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Quick Definition: SOC 2 compliance software for healthcare automates evidence collection, continuous control monitoring, and policy management for a SOC 2 audit — while covering HIPAA technical safeguards, BAA tracking, 6-year audit trail retention, and PHI-specific access reviews in the same platform. The best tools map HIPAA controls directly to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria so you don’t run two separate programs.
You’re already doing HIPAA. Now your enterprise prospects — hospital systems, payers, Epic-connected health networks — are asking for SOC 2 Type 2 before they’ll sign. Your security team is stretched. You don’t want to build a second compliance program from scratch.
That’s the problem this guide solves.
Between 2009 and 2020, U.S. healthcare providers reported 3,705 data breaches exposing over 260 million records (Censinet). Healthcare breach costs are the highest of any industry at ~$9.77M per incident per IBM’s 2024 research (IBM Cost of a Data Breach). And 70–85% of enterprise RFPs require SOC 2 before procurement can proceed. Your customers know those numbers. They’re not asking for SOC 2 because it’s a formality.
A platform that handles HIPAA and SOC 2 together — with BAAs, PHI-specific controls, and healthcare-relevant integrations — cuts your compliance burden in half. Below are the six best options for healthcare companies in 2026, with honest notes on healthcare depth, pricing, and trade-offs.
For a broader look at SOC 2 software across all industries, see the SOC 2 software hub. If you need a deeper orientation on why HIPAA-compliant companies still need SOC 2, read SOC 2 for healthcare companies first.
Why Healthcare Needs More Than Generic SOC 2 Software
Generic SOC 2 platforms get you evidence collection, control monitoring, and policy templates. That’s useful. It’s not enough for healthcare.
HIPAA’s technical safeguards create requirements generic platforms won’t prompt you to address:
- Audit trail retention for 6 years — HIPAA requires PHI access logs and security event records to be retained for six years. Most SOC 2 platforms default to shorter retention windows.
- Encryption at rest and in transit — Required by HIPAA §164.312(a)(2)(iv) and §164.312(e)(2)(ii). You need platform controls that verify these are enforced on PHI-containing systems, not just noted in a policy.
- Access logging specifics — Who accessed what PHI record, when, and from where. Not just system-level login events.
- BAA management — Every vendor that touches PHI is a business associate. You need to track BAAs, renewal dates, and security review status. Generic platforms don’t model this.
- PHI-specific access reviews — Role-based access reviews that cover support personnel who can reach production data, not just infrastructure admins.
If you use a generic platform, you’ll finish SOC 2 and still have a separate HIPAA spreadsheet. A healthcare-grade platform merges the two. The controls overlap. The evidence is collected once. The audit scope is tighter.
What We Evaluated
Five criteria drove the rankings:
- HIPAA framework depth — does the platform include a real HIPAA module with mapped controls, or just a framework badge?
- BAA availability with the vendor — will they sign one? Have they?
- Healthcare-specific integrations — AWS HIPAA-eligible services, EHR/FHIR API tooling, healthcare identity providers
- Audit trail retention — does the platform support 6-year retention for PHI access logs?
- PHI access review tooling — can you run access reviews scoped to PHI-handling systems specifically?
#1 Drata — Best Overall for Healthcare HIPAA + SOC 2
Drata has built the deepest dual HIPAA + SOC 2 coverage of any platform we reviewed. Its HIPAA module maps directly to SOC 2 Security, Confidentiality, and Availability criteria — so controls you build for HIPAA evidence feed the SOC 2 audit without duplication. Healthcare is one of Drata’s largest customer segments, and that’s visible in the product: BAA-ready from day one, AWS HIPAA-eligible service integrations that check encryption and access logging at the control level, and PHI-scoped access review workflows built into the platform.
The Forrester Total Economic Impact of Drata found a 78% reduction in audit and data-collection time — roughly 980 hours down to 220 annually. For healthcare compliance teams already stretched between HIPAA audits and customer security questionnaires, that reduction matters.
Healthcare-specific strengths: HIPAA + SOC 2 control mapping, AWS HIPAA service checks, BAA tracking, 26+ framework support including ISO 27001 and HITRUST CSF mapping. Strong vendor risk module that can track BAA status across your subprocessors.
2026 pricing: Startup tier $7.5K–$15K/year; growth $15K–$30K; enterprise $25K–$50K+. All quote-based. Auditor fees are separate — budget $15K–$40K for a Type 2 from an independent CPA. See our Drata review for full pricing detail.
