Compliance Framework Comparison
Compare SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, FedRAMP, PCI DSS, CMMC, DORA, NIS2, SOX, and EU AI Act side-by-side. Up to 4 frameworks at a time.
Select frameworks to compare (3/4)
What it covers
SOC 2 requires organizations to maintain comprehensive audit logs that track user activity, system changes, and security events across all trust services criteria.
ISO 27001 mandates audit logging as part of Annex A controls for information security event logging, protection of log information, and administrator activity logging.
HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to implement audit controls that record and examine activity in systems containing electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Log retention requirement
Minimum 1 year (SOC 2 Type II audit window is typically 3-12 months)
Organization-defined, typically 1-3 years (must align with risk assessment)
6 years from creation date or last effective date (per 45 CFR 164.530(j))
Top logging requirements
CC6.1 - Logical Access Controls
Log all authentication events including successful and failed login attempts, MFA challenges, session creation, and session termination. Track user provisioning and deprovisioning.
CC7.2 - System Monitoring
Monitor and log system activity to detect anomalies, unauthorized access, and security incidents. Maintain audit trails of administrative actions and configuration changes.
CC8.1 - Change Management
Log all changes to system components including code deployments, infrastructure modifications, configuration updates, and database schema changes.
CC6.3 - Role-Based Access
Document and log role assignments, permission changes, and access reviews. Maintain evidence of least-privilege enforcement.
A.8.15 - Logging
Produce, store, protect, and analyze logs that record activities, exceptions, faults, and information security events. Logging facilities and log information must be protected against tampering and unauthorized access.
A.8.16 - Monitoring Activities
Networks, systems, and applications must be monitored for anomalous behavior. Appropriate actions must be taken to evaluate potential security incidents.
A.5.23 - Information Security for Cloud Services
Processes for acquisition, use, management, and exit from cloud services must include logging and monitoring requirements.
A.8.10 - Information Deletion
Information stored in systems and devices must be deleted when no longer required. Deletion events must be logged.
164.312(b) - Audit Controls
Implement hardware, software, and/or procedural mechanisms that record and examine activity in information systems that contain or use electronic protected health information.
164.312(c)(1) - Integrity Controls
Implement policies and procedures to protect electronic protected health information from improper alteration or destruction.
164.312(d) - Person or Entity Authentication
Implement procedures to verify that a person or entity seeking access to ePHI is who they claim to be.
164.308(a)(5)(ii)(C) - Log-in Monitoring
Procedures for monitoring log-in attempts and reporting discrepancies.
Key facts
- · SOC 2 Type II requires evidence of controls operating over a minimum 3-month period
- · Audit log integrity is evaluated under the Security trust services criteria (CC6, CC7)
- · Over 80% of enterprise procurement processes require SOC 2 compliance from vendors
- · The average SOC 2 audit costs $50,000-$100,000 with traditional approaches
- · ISO 27001:2022 contains 93 controls organized into 4 themes (reduced from 114 in the 2013 version)
- · Control A.8.15 explicitly requires protection of logs against tampering
- · Certification requires annual surveillance audits and recertification every 3 years
- · Over 70,000 organizations worldwide hold ISO 27001 certification
- · HIPAA applies to covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans, clearinghouses) and their business associates
- · The HHS Office for Civil Rights has imposed over $130 million in HIPAA fines since 2003
- · Audit log requirements are addressable specifications, meaning organizations must assess and implement if reasonable
- · Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) must address audit logging responsibilities
AuditKit satisfies
- ✓ SHA-256 hash chains for tamper detection
- ✓ Merkle tree proofs for cryptographic integrity
- ✓ Tenant-isolated audit pipelines
- ✓ SIEM streaming + auditor viewer UI
- ✓ SHA-256 hash chains for tamper detection
- ✓ Merkle tree proofs for cryptographic integrity
- ✓ Tenant-isolated audit pipelines
- ✓ SIEM streaming + auditor viewer UI
- ✓ SHA-256 hash chains for tamper detection
- ✓ Merkle tree proofs for cryptographic integrity
- ✓ Tenant-isolated audit pipelines
- ✓ SIEM streaming + auditor viewer UI
One audit log infrastructure, every framework
AuditKit produces tamper-evident audit logs that satisfy SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR, FedRAMP, PCI DSS, CMMC, DORA, NIS2, and SOX requirements simultaneously. Build once, attest across every framework.
Frequently asked
Which compliance frameworks should I pursue first?
It depends on your buyer geography and industry. SOC 2 Type II is the default for US B2B SaaS. ISO 27001 dominates EU and APAC enterprise procurement. HIPAA is required for any product touching ePHI. GDPR follows EU data subjects regardless of company location. Most companies pursue 2-3 with shared audit logging infrastructure rather than 1 at a time.
Why compare frameworks side-by-side?
Many requirements overlap. SOC 2 CC7.2 (system monitoring) and ISO 27001 A.8.16 (monitoring activities) both demand similar audit logging. Buyers in regulated industries often need 2-3 attestations. Comparing requirements lets you design audit infrastructure once that satisfies multiple frameworks instead of repeating implementation work per framework.
Does this comparison cover audit log integrity specifically?
Yes. Each framework requires logs to be tamper-evident, but the specifics vary: PCI DSS v4.0 explicitly mentions hash-based mechanisms; SOC 2 evaluates integrity through assessor sampling; HIPAA's 164.312(c) requires 'mechanism to authenticate ePHI' — interpreted broadly. AuditKit's hash chains and Merkle proofs satisfy all of these mechanisms.
How accurate is the data?
Compiled from primary sources — AICPA Trust Services Criteria, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, NIST SP 800-53, 45 CFR 164, PCI DSS v4.0, EU Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR), and others. Citations are linked in each framework's deep-dive page (e.g. /compliance/soc2). When primary sources have ambiguity (e.g. HIPAA log retention isn't explicit), we use the dominant industry interpretation.
Can AuditKit produce evidence for multiple frameworks simultaneously?
Yes. A single AuditKit deployment produces tamper-evident audit logs that satisfy SOC 2 monitoring controls, ISO 27001 Annex A.8.15-A.8.18, HIPAA 164.312(b), PCI DSS Requirement 10, FedRAMP AU control family, and NIST SP 800-171 audit requirements. The cost of compliance-grade logging amortizes across every framework you pursue.