Which Compliance Framework Do You Actually Need?
Compare SOC 1, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR, and FedRAMP. Find the right path for your business — and skip the ones you don't need.
Updated October 2026
Building compliance with PlatOps costs 40–60% less than doing it alone — and we get you audit-ready in 45 days.
SOC 2 vs HIPAA vs PCI DSS vs SOC 1: The Short Answer
SOC 1 and SOC 2 are voluntary attestations by an independent CPA firm that your customers ask for: SOC 2 covers security and data-handling controls, SOC 1 covers controls that affect clients' financial reporting. HIPAA is US law for healthcare organizations and their business associates, with no official certification. PCI DSS is the card brands' standard for anyone handling card data. Many companies need more than one, and the controls overlap.
| Criteria | SOC 1 | SOC 2 | HIPAA | PCI DSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it covers | Controls that affect your clients' internal control over financial reporting | Security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy (Trust Services Criteria) | Protected health information (PHI), including electronic PHI | Cardholder data and the systems that store, process, or transmit it |
| Who needs it | Service providers whose work feeds clients' financial statements (payroll, billing, claims processing) | SaaS and service providers that store or process customer data | Healthcare providers, health plans, clearinghouses, and their business associates | Any merchant or service provider that handles payment card data |
| Required by | Customers and their financial auditors | Customers (market-driven, not law) | US federal law, enforced by HHS Office for Civil Rights | Card brands, via your acquirer or payment contracts |
| Who assesses | Independent CPA firm | Independent CPA firm | No official certification; you document your own risk analysis | Qualified Security Assessor or a Self-Assessment Questionnaire, by level |
| Type 1 vs Type 2 | Type 1: control design at a point in time. Type 2: operating effectiveness over a period | Type 1: control design at a point in time. Type 2: operating effectiveness over a period | Not applicable | Not applicable; validated annually |
Running on AWS?
AWS publishes its own SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports and PCI DSS Attestation of Compliance in AWS Artifact. Under the shared responsibility model those reports cover the infrastructure AWS runs, not your accounts, workloads, or data. Your own SOC 2, HIPAA, or PCI DSS scope still includes your IAM, encryption, logging, and configuration.
Sources: AICPA: SOC 1 vs SOC 2 · AICPA: SOC 2 examination guide · HHS: no required HIPAA certification · PCI SSC: PCI DSS · AWS: SOC reports · AWS: shared responsibility model
Which Framework Do You Need?
Answer these questions to find your starting point
Do you handle protected health information (PHI)?
Do you process credit card payments?
Do you have EU customers or handle EU resident data?
Are you selling to the US federal government?
Do enterprise customers ask for security attestation?
Do you need globally recognized certification?
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare key aspects across all major compliance frameworks
| Criteria | SOC 2 | ISO 27001 | HIPAA | PCI-DSS | GDPR | FedRAMP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||||||
| Primary Focus | Service organization trust | Information security mgmt | Health data protection | Payment card security | Data privacy rights | Government cloud security |
| Geographic Scope | US (expanding globally) | Global | US only | Global | EU (global reach) | US federal |
| Mandatory | No (market-driven) | No (market-driven) | Yes (covered entities) | Yes (card handlers) | Yes (EU data) | Yes (gov vendors) |
| Certification Type | Attestation report | Certification | Self-attestation | Varies by level | Self-compliance | Authorization (ATO) |
| Implementation | ||||||
| Typical Timeline | 3-6 months | 6-12 months | 3-6 months | 3-6 months | 2-6 months | 12-18 months |
| Estimated Cost | $50K - $150K | $30K - $100K | $20K - $80K | $15K - $100K | $20K - $100K | $250K - $1M+ |
| Renewal Cycle | Annual | 3 years | Ongoing | Annual | Ongoing | 3 years |
| Complexity | Medium | High | Medium-High | Medium-High | High | Very High |
| Requirements | ||||||
| Documentation | Moderate | Extensive | Moderate | Moderate | Extensive | Extensive |
| Technical Controls | Flexible | Comprehensive | Required | Prescriptive | Principle-based | Prescriptive (NIST) |
| Third-Party Audit | Required (CPA) | Required | Not required | Level dependent | Not required | Required (3PAO) |
| Continuous Monitoring | Recommended | Required | Required | Required | Required | Required |
Framework Deep Dives
Detailed information about each compliance framework
SOC 2
Service Organization Control 2
Trust services criteria for service organizations handling customer data.