HIPAA coverage depth: Best in class. Dedicated HIPAA module with technical safeguard controls mapped to Trust Services Criteria. Encryption checks, access logging, and audit trail retention settings included.
Honest downside: Pricing rises quickly when you add frameworks beyond SOC 2 + HIPAA. Implementation takes 2–4 weeks even for experienced teams. If you’re a very early-stage company with under 20 employees, the feature set may exceed what you need.
#2 Vanta — Best for Healthcare Scale and Integrations
Vanta has one of the largest healthcare customer bases of any compliance platform. Its HIPAA module is mature, its integration library is the broadest in the market (400+), and it handles the AWS, GCP, and Azure HIPAA-eligible service checks healthcare companies need. IDC research on Vanta customers found a 526% three-year ROI and 82% less time on audits — numbers driven partly by the depth of its integration-based evidence collection.
Vanta signs BAAs and has done so for healthcare customers at scale. Its HIPAA controls map to the Security, Confidentiality, and Availability Trust Services Criteria. The platform also handles ISO 27001 alongside SOC 2 and HIPAA — useful if your enterprise deals include international buyers who ask for ISO alongside SOC 2.
Healthcare-specific strengths: Largest integration library, mature HIPAA module, BAA-ready, broad multi-framework support. Good fit if you’re selling into health systems that require SOC 2 + HIPAA proof in the same vendor package. Strong auditor marketplace for pairing with a healthcare-experienced CPA firm.
2026 pricing: Startup tier $10K–$15K/year; mid-market $25K–$50K; enterprise $50K–$80K+. Quote-based. Full breakdown in our Vanta review.
HIPAA coverage depth: Strong. HIPAA framework module with control mapping to SOC 2 criteria. PHI access review workflows included. Audit trail retention configurable.
Honest downside: Can feel heavyweight for a 20-person team focused only on SOC 2 + HIPAA. Pricing creep at renewal is the most common complaint from Vanta users in healthcare. Lock in multi-year price caps early.
#3 Thoropass — Best Bundled Audit with Healthcare Auditors
Thoropass (formerly Laika) is the only platform on this list that bundles the compliance software with an in-house CPA audit team — and that audit bench has real healthcare depth. If you want one vendor for platform and attestation, and you want auditors who understand EHR integrations, PHI handling, and BAA chains, Thoropass is the strongest option.
The in-house model removes the friction between software and audit firm. Auditors build evidence requests directly in the platform. You’re not exporting packages and re-uploading to a separate portal. For healthcare companies doing a first Type 2, this matters: the most common delay is misalignment between what the platform collected and what the auditor actually needs. Thoropass eliminates that gap by design.
Healthcare-specific strengths: In-house CPA firm with healthcare audit experience, HIPAA + SOC 2 + ISO 27001 in one program, single-vendor workflow from readiness through attestation. Strong fit for digital health companies that want to close their first enterprise deal and need the audit done, not just the platform connected.
2026 pricing: Bundled with audit services — expect $25K–$60K+ depending on scope and observation period length. Not publicly listed. Read our Thoropass review for what to expect.
HIPAA coverage depth: Good. HIPAA controls included, auditors are familiar with PHI-specific testing. BAA available.
Honest downside: You’re locked into Thoropass as your auditor. If you later want to switch audit firms — for pricing or relationship reasons — migration is painful. Best suited to companies that want a long-term single-vendor relationship.
#4 Secureframe — Best for HIPAA Templates and Auditor Guidance
Secureframe was built by former auditors, and that heritage shows in the quality of its HIPAA policy templates and compliance guidance. The platform comes with a library of HIPAA-specific policies, control narratives, and gap assessment tools that are more detailed than most generic platforms. If your team doesn’t have a dedicated security lead and you need someone to tell you exactly what to do for HIPAA + SOC 2, Secureframe’s compliance expert model is the most hands-on.
Secureframe assigns a dedicated compliance expert to each customer — often someone with an audit background who can speak to healthcare-specific evidence requirements. For PHI handling, access reviews, and vendor risk (including BAA tracking), those experts know what healthcare auditors will test.
Healthcare-specific strengths: HIPAA policy templates from former auditors, hands-on compliance expert model, BAA available, broad framework support including ISO 27001 and PCI DSS. Good for companies that want more guidance than just a checklist.
2026 pricing: Startup tier $10K–$35K/year; mid-market $35K–$60K; enterprise $50K+. Quote-based. Full detail in our Secureframe review.
HIPAA coverage depth: Strong templates and guidance. Auditor-reviewed policies for technical safeguards, access controls, and incident response. PHI access review workflows available.
