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Beyond SOC 2

Which compliance framework should a startup get after SOC 2?

February 11, 20261 min read

Choose Based on Customer Demand

Your CustomersNext FrameworkWhy
International companiesISO 27001Required by EU/UK/APAC buyers
Healthcare providersHIPAA + possibly HITRUSTLegal requirement for PHI
Financial servicesPCI DSS or SOC 2 + financial criteriaPayment/financial data requirements
Government agenciesFedRAMP or CMMCRequired for government contracts
General enterprise (US)SOC 2 Type II renewalKeep your report current

Framework Comparison After SOC 2

The "Don't Over-Certify" Rule

Each framework has ongoing costs, annual audits, certificate renewals, evidence collection, and policy updates. Don't pursue frameworks speculatively.

The test: Has a customer or prospect specifically asked for this framework in the last quarter? If yes, pursue it. If no, wait.

The Typical Startup Path

  1. Year 1: SOC 2 Type I → SOC 2 Type II
  2. Year 2: Add ISO 27001 if international demand, or HIPAA if healthcare demand
  3. Year 3+: HITRUST, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP based on market requirements

Evidence Reuse

The good news: 60-80% of your SOC 2 evidence and controls reuse across frameworks. Each additional framework gets cheaper and faster after the first.

Related questions

Beyond SOC 2

Can a person go to jail for violating HIPAA?

Yes. Criminal cases are prosecuted by the Department of Justice and are rare.

Beyond SOC 2

How do fintech companies handle SOC 2 plus PCI DSS evidence?

Fintech companies handle dual SOC 2 and PCI DSS compliance by building a shared control foundation (access controls, encryption, change management) and adding PCI-specific requirements on top, cardholder data environment scoping, network segmentation, vulnerability scanning, and PCI-specific encryption standards.

Beyond SOC 2

How do I add HIPAA to my existing SOC 2 program?

Adding HIPAA to an existing SOC 2 program takes 1-2 months. Your SOC 2 controls already cover most HIPAA Security Rule requirements. The main additions are a Business Associate Agreement template, PHI data mapping, breach notification procedures, and privacy-specific controls for patient data handling.

Connect and see

See your SOC 2 with your real systems.

Connect GitHub and cloud read-only. Vera shows your control matrix, policy gaps, and prioritized next actions before you commit to anything.