What are the differences between ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR?

What are the differences between ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR?

• A. ISO 27001 defines information security governance requirements; SOC 2 covers privacy controls only; HIPAA governs healthcare data privacy; GDPR governs EU personal data privacy and transfers.
• B. ISO 27001 defines information security management system requirements; SOC 2 covers controls for security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy; HIPAA governs healthcare data privacy and security; GDPR governs EU personal data privacy and transfers.
• C. ISO 27001 covers environmental regulations; SOC 2 covers safety standards; HIPAA governs healthcare data privacy; GDPR governs advertising rules.
• D. ISO 27001 is a data protection regulation; SOC 2 covers consumer rights; HIPAA governs shipping; GDPR covers corporate governance.

Answer: (B)

Understanding how these standards and laws differ comes down to scope and purpose. ISO 27001 sets out the requirements for an information security management system (ISMS), a formal framework for managing and protecting information risks across an organization. SOC 2 describes a report framework based on the Trust Services Criteria and covers controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy for service organizations. HIPAA governs privacy and security of health information in the United States, focusing on protected health information and safeguarding it for covered entities and business associates. GDPR governs the protection of personal data of individuals in the EU and regulates transfers of that data to non-EU countries. The option that accurately maps each to its scope—ISO 27001 as ISMS requirements, SOC 2 with the five control categories, HIPAA for healthcare data privacy and security, and GDPR for EU data privacy and transfers—is the best choice. Mischaracterizations in the other statements, such as describing ISO 27001 as governance requirements or reducing SOC 2 to privacy alone, don’t align with how these frameworks and regulations are actually used.

Understanding how these standards and laws differ comes down to scope and purpose. ISO 27001 sets out the requirements for an information security management system (ISMS), a formal framework for managing and protecting information risks across an organization. SOC 2 describes a report framework based on the Trust Services Criteria and covers controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy for service organizations. HIPAA governs privacy and security of health information in the United States, focusing on protected health information and safeguarding it for covered entities and business associates. GDPR governs the protection of personal data of individuals in the EU and regulates transfers of that data to non-EU countries. The option that accurately maps each to its scope—ISO 27001 as ISMS requirements, SOC 2 with the five control categories, HIPAA for healthcare data privacy and security, and GDPR for EU data privacy and transfers—is the best choice. Mischaracterizations in the other statements, such as describing ISO 27001 as governance requirements or reducing SOC 2 to privacy alone, don’t align with how these frameworks and regulations are actually used.