Unlocking Efficiency with SOC 2+: Combining Frameworks for Smarter SaaS Compliance

For established SaaS companies, achieving and maintaining compliance is often the price of entry into regulated markets. But when customer requirements span multiple frameworks: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, the compliance burden can become overwhelming. That’s where a SOC 2+ audit strategy shines.
SOC 2+, also known as a SOC 2 report with additional subject matter, enables companies to undergo one audit and cover multiple frameworks. This approach saves time, reduces costs, and accelerates sales cycles. With the right planning and tools, what once felt like a compliance maze becomes a coordinated, scalable process.

Why SOC 2+ Is a Game Changer for SaaS Companies

The core of SOC 2 is flexibility. It’s designed to let organizations define controls aligned to their operations while adhering to Trust Services Criteria (TSCs): Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, and Privacy. What SOC 2+ does is extend that framework by incorporating requirements from other standards like ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

This consolidation leads to:

• Audit Efficiency: Avoid redundant testing and meetings by evaluating overlapping controls once.
• Streamlined Evidence Collection: Centralize control documentation for multiple frameworks.
• Faster Time to Compliance: Get to market quicker with one comprehensive audit cycle.
• Sales Enablement: Present a unified report that satisfies a broader set of customer expectations.

How Framework Mapping Works

Let’s break down how SOC 2+ combines frameworks. Auditors perform testing using SOC 2’s rigorous attestation standards, then layer in the additional requirements. The process involves:

Most cybersecurity and risk controls, like access management, encryption, incident response, are common across frameworks. SOC 2+ allows auditors to reference these shared controls, avoiding duplicative assessments. For example, a control for data encryption at rest may satisfy SOC 2 CC6.1, ISO 27001 A.10.1, and PCI DSS 3.5.1 simultaneously.

Automation: The Secret Weapon for SOC 2+

Manual audits are time-consuming and error-prone. GRC automation platforms like Vanta, Drata, Scrut Automation, and Secureframe solve that by continuously monitoring controls, collecting evidence, and flagging issues in real time.

These tools:

• Pre-map controls to multiple frameworks
• Pull audit evidence from your cloud, HR, and development environments
• Send automated reminders for policy acknowledgements and risk reviews
• Support integration with popular SaaS tools like AWS, GCP, GitHub, and Okta

By reducing reliance on spreadsheets and screenshots, automation helps teams focus on high-value security work instead of repetitive tasks.

Case in Point: Combining SOC 2 + ISO 27001

ISO 27001 focuses on an information security management system (ISMS). SOC 2 covers operational controls. When pursued together, companies can demonstrate both the strategic governance of ISO and the operational rigor of SOC 2.

The overlap is significant. For example:

• ISO A.12.1.1 (Documented operating procedures) maps to SOC 2 CC7.1
• ISO A.6.1.1 (Roles and responsibilities) maps to SOC 2 CC1.1–CC1.3

Combining audits can reduce ISO 27001 external audit time by 20 to 30% if conducted alongside SOC 2.

Don’t Forget the Nuances of HIPAA and PCI DSS

HIPAA’s Security and Privacy Rules and PCI’s 12 Requirements introduce some domain-specific controls, such as breach notification or cardholder data segregation. These don’t map perfectly to SOC 2, but a SOC 2+ strategy allows auditors to test them within the same engagement.

For instance, your SOC 2 privacy TSC controls can support HIPAA privacy safeguards. Meanwhile, strong access control systems and network segmentation help satisfy PCI DSS Req. 7 and 1.

Reporting: Making It Work for Multiple Stakeholders

SOC 2+ reports can include a mapping appendix (often in Section 5) where controls are aligned to ISO, HIPAA, or PCI DSS clauses. This enables recipients to see how controls satisfy multiple requirements, reducing vendor due diligence effort for your customers.

To maintain data sensitivity, remember that SOC 2+ reports are still restricted use. You can share a SOC 3 summary publicly or use trust centers to give prospects controlled visibility.

Learn more about SOC 2 compliance in our detailed FAQ

How Truvo Cyber Can Help

At Truvo Cyber, we help SaaS companies unlock efficiency with SOC 2+. Whether you’re combining SOC 2 with ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or all three, we streamline the process from scoping to audit delivery.

Our expertise spans top GRC platforms like Scrut Automation, Vanta, Drata, and Secureframe. We know how to tailor compliance programs that align with your customer demands, market goals, and internal capacity.

Contact Truvo Cyber today to see how we can support your multi-framework audit journey.