With PlatOps
Audit-ready in 45 days. We handle evidence collection, policy templates, and audit coordination.
Key Requirements
- Security controls
- Availability measures
- Processing integrity
- Confidentiality
- Privacy (optional)
Common Industries
Advantages
- Widely recognized in US tech
- Flexible trust criteria
- Demonstrates security maturity
- Often required by enterprise customers
Challenges
- US-focused recognition
- Can be expensive
- No official certification (attestation)
- Annual audits required
ISO 27001
Information Security Management System
International standard for information security management systems (ISMS).
With PlatOps
ISMS setup in 90 days. We build the documentation, implement controls, and manage the certification process.
Key Requirements
- Risk assessment
- Security policies
- Asset management
- Access control
- Incident management
Common Industries
Advantages
- Globally recognized
- Comprehensive framework
- 3-year certification cycle
- Mapped to many regulations
Challenges
- Complex implementation
- Extensive documentation
- Longer timeline
- Ongoing maintenance required
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
US federal law protecting sensitive patient health information (PHI).
With PlatOps
HIPAA-ready in 60 days. We handle risk assessments, BAA management, and technical safeguards.
Key Requirements
- Privacy Rule compliance
- Security Rule safeguards
- Breach notification
- Business Associate Agreements
- Risk assessments
Common Industries
Advantages
- Legal requirement for covered entities
- Clear regulatory guidance
- No formal certification needed
- Established best practices
Challenges
- US healthcare only
- Significant penalties for violations
- Complex BAA requirements
- Ongoing compliance burden
PCI-DSS
Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
Security standard for organizations handling credit card data.
With PlatOps
Scope reduction + control implementation. We coordinate with your QSA and handle remediation.
Key Requirements
- Network security
- Cardholder data protection
- Vulnerability management
- Access control
- Monitoring & testing
Common Industries
Advantages
- Required for card processing
- Clear technical requirements
- Well-defined compliance levels
- Global acceptance
Challenges
- Strict technical controls
- Regular scanning required
- Scope creep issues
- Different levels based on volume
GDPR
General Data Protection Regulation
EU regulation on data protection and privacy for EU residents.
With PlatOps
Privacy-by-design implementation. We handle data mapping, consent management, and DPO advisory.
Key Requirements
- Lawful basis for processing
- Data subject rights
- Privacy by design
- Data protection officer
- Breach notification (72 hrs)
Common Industries
Advantages
- Comprehensive privacy framework
- Strengthens customer trust
- Clear data subject rights
- Drives privacy culture
Challenges
- Extraterritorial reach
- Heavy fines (4% revenue)
- Complex consent requirements
- Ongoing compliance effort
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
US government program for cloud service security assessment.
With PlatOps
Full ATO support. NIST control implementation, 3PAO coordination, and continuous monitoring setup.
Key Requirements
- NIST 800-53 controls
- Security assessment
- Continuous monitoring
- Incident response
- Authorization package
Common Industries
Advantages
- Required for federal sales
- Reusable authorization
- High security standard
- Growing market access
Challenges
- Very expensive
- Long timeline
- Complex requirements
- Significant resource investment
Need Multiple Frameworks?
Many organizations need to comply with multiple frameworks. The good news is there's significant overlap between them. For example:
- SOC 2 + ISO 27001: ~60% control overlap
- HIPAA + SOC 2: SOC 2 covers most HIPAA security requirements
- PCI-DSS + SOC 2: Many shared security controls
We build unified compliance programs that address multiple frameworks efficiently — saving time and reducing audit fatigue.
Book a free 1-hour callNot Sure Which Framework You Need?
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