October 16, 2025

SOC 2 in Digital Health: Why Patient Trust Starts with Compliance

Discover how SOC 2 healthcare compliance helps digital health organisations protect sensitive patient data and support HIPAA and NHS DSPT requirements.

By
Zoe Grylls
5 min read
October 16, 2025
Healthcare professionals shaking hands in a medical setting, symbolising trust, partnership, and compliance in digital health and SOC 2 healthcare security.

Trust sits at the heart of every digital health platform.

Patients, providers, and partners all rely on you to protect their most sensitive information — from electronic health records to protected health information (PHI). But in a landscape shaped by constant innovation, complex integrations, and rising cyber threats, maintaining that trust takes more than good intentions.

It takes evidence.

That’s where SOC 2 healthcare compliance comes in. It’s the independent assurance that your organisation’s controls — the policies, systems, and processes behind the scenes — are doing what you say they do.

Why SOC 2 Is the Trust Signal Healthcare Can’t Ignore

SOC 2 (short for Service Organisation Control 2) isn’t a legal requirement like HIPAA or the NHS DSPT. But it’s fast becoming a business requirement.

Healthcare organisations and hospitals increasingly ask for SOC 2 reports before they’ll even start vendor onboarding. Why? Because it’s third-party proof that your security controls, risk management, and data protection measures are working.

A SOC 2 report, issued by certified public accountants (CPAs), assesses your organisation’s controls against the Trust Services Criteria — security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

For healthcare, that means:

  • Security: Your systems are protected from unauthorised access.
  • Availability: Critical systems are reliable and accessible when needed.
  • Processing Integrity: Data inputs, storage, and outputs are accurate, valid, and timely.
  • Confidentiality & Privacy: PHI, EHR, and other sensitive information are only accessed by authorised people.

In short: it’s the compliance framework that turns your security promises into verified facts.

SOC 2 vs HIPAA vs NHS DSPT — The Real Differences

Let’s clear this up once and for all.

HIPAA vs NHS DSPT vs SOC 2
Framework Purpose Who It Applies To Proof Type
HIPAA Protects patient health information (PHI) in the US. Healthcare providers, insurers, and business associates. Internal compliance; enforced by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
NHS DSPT UK equivalent for healthcare entities processing NHS data. NHS organisations and third-party suppliers. Annual self-assessment, reviewed by NHS Digital.
SOC 2 Broader, international security and risk management framework. Any service organisation managing customer data or PHI. Independent audit and report from a CPA firm.