Organizations that deal with information usually do not just follow one set of rules
- Organizations that deal with information usually do not just follow one set of rules.
- They use SOC 2 compliance as a base.
- Then they also follow other global standards like ISO 27001.
- They have to follow requirements such as GDPR and laws that are specific to their sector like HIPAA.
- These rules are different in what they cover and what they are trying to do.
1. SOC 2 and ISO 27001 Alignment
Core Relationship
- SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are really similar because they both deal with information security controls and risk management.
- They have a lot in common.
- That is because SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are all about keeping information safe and managing risks.
- SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are, like two sides of the same coin when it comes to information security controls and risk management.
SOC 2 and ISO 27001
- SOC 2
- Based on Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
- Control-based attestation
- Auditor report
- Based on Trust Services Criteria (TSC)
- ISO 27001
- Based on ISMS (Information Security Management System)
- Certification standard
- Accredited certification
- Based on ISMS (Information Security Management System)
Key Alignment Areas
- Access control & identity management
- Risk assessment and mitigation
- Incident response procedures
- Vendor and third-party risk management
- Change management and logging
This is important because
- If your company already has the ISO 27001 certification, getting SOC 2 compliance is usually quicker because your company already has a lot of the controls in place.
- A lot of Software as a Service companies or SaaS companies want to get both of these certifications so they can work with companies, in the United States and all around the world.
2. SOC 2 Alignment with GDPR
Important Clarification
- People often talk about getting a GDPR certification in India.
- The truth is, it does not exist, not even in other countries.
- The thing is GDPR is a set of rules that we need to follow. It is not something that we can get a certificate for.
- However, having a SOC 2 certification can show that we are ready to follow the GDPR rules.
- SOC 2 is like a test that helps us see if we are doing things right.
- It can be very helpful in showing that we are serious about following the GDPR rules.
- GDPR is what matters.
- We need to make sure we are following the GDPR rules and SOC 2 can help us do that.
Overlapping Control Areas
GDPR Requirement
Data security (Art. 32)
Data minimization
SOC 2 Coverage
Security principle Confidentiality & Privacy
Breach Notification and Incident Response
When a breach happens we need to tell people about it. This is called breach notification. We also have to have a plan, in place to deal with these kinds of incidents. This plan is called incident response controls. Incident response controls are important because they help us respond quickly and correctly when a breach occurs. Breach notification is a part of this. We have to be ready to send out breach notifications to the people who need to know.
Incident response controls make sure we do this the way.
Processor Obligations and Vendor Management
The company has to deal with processor obligations. This is a part of what they do. They also have to think about vendor management controls. Vendor management controls are very important for the company. The processor obligations and vendor management controls are two things that the company has to handle every day.
Accountability
Policies, audits, documentation
India Context
It and SaaS companies that work with clients in the European Union often use SOC 2 compliance to show that they follow security practices that are in line with the General Data Protection Regulation. This is especially true when these Indian IT and SaaS companies are in charge of handling data for their European Union clients. They use SOC 2 compliance as proof that they are doing a job of keeping data safe. Indian IT and SaaS companies want to make sure their security practices meet the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation when they are working with data, from European Union clients.
Bottom line
SOC 2 does not make you GDPR compliant. It really helps with the GDPR obligations. This is especially true when it comes to the organizational safeguards of the GDPR. SOC 2 strongly supports the GDPR in these areas.
3. SOC 2 Alignment with HIPAA Compliance
How Things Connect
People want to know how things connect. They are curious about how they connect to each other. How they connect is a question. We are talking about how people and things connect. How people connect to people and how things connect to other things. It is, about how they connect.
HIPAA and SOC 2
HIPAA compliance is really important when we are talking about healthcare data, which is also known as Protected Health Information or PHI for short. On the other hand SOC 2 is not specific to any one industry. However the rules that SOC 2 follows can be applied to the Security Rule of HIPAA compliance for healthcare data. This means that SOC 2 controls can be used to help meet the requirements of HIPAA compliance, for healthcare data.
Shared Focus Areas
Administrative safeguards
Technical safeguards (encryption, access control)
Audit logs and monitoring
Incident detection and response
Business Associate risk management
Healthcare Organizations
Healthcare organizations use these SOC 2 reports to show that their systems are secure.
They want to prove that they meet the security rules that HIPAA requires.
This is really important when they are working with groups that have to follow HIPAA rules, like hospitals and doctors offices.
Healthcare organizations need to make sure their systems are secure so they use SOC 2 reports to demonstrate this and show that they meet HIPAA security expectations.
4. One Framework, Multiple Compliance Goals
SOC 2 is often used as a point for making sure companies follow the rules.
This means that SOC 2 is like a spot where companies can show that they are doing things correctly.
Companies use SOC 2 for this because it helps them stay organized and make sure they are meeting all the requirements.
SOC 2 is really important, for companies that want to show they are following the rules and doing things right.
Compliance Goals
SOC 2 Compliance → Proof of security maturity
ISO 27001 → International standardization
GDPR → Legal data protection obligations
HIPAA compliance → Healthcare data security
Benefits
A good SOC 2 program can really help with a lot of things. It can cut down on doing the work over and over which can be really tiring. It can also help with the cost of following all the rules. The big benefit of a SOC 2 program is that it can support different frameworks all at the same time like SOC 2 itself. This means that a SOC 2 program can make things easier and less expensive for you.
5. Quick Comparison Summary
SOC 2
Type: Attestation Focus: Security & trust controls
ISO 27001 Type: Certification Focus: ISMS & risk management
GDPR: Type: Regulation Focus: Personal data protection
HIPAA Type: Law Focus: Healthcare data security
Final Takeaway
SOC 2 alignment with ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA allows organizations—especially SaaS and IT companies—to streamline compliance while meeting global customer expectations.
While SOC 2 doesn’t replace regulatory requirements, it acts as a powerful trust signal and operational foundation across multiple standards.
Get SOC 2 compliant faster with E-Startup and build trust with global clients while aligning with ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA requirements.