Honest downside: The expert model is valuable but adds cost at the higher tiers. Integration depth (300+) is strong but narrower than Vanta or Drata. Some healthcare-specific integrations (EHR APIs, HL7 tooling) require manual setup.
#5 Sprinto — Best for Price-Sensitive Digital Health Companies
Sprinto’s prescriptive onboarding model is its strongest feature for healthcare. It walks you through a structured HIPAA + SOC 2 program step by step, assigns tasks to the right team members, and uses automation to collect evidence continuously. It doesn’t leave you staring at a blank compliance canvas wondering what to do first.
For early-stage digital health companies — seed through Series A — that need HIPAA and SOC 2 without a $30K+ software budget, Sprinto is the most cost-efficient path. The HIPAA module covers technical safeguards, access controls, and audit trails. BAA is available. The platform’s lower price point doesn’t mean shallow coverage; it means a tighter, more prescriptive scope.
Healthcare-specific strengths: Prescriptive HIPAA + SOC 2 onboarding, lower price point than the larger platforms, BAA available, continuous monitoring across cloud environments. Good for engineering-led teams that want automation-heavy readiness without high platform cost.
2026 pricing: Startup tier $8K–$10K/year; mid-market $15K–$25K; enterprise $30K+. Quote-based. Full notes in our Sprinto review.
HIPAA coverage depth: Solid for standard technical safeguards and access controls. Audit trail retention settings available. Less customizable than Drata or Vanta for complex multi-system PHI environments.
Honest downside: The prescriptive model is great when your environment matches what Sprinto expects. If you have unusual infrastructure, complex EHR integrations, or multi-cloud PHI workloads, you may outgrow the prescription quickly. Requires disciplined internal ownership to stay on track.
#6 Aptible — Best for Digital Health Infrastructure
Aptible is the one entry on this list that is not a traditional GRC platform. It is a managed infrastructure provider that ships with HIPAA and HITRUST R2 controls already in place at the infrastructure layer. If you host on Aptible, the BAA covers the whole environment by default on the Production plan, and controls for encryption, logging, patching, vulnerability scanning, and backup inherit automatically. Aptible started life serving digital health companies and that heritage shows in the product.
For a seed or Series A digital health startup, the practical value is that roughly half of your SOC 2 and HIPAA technical safeguard evidence is already produced by the platform. You still need a GRC tool for policy management, vendor tracking, and the administrative controls — Aptible is usually run alongside Drata, Vanta, or Sprinto, not instead of them.
Healthcare-specific strengths: HIPAA and HITRUST R2 certified infrastructure, BAA covers the entire environment by default, inherited technical controls (encryption at rest and in transit, logging, patching, vulnerability scanning), detailed documentation mapping infrastructure controls to HIPAA and SOC 2 requirements.
2026 pricing: Production plan starts around $499 per month. Pricing scales with resource consumption, not compliance features. Dedicated stacks for regulated workloads priced higher.
HIPAA coverage depth: Infrastructure-layer only. Covers technical safeguards well; does not cover administrative safeguards, policy management, or workforce training.
Honest downside: Aptible is not a full compliance program. You still need a GRC platform for policies, vendor risk, and access reviews. The benefit is that the infrastructure half of your SOC 2 + HIPAA workload is dramatically smaller — which pairs best with a cheaper GRC subscription like Sprinto or Strike Graph.
Platform Comparison Table
| Platform | HIPAA coverage | SOC 2 coverage | BAA available? | 2026 price range | Bundled audit? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drata | Deep — dedicated module, HIPAA-to-SOC 2 control mapping | Full — Security, Availability, Confidentiality | Yes | $7.5K–$50K+/yr | No — auditor separate |
| Vanta | Strong — HIPAA module, 400+ integrations | Full — all 5 Trust Services Criteria | Yes | $10K–$80K+/yr | No — auditor marketplace |
| Thoropass | Good — HIPAA controls, healthcare-experienced auditors | Full — in-house CPA attestation | Yes | $25K–$60K+ (bundled) | Yes — in-house CPA firm |
| Secureframe | Strong templates + auditor guidance | Full — Security, HIPAA, ISO 27001, PCI DSS | Yes | $10K–$60K+/yr | No — auditor separate |
| Sprinto | Solid — prescriptive HIPAA + SOC 2 onboarding | Full — Security, Availability, Confidentiality | Yes | $8K–$30K+/yr | No — auditor separate |
| Aptible | Infrastructure-layer HIPAA + HITRUST R2 | Infrastructure controls only — pair with a GRC tool | Yes, by default | From ~$499/mo | No — infra vendor |
Auditor fees are separate for every platform except Thoropass. Budget $15K–$40K additional for a Type 2 audit from an independent CPA. For healthcare-specialized auditors, see our SOC 2 for healthcare companies guide and the auditor matching tool at soc2auditors.org.
