-scope entities to provide notifications of any breaches that threaten the security or privacy of PHI within 60 days of their discovery
Today, HIPAA has a comprehensive set of requirements to protect sensitive data based on cybersecurity best practices in the healthcare sector. However, it can be challenging to implement if you consider the lack of prescriptive guidance on control implementation.
{{cta_withimage13="/cta-modules"}} | HIPAA compliance checklist
Who needs HIPAA compliance?
HIPAA compliance encompasses two types of organizations:
- Covered entities
- Business associates
The following table defines both with a few examples:
While HIPAA is a federal regulation, it extends beyond the U.S. Any individual who receives medical care in the U.S. (including visitors) has the right to PHI protection under HIPAA. By contrast, PHI stored outside of the U.S. (including the data of U.S. residents) isn’t protected by HIPAA. Instead, personal data is safeguarded through other country-specific regulations (e.g., GDPR in the EU or PIPEDA in Canada).
HIPAA compliance is mandatory for in-scope entities, and violations can result in considerable penalties and legal consequences.
What is SOC 2?
SOC 2 is a widely accepted security framework for service organizations developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It aims to provide a set of security best practices that ensure safe and responsible data processing, storage, and sharing.
These practices are split into five Trust Services Criteria (TSCs) that SOC 2 is built around:
- Security: Data is protected from unauthorized access and disclosure, as well as damage caused by security incidents
- Availability: All relevant systems are available and make the key data readily accessible to appropriate users
- Processing integrity: Data processing is valid, accurate, timely, complete, and authorized to ensure the entity meets its objectives
- Confidentiality: Relevant information is appropriately labeled as confidential and secured through adequate measures
- Privacy: User data is kept private, and users are informed about the way it’s collected, processed, and shared
SOC 2 is a broad and flexible framework often considered more straightforward to implement than HIPAA. Besides its adaptable nature, it provides clearer guidance on adopting the necessary safeguards.
{{cta_withimage1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 compliance checklist
Who needs to be SOC 2-compliant?
SOC 2 is aimed at service organizations that store customer data in the cloud or on-premises. Such organizations include:
- Cloud service providers
- SaaS companies
- Financial service providers
SOC 2 is a third-party framework, so its adoption isn’t legally required or otherwise mandatory—implementation is mainly a matter of voluntary upgrades to an organization’s security posture. Still, the framework is widely adopted across sectors, so many customers and stakeholders will likely expect organizations to demonstrate adherence to SOC 2 compliance requirements.
Regardless of these expectations, SOC 2 compliance is beneficial for many reasons, most notably:
- Improved cyber resilience: SOC 2 compliance allows you to upgrade your security posture and implement effective controls that protect data from various threats
- Increased trust and transparency: SOC 2 helps you build trust with customers and other stakeholders by outlining how data is processed and protected
- Demonstrable commitment to cybersecurity: A SOC 2 report is proof that you’re willing to go beyond mandatory regulations and implement industry-standard practices to safeguard user data
Key differences between SOC 2 and HIPAA
HIPAA and SOC 2 differ significantly in several aspects, as outlined in the following table:
Despite their many differences, HIPAA and SOC 2 still have notable overlaps you should account for before starting any compliance activities.
{{cta_withimage39="/cta-blocks"}} | The Healthcare compliance checklist
Does being SOC 2-compliant make your organization HIPAA-compliant?
SOC 2 compliance doesn’t make an organization HIPAA-compliant because the two frameworks have different focus areas. Still, it can be a step in the right direction due to the several SOC and HIPAA overlaps.
Outlining the entire SOC 2 and HIPAA crosswalk would be extensive, but the main high-level control overlaps include:
- Process monitoring: SOC 2 recommends activity monitoring aligned with the HIPAA monitoring requirements (though the implementation requirements can vary)
- Data processing consent: Both options stress the importance of ensuring the user is in control of the data processed by an organization and can opt out of its collection
- Third-party risk management: SOC 2 provides guidance for managing vendor risk and ensuring supply chain security, while HIPAA does the same by mandating business associate agreements between covered entities and business associates
Effective SOC 2 and HIPAA mapping is crucial for streamlined compliance activities. Compliance with both frameworks can be unnecessarily complex without tools like Vanta that are designed specifically to account for the overlaps.
Should you adopt HIPAA or SOC 2?
The decision of whether to adopt HIPAA or SOC 2 mainly depends on your industry and organizational requirements. For example, healthcare organizations, or any organization that handles PHI, must comply with HIPAA.
“
If you are in an organization that handles healthcare information (especially one that provides technology services), adding SOC 2 to your existing HIPAA compliance may unlock competitive opportunities and ultimately increase trust in the services you provide to customers and society.”
Combining SOC 2 and HIPAA is recommended for many organization types, but it’s especially useful for:
- Healthcare SaaS providers
- HealthTech companies
- Managed IT and Cloud service providers
- Healthcare BPOs
If you’re in healthcare, SOC 2 can also support ongoing HIPAA compliance. For instance, demonstrating at least one year of compliance with a recognized framework like SOC 2 reduces the risk of incidents that can result in HIPAA non-compliance.
Many organizations may be unaware of this, but reputable audit companies can support a combined SOC 2 and HIPAA report (which is often called a SOC 2+ report). It might be wise to ask your audit partner about their SOC 2+ to explore your options.
The only downside to adopting both frameworks is the potential overwhelm caused by extensive security and compliance workflows. The good news is that using a SOC 2 and HIPAA automation solution can effectively mitigate this drawback.
{{cta_simple1="/cta-modules"}} | SOC 2 product page
Simplify SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance with Vanta
Vanta is a comprehensive trust and compliance management solution that automates most SOC 2 and HIPAA compliance workflows through dedicated products for each framework. The SOC 2 product comes with various useful features, most notably:
- Easy-to-fill system description templates
- Automated access reviews
- Continuous control monitoring through automated hourly checks
If your organization has achieved SOC 2 compliance, you may be up to 65% of the way toward HIPAA compliance, based on controls cross-mapped in Vanta. Even if it hasn’t, Vanta’s HIPAA product helps you achieve compliance effortlessly.
Whether you need to pursue HIPAA from scratch or add it to your compliance program, Vanta can support your team with seamless compliance automation, clear guidance, and multiple built-in resources. Vanta's HIPAA solution comes with:
- Automated evidence collection—up to 85% through integration with 375+ tools
- Ready-to-use document templates
- Policy templates and a policy editor
- Built-in guidance and training solutions
- A unified dashboard to monitor compliance
With Vanta, you can avoid redundant workflows for common controls and policies. It’s designed to help you maintain a single source of truth across your compliance program. You can also use Vanta’s Trust Center to publicly showcase your security and compliance posture.
If you want to see these features in action, schedule a custom demo of the HIPAA or SOC 2 product.
{{cta_simple18="/cta-modules"}} | HIPAA product page
A note from Vanta: Vanta is not a law firm, and this article does not constitute or contain legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. When determining your obligations and compliance with respect to relevant laws and regulations, you should consult a licensed attorney.
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