Data Security Compliance Cross-Map (2025): SOC 2 vs ISO 27001 vs HIPAA - What to Prioritize

Data security compliance today feels like three different conversations at once. Your prospects ask for SOC 2, your enterprise deals want ISO 27001, and if you work with health data, someone is definitely asking whether you’re HIPAA compliant. Each framework has a different purpose, scope, and expectation — but in reality, ~80% of the underlying security work overlaps. Instead of treating them as separate mountains to climb, map them to each other and build one security foundation that satisfies all of them.

Quick Definitions (Plain-Language)

• SOC 2 → Trust signal (“Yes, we follow secure processes”). See the SOC 2 Framework Overview.

• ISO 27001 → Operating system for security (ISMS with continuous improvement). Explore ISO 27001 Overview.

• HIPAA → Privacy + data handling rules for health data (administrative, technical, physical safeguards). Browse HIPAA Basics.

Why These Frameworks Get Confusing

Each of them uses different vocabulary:

• SOC 2 → Trust Services Criteria (TSC)

• ISO 27001 → Annex A Controls (and ISO/IEC 27002 practices)

• HIPAA → Administrative, Technical, Physical Safeguards

“Make sure only the right people access the right data, log what happens, and have a plan if something goes wrong.”

This is the opportunity: Build once → Prove compliance many times.

The Core Controls That Map Across All Three

If you cover the themes above with lightweight, documented workflows, you’re ~70% of the way to SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA simultaneously.

The Minimum Foundation That Satisfies All Three

• MFA enforced + SSO; quarterly access reviews with owner sign-off

• Centralized logging with alerts on privileged actions

• Documented change process (PR approvals, rollback steps)

• Vendor inventory + data mapping + risk ratings + BAAs where applicable

• AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit; key rotation policy

• Backups tested; DR runbook; RTO/RPO defined

• Annual security awareness training with completion tracking

• Policy set: Access Control, Incident Response, Vendor Risk, Encryption, DR/BCP

How to Prioritize (Based on Your Stage)

Early-stage (Pre-Series A)

Start with SOC 2 Type 1 — fast trust signal, unblocks sales, less overhead than ISO certification. Recommended scope: Security + Availability + Confidentiality. Read the SOC 2 Framework Overview.

Selling to Enterprise

Move toward ISO 27001 to show security maturity and satisfy procurement. Start with SOC 2 → layer ISO controls on top. Review ISO 27001 Requirements.

Handling PHI / Healthcare

Meet HIPAA safeguards (even if not asked yet). Focus on data minimization, access logging, encryption, and vendor BAAs. See HIPAA Compliance Resources.

Cross-Mapping Strategy (Build Once, Reuse Everywhere)

1. Document your security controls in one place (single control library).

2. Tag each control to SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA requirements.

3. Use one evidence library across all audits (versioned, searchable).

4. Automate what repeats (offboarding, logging, evidence capture).

Where Most Companies Get Stuck

• Evidence collection across multiple frameworks

• Keeping SaaS vendor inventory accurate

• Performing quarterly access reviews on time

• Updating policies during org changes

Where Automation Helps

• Continuous access review alerts & recertification

• Vendor risk scoring & third-party monitoring

• Real-time configuration drift detection

• Auto-generated audit evidence & exportable packets

Explore Vendor Risk Management and the Continuous SOC 2 approach.

How DSALTA Helps (The Practical Part)

• One control framework mapped to SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + HIPAA

• An AI agent monitors systems and collects evidence continuously

• Guided readiness & audit workflows with role ownership

• Built-in vendor risk scoring and third-party monitoring

• Audit exports in seconds — no last-minute scramble

See the Platform Overview or book a walkthrough.

Real outcome: SOC 2 in weeks → ISO 27001 add-on in months → HIPAA included where needed. Not years. Not spreadsheets.

Tired of “start here… no wait, start over here”? You don’t need more frameworks — you need one foundation. DSALTA helps you map controls once across SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA, generate missing policies, monitor in real time, and collect evidence without manual effort. Book a demo to see how teams get audit-ready in days, not months.