SOC 2 Audits for Healthcare Startups Using Secureframe

SOC 2 Audit Experts for Startups

In the fast-evolving world of healthcare technology, patient privacy, data security, and operational integrity are foundational. For early-stage healthcare startups, building trust means proving your systems are secure—often through SOC 2 compliance.

At NDB, we specialize in delivering SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 audits for healthcare startups. We guide founders and compliance teams through every phase of the audit journey using Secureframe, a compliance automation platform designed to simplify and accelerate your path to security certifications.

Our phased approach—from readiness assessments to continuous compliance—makes SOC 2 manageable, affordable, and aligned with your growth trajectory.

Why SOC 2 Matters for Healthcare Startups

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is an auditing framework developed by the AICPA. It assesses a company’s ability to securely manage customer data, especially across five Trust Services Criteria:

• Security
• Availability
• Processing Integrity
• Confidentiality
• Privacy

For healthcare startups, these criteria take on added importance, as they often manage Protected Health Information (PHI), are subject to HIPAA, and work with partners who demand airtight data controls.

SOC 2 Compliance:

• Demonstrates your commitment to data protection
• Accelerates enterprise deals and B2B partnerships
• Builds trust with investors and regulators
• Helps prepare for broader frameworks like HITRUST, ISO 27001, or HIPAA audits

Achieving SOC 2 can seem overwhelming, but with Secureframe’s automation platform and NDB’s expert guidance, the process becomes faster, smoother, and scalable.

NDB’s 5-Phase SOC 2 Process Using Secureframe

Our SOC 2 audit program is built for healthcare innovators, combining strategic compliance consulting with Secureframe’s powerful automation platform. We break the process down into five key phases:

Phase I: Scoping & Readiness Assessment

The journey begins with clarity.

We start every engagement with a Phase I readiness assessment, where we evaluate:

• The services and systems in scope for SOC 2
• Applicable Trust Services Criteria based on your business and regulatory environment
• Infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure), PHI handling, and HIPAA considerations
• Third-party tools and vendors
• Your current policies, controls, and documentation

We then deliver:

• A Gap Analysis Report identifying where controls meet or miss SOC 2 standards
• A Custom Compliance Roadmap with prioritized tasks and timelines
• Guidance on how to configure Secureframe to align with your tech stack

This foundational phase is designed to eliminate guesswork and give your team clear direction.

Phase II: Onboarding with Secureframe

Once we’ve scoped your environment, we move into Phase II: Secureframe onboarding.

Secureframe integrates with over 100 systems to automate evidence collection and control monitoring, including:

• Cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Identity management (Okta, Google Workspace, Microsoft Entra)
• Source control (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
• HR systems (Rippling, Gusto, BambooHR)
• Ticketing and project tools (Jira, Asana, Linear)

NDB supports this phase by:

• Assisting with integrations and technical configuration
• Mapping controls within Secureframe to your actual operational processes
• Setting up automated workflows for policy acceptance, employee training, and risk monitoring
• Tailoring Secureframe’s templates to your healthcare-specific needs

With Secureframe, you get real-time dashboards, alerts, and continuous monitoring—all critical for staying compliant as you grow.

Phase III: Control Remediation and Documentation

With Secureframe up and running, we help build, fix, and optimize the controls needed to pass your audit.

Common remediation areas we assist with include:

• Access controls and user provisioning
• Encryption standards and key management
• Secure software development lifecycle (SDLC)
• Incident response planning and reporting
• Vendor risk management and due diligence
• HR controls such as onboarding/offboarding and acceptable use policies

We also ensure your policies meet both SOC 2 and HIPAA expectations—critical for companies working with PHI, EHRs, or digital health records.

Secureframe provides templates for many of these policies, and we help you customize them to reflect your actual operations, not just theoretical best practices. Every control we implement is backed by audit-ready documentation and tied directly to your evidence in Secureframe.

Phase IV: Performing the SOC 2 Audit (Type 1 or Type 2)

When your environment is fully prepared and Secureframe is capturing evidence in real-time, NDB initiates the actual audit.

We are a licensed CPA firm and conduct:

• SOC 2 Type 1 audits, evaluating the design of your controls at a specific point in time
• SOC 2 Type 2 audits, evaluating control effectiveness over a 3–12 month period

NDB’s audit process is efficient and supportive:

• We conduct walkthroughs and interviews to verify control design and operation
• Evidence is automatically pulled from Secureframe, reducing manual work
• Findings are clearly documented and reviewed with your team
• You receive a professional SOC 2 report that you can share with partners, customers, and regulators

We speak startup. Our auditors don’t just issue findings—they explain them in plain terms and help you turn your report into a growth enabler.

Phase V: Continuous Compliance with NDB’s Virtual Compliance Officer (VCO)

Passing your audit is only the beginning. As your company grows, your compliance needs evolve—especially in healthcare, where PHI, HIPAA, and vendor scrutiny never stop.

That’s why NDB offers Virtual Compliance Officer (VCO) services to maintain compliance year-round.

Our VCO program includes:

• Quarterly compliance check-ins and policy refreshes
• Continuous monitoring reviews in Secureframe
• Annual risk assessments and vendor reviews
• Ongoing team training and onboarding assistance
• Audit prep for SOC 2 renewals or expansions to HIPAA, HITRUST, or ISO 27001

Secureframe automates alerts and control testing, while NDB’s compliance experts act as your strategic advisors and control managers. You’ll never need to scramble for evidence, update outdated policies last-minute, or worry about being unprepared for the next audit cycle.

Why Healthcare Startups Choose NDB + Secureframe

What makes NDB the partner of choice for startup healthcare companies seeking SOC 2 compliance?

• Healthcare Focus: We understand HIPAA, PHI, and the operational realities of digital health companies.
• Licensed SOC 2 Auditors: We issue official AICPA SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2 reports—trusted by enterprise clients, partners, and investors.
• Secureframe Specialists: We integrate your team, controls, and operations with Secureframe efficiently, minimizing overhead and maximizing automation.
• End-to-End Support: From gap analysis to continuous compliance, we offer a full lifecycle of services—including our VCO program.
• Transparent Communication: We break down compliance into plain language and work directly with your team to solve problems, not just report them.

We’re not just auditors—we’re partners in your growth. Whether you're seeking your first SOC 2 or renewing for your next big client, NDB delivers tailored, startup-friendly service at every phase.

Start Your SOC 2 Journey Today

Ready to scale your healthcare startup securely, with the confidence of a fully certified SOC 2 compliance program?

Let NDB and Secureframe take the stress out of security audits. We’ll build the roadmap, guide your team, perform the audit, and help you stay compliant—all while you focus on innovating in healthcare.