HITRUST vs. SOC 2: Which Matters More for Wellness Platforms?

When health plans, employers, and wellness vendors evaluate a wellness platform, security certifications are often the first thing their compliance and procurement teams ask about.

Two names come up repeatedly: HITRUST and SOC 2. But what is the difference, and which one actually matters more for healthcare data security?

The short answer is both, but for different reasons. Here is what each certification means and why PDHI chose to pursue both.

What is HITRUST Certification?

HITRUST r2 Certification is an independent, risk-based assessment that validates an organization's security, privacy, and risk management controls against the HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF). 

It is widely used in healthcare and other regulated industries because it harmonizes multiple regulatory requirements into a single certifiable framework.

What makes HITRUST certification particularly compelling is its real-world track record. 

Key stat: According to the latest HITRUST Trust Report, 99.62% of HITRUST-certified environments remained breach-free in 2025, significantly outperforming industry averages.

What is SOC 2 Certification?

SOC 2 is an auditing standard developed by the AICPA that evaluates an organization's controls around security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. 

The SOC 2 Type 2 certification, which PDHI holds, means those controls have been tested and validated over a sustained period, not just at a single point in time.

For organizations handling sensitive health data, SOC 2 certification provides an important baseline of assurance around wellness platform security and operational reliability.

HITRUST vs. SOC 2: Key differences

While both certifications signal a commitment to security, they differ significantly in scope, industry focus, and what they actually require. 

Here is a side-by-side look at the key distinctions:

• Scope: HITRUST covers a broader set of regulatory frameworks, including HIPAA, NIST, and ISO. SOC 2 focuses specifically on trust service criteria.
• Industry focus: HITRUST is specifically designed for healthcare and highly regulated industries. SOC 2 applies across industries.
• Effort for clients: HITRUST r2 certification eliminates the need for repetitive security questionnaires and custom audits. SOC 2 may still require additional validation depending on the client's requirements.
• Prescriptiveness: HITRUST is more prescriptive with specific controls. SOC 2 gives organizations more flexibility in how they meet the criteria.

Why PDHI Chose Both

PDHI has held HITRUST r2 Certification since 2015, one of the longest-standing certifications in the wellness platform space. 

Combined with SOC 2 Type 2 and SOC 3 certified cloud infrastructure, PDHI's security and compliance posture covers the full spectrum of what health plans, employers, and wellness vendors need to feel confident in their technology partner.

For clients, this means fewer security questionnaires, faster procurement, and a single independently validated framework that covers HIPAA, NIST, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 requirements in one place. 

When sensitive member health data is involved, having both certifications is not redundant; it’s responsible. PDHI's wellness platform was built with that standard in mind from day one.

Final Thoughts

For wellness platforms where data security in healthcare is non-negotiable, the question is not HITRUST vs. SOC 2; it is whether your platform has done the work to earn both. 

PDHI has, and has maintained that standard for over a decade.

Ready to see what a certified, secure wellness platform looks like in practice? 

Request a demo and find out.