Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, and third-party risk is becoming a board-level concern, leading organizations to undergo increasing pressure to demonstrate strong security and compliance practices. The two most significant and widely recognized compliance frameworks for establishing trustworthiness are HITRUST and SOC 2.
Initially, both frameworks seem to serve a similar purpose of assisting organizations in validating their security controls and building customer confidence. However, the scope, rigor, industry applicability, and assurance levels of HITRUST and SOC 2 differ significantly. Organizations need to understand the differences before evaluating which certification or attestation aligns best with their business goals.
This is exactly where Accorian’s expertise and assistance are gaining significant industry demand to achieve HITRUST certification and obtain SOC 2 attestations.
Understanding HITRUST
HITRUST is a certifiable security and compliance framework developed by the HITRUST Alliance. The framework is built around the HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF), which harmonizes requirements from numerous standards and regulations, including HIPAA, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GDPR, and CCPA.
HITRUST consolidates these requirements into a single framework
Organizations undergo validated assessments conducted by authorized external assessors, with certification awarded based on demonstrated implementation and effectiveness of controls.
Key Characteristics of HITRUST
- Certifiable framework
- Prescriptive control requirements
- Risk-based assessment methodology
- Mapped to multiple regulatory and security standards
- Requires independent validation
- Continuous quality assurance review by HITRUST
HITRUST is especially prevalent in healthcare but has increasingly expanded into financial services, technology, SaaS, cloud service providers, and organizations supporting highly regulated industries.
Understanding SOC 2
SOC 2 is an attestation framework developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). SOC 2 evaluates an organization’s controls against one or more of the Trust Services Criteria, i.e., Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy.
Unlike HITRUST, SOC 2 is not a certification. Instead, it is an independent auditor’s opinion regarding whether controls are suitably designed and operating effectively.
Organizations can choose between:
- SOC 2 Type I: Evaluates control design at a specific point in time.
- SOC 2 Type II: Evaluates both control design and operating effectiveness over a period of time, typically 6-12 months.
SOC 2 has become the de facto security assurance standard for SaaS providers, cloud platforms, managed service providers, and technology companies.
HITRUST vs. SOC 2 Comparison
| Category | HITRUST | SOC 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Type | Certification | Attestation |
| Governing Body | HITRUST Alliance | AICPA |
| Primary Focus | Comprehensive risk and compliance management | Security control effectiveness |
| Industry Usage | Healthcare, regulated industries, enterprise vendors | SaaS, cloud, technology providers |
| Control Requirements | Prescriptive and detailed | Principle-based and flexible |
| Regulatory Mapping | Extensive | Limited |
| Assurance Level | High | Moderate to high |
| Continuous Monitoring | Strong emphasis | Limited |
| Auditor Oversight | HITRUST quality review required | CPA firm opinion only |
| Certification Outcome | HITRUST Certification | SOC 2 Report |
The Fundamental Difference: Certification vs. Attestation
One of the biggest distinctions between HITRUST and SOC 2 is the level of assurance provided. A SOC 2 report represents an auditor’s opinion that controls meet selected Trust Services Criteria.
The certification requires defined control implementation, evidence validation, maturity scoring, quality assurance review by HITRUST, and Certification approval by the governing body.
Why Healthcare Organizations Often Prefer HITRUST
Healthcare organizations operate in one of the most heavily regulated environments in the world. While HIPAA outlines security and privacy requirements, it does not prescribe a specific certification process.
HITRUST fills this gap by providing a standardized framework that incorporates HIPAA requirements while also addressing broader cybersecurity risks.
Healthcare providers, health plans, medical device companies, and healthcare technology vendors frequently use HITRUST certification as evidence of compliance readiness. Many healthcare organizations now require vendors to obtain HITRUST certification before contracts can be awarded.
Why SaaS Companies Commonly Choose SOC 2
For software companies, SOC 2 often serves as the first major security assurance milestone. SOC 2 offers several advantages:
- Broad market recognition
- Faster implementation timelines
- Greater flexibility
- Lower assessment costs
- Strong alignment with customer security questionnaires
Many early-stage and mid-market SaaS companies pursue SOC 2 Type II to demonstrate security maturity and accelerate enterprise sales cycles. A SOC 2 report often satisfies the due diligence requirements of prospective customers, particularly in technology procurement processes.
Control Structure: Prescriptive vs. Flexible
Another major difference lies in how controls are evaluated.
HITRUST specifies detailed control requirements based on organization size, risk factors, data sensitivity, and regulatory obligations.
Organizations must implement specific controls and achieve required maturity levels. The framework leaves less room for interpretation.
SOC 2 focuses on outcomes rather than prescribed controls. Organizations can design controls that fit their environment as long as they satisfy the selected Trust Services Criteria. This flexibility is attractive to innovative technology companies but can result in greater variation between SOC 2 reports.
Which Framework Is More Rigorous?
From an assessment perspective, HITRUST is generally considered more rigorous. Reasons include larger control libraries, maturity scoring requirements, risk-based tailoring, independent quality assurance reviews, and certification governance by HITRUST.
SOC 2 assessments can be comprehensive, especially Type II reports, but they rely heavily on auditor judgment and organizational control design. This flexibility makes SOC 2 valuable but less standardized than HITRUST.
Can Organizations Pursue Both HITRUST and SOC 2?
Yes, many organizations pursue both frameworks to maximize market trust and address varying customer requirements. Healthcare software vendors often maintain:
- HITRUST Certification
- SOC 2 Type II Report
This combination satisfies healthcare clients while also meeting broader enterprise procurement requirements.
Cost Considerations
- HITRUST: While costs vary based on organization size and scope, HITRUST generally requires a larger investment. Typical cost drivers include readiness assessments, remediation efforts, validated assessments, certification fees, and ongoing maintenance.
- SOC 2: Costs typically include readiness assessments, audit fees, compliance tooling, and internal resources. For many organizations, SOC 2 serves as an initial compliance milestone before pursuing HITRUST certification.
How Accorian Assists
Choosing between HITRUST and SOC 2 is not simply a compliance decision but a strategic move that should align with your industry requirements, customer expectations, and long-term business objectives. Whether you are pursuing HITRUST certification, SOC 2 attestation, or both, having the right expertise can help accelerate the process while minimizing compliance challenges.
Accorian brings extensive experience and expertise across both frameworks, helping organizations build, assess, and strengthen their security and compliance programs. As a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor and a trusted compliance partner, Accorian supports organizations through readiness assessments, gap analyses, remediation, control implementation, evidence collection, audit preparation, and ongoing compliance management.
Our team works closely with clients to streamline assessments and reduce the operational burden associated with compliance initiatives.
Beyond achieving certification or attestation, Accorian helps organizations establish sustainable security programs that support business growth and strengthen customer trust.
Whether you are a healthcare organization navigating HITRUST requirements or a SaaS provider pursuing SOC 2, our experts provide the strategic guidance and technical expertise needed to achieve compliance efficiently while demonstrating a strong commitment to security and risk management.
