Does SOC 2 cover AI and LLM features?
Yes, indirectly. SOC 2 has no AI-specific criteria, but its technology-neutral Trust Services Criteria cover any system in your defined scope — including AI and LLM features — for security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy.
The full answer
SOC 2 does not have a separate "AI" module. Its Trust Services Criteria are written to be technology-neutral, so they apply to whatever systems you put inside your audit scope. If your product's AI and LLM features run on infrastructure and data flows covered by that scope, they are covered; if you carve them out, they are not.
In practice that means an auditor looks at how you govern the AI features like any other component: access controls to models and training data, change management for prompts and model versions, vendor management for third-party LLM providers, logging, and monitoring. Under the AICPA's SSAE No. 18 standards, a licensed CPA firm attests to whether those controls are designed and operating — not to whether the model is "safe" or unbiased.
So SOC 2 will tell a buyer your AI features sit inside a controlled environment, but it is not an AI-specific certification. Where customers want assurances about model risk, data usage, or governance specifically, they may ask additional questions or point to emerging AI frameworks. SOC 2 handles the security wrapper; it does not judge model quality.
The practical move is to include your AI and LLM features in scope from the start so your report reflects the product you actually sell. SOC 2 audits booked through the AuditNex network start at $2,500 promotionally and average about $5,000, per the AuditNex network rate card, and adding AI components rarely changes that materially if they share your existing infrastructure.
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Related questions
Can one audit firm do SOC 2 and ISO 27001 together?
Often yes, if the firm holds both a CPA license for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 accreditation, or partners with an accredited certification body. Many providers now run a combined audit that shares evidence and fieldwork to save time.
Do I need both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
Usually not at first. Most US startups start with SOC 2 to close deals; ISO 27001 matters more for international or enterprise buyers. Many companies eventually hold both because auditors can reuse overlapping evidence.
Do government buyers accept SOC 2?
Sometimes. State and local agencies and government contractors often accept a SOC 2 Type 2, but most federal cloud work requires FedRAMP, and defense contracts increasingly require CMMC. SOC 2 helps, yet rarely replaces those government-specific programs.
Does PCI DSS overlap with SOC 2?
Yes, they share many technical controls — access management, encryption, logging, and vulnerability management — but they don't substitute for each other. PCI DSS is a prescriptive, mandatory standard for handling cardholder data; SOC 2 is a flexible CPA attestation.
Does SOC 2 help with GDPR?
Partly. SOC 2 is not a GDPR certification, but a report with the confidentiality and privacy criteria demonstrates many security safeguards the GDPR expects. You still need GDPR-specific steps like lawful basis, data subject rights, and processing agreements.
Does SOC 2 satisfy HIPAA?
No. SOC 2 is a voluntary AICPA attestation; HIPAA is US federal law for protected health information. A SOC 2 report can show strong security controls, but it does not prove HIPAA compliance or replace a HIPAA risk assessment.
Sources: AICPA Trust Services Criteria (2017, updated); AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.