How to Choose
Use this decision guide based on your situation.
If you have PHI workloads and need HIPAA + SOC 2 fast → Drata. Best dual-coverage depth, fastest time to evidence-ready, large healthcare customer base means your auditor will know the platform.
If you want the audit bundled with healthcare-specific auditors → Thoropass. Single vendor, in-house CPA firm with healthcare audit bench, eliminates the software-to-auditor handoff friction. Worth the premium if audit coordination is your biggest concern.
If you’re early-stage digital health and price-sensitive → Sprinto. Prescriptive onboarding gets you HIPAA + SOC 2 without a $25K+ software bill. Right size for a seed or Series A company with a focused product scope.
If you need broad framework support including ISO 27001 → Drata or Vanta. Both handle HIPAA + SOC 2 + ISO 27001 natively. Drata edges Vanta on healthcare-specific control depth; Vanta leads on integration breadth. If your deals include international buyers or HITRUST requirements, either can grow with you.
If you want hands-on expert guidance → Secureframe. The dedicated compliance expert model with an audit background is worth it if your team is early in building out a compliance function and needs someone to tell you exactly what evidence to produce for a healthcare auditor.
If you are a digital health startup and want HIPAA-ready infrastructure from day one → Aptible. The BAA-by-default hosting and inherited technical controls cover half your SOC 2 and HIPAA evidence at the infrastructure layer. Pair with a cheaper GRC tool (Sprinto or Strike Graph) for the administrative half.
For more on the audit side of the process, see what a SOC 2 Type 2 report actually contains and how long a SOC 2 audit takes.
FAQ
What’s SOC 2 software for healthcare?
SOC 2 compliance software for healthcare automates evidence collection, continuous control monitoring, and policy management for a SOC 2 audit — while also addressing HIPAA technical safeguards, Business Associate Agreement tracking, 6-year audit trail retention, and PHI-specific access reviews. The best platforms map HIPAA controls directly to SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria so healthcare companies build one program, not two. See the SOC 2 software hub for the full market overview.
Do I need SOC 2 if I’m already HIPAA compliant?
Yes. HIPAA is a legal obligation — it sets the rules for protecting PHI. SOC 2 is an independent attestation from a licensed CPA that your controls are actually designed and operating the way you say they are. Enterprise hospital systems and payers want both. HIPAA tells them you’re required to protect data. SOC 2 shows them a qualified third party verified you do. The two frameworks are complementary, not redundant. Read more in SOC 2 for healthcare companies.
Which compliance platforms sign BAAs?
Drata, Vanta, Thoropass, Secureframe, and Sprinto all sign Business Associate Agreements. This matters: if PHI flows through your compliance platform, or if the platform connects to systems that process PHI, the vendor is a business associate under HIPAA. Always confirm BAA availability before you sign. Never assume.
Can one platform handle HIPAA, SOC 2, and HITRUST?
Drata and Vanta offer the broadest framework coverage — HIPAA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HITRUST CSF mapping. Thoropass covers HIPAA, SOC 2, and ISO 27001 with an in-house audit team that has healthcare depth. True HITRUST certification requires a HITRUST-authorized assessor — no platform replaces that — but Drata and Vanta can map your existing controls to reduce the HITRUST assessment lift significantly.
How long does a healthcare SOC 2 audit take?
A SOC 2 Type 2 for a healthcare company typically requires 3–6 months of readiness work followed by a 6–12 month observation period. Most digital health companies target 9–12 months from kickoff to issued report. Using a platform with HIPAA mapping built in compresses the readiness phase — IDC research on Vanta customers found 82% less time spent on audits. See our guide on how long a SOC 2 audit takes for a full breakdown.
How is SOC 2 for healthcare different from generic SOC 2?
Healthcare SOC 2 programs require HIPAA technical safeguard controls (encryption at rest and in transit, access logging, audit trail retention for 6 years under 45 CFR §164.316(b)(1)), BAA management across all vendor relationships that touch PHI, EHR integration controls (API auth, interface change management, data flow diagrams), and PHI-specific access reviews that cover support personnel. A generic SOC 2 platform won’t build these in. Healthcare-focused implementations in Drata, Vanta, and Thoropass include them natively. The difference shows up in audit fieldwork — and in whether your first enterprise hospital system accepts the report.