Why is SOC 2 Important to You?
Imagine your students’ personal health data ending up in the wrong hands—all because your EHR vendor didn’t meet the same compliance standards as your cloud hosting provider. It’s a chilling thought, but one that’s entirely preventable.
Most college IT teams and health administrators understand that their SaaS hosting providers must meet strict federal and industry standards. But far fewer apply the same scrutiny to their EHR vendors, even though both parties access the same electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI).
To truly safeguard student data, your EHR partner must be held to the same compliance standards as your infrastructure providers. Anything less introduces serious risk.
Cloud Providers Aren’t the Only Ones Who Need Oversight
As more student health services migrate to cloud-based platforms, colleges are becoming increasingly reliant on third-party vendors to manage sensitive health information. That reliance comes with responsibility.
A common pitfall? Institutions often focus solely on the security certifications of the cloud hosting provider—while overlooking the software vendor that actually builds, manages, and supports the EHR platform handling this data daily.
Both partners—hosting facility and EHR vendor—must meet industry-leading compliance standards. And one of the most critical standards to look for is SOC 2, particularly Type 2 SOC 2.
Why EHR Vendors Must Meet the Same Security Standards as Hosting Providers
SOC 2 is a widely recognized, third-party audit that evaluates how service organizations manage data related to security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy.
Furthermore, a hosting provider that stores ePHI typically undergoes a SOC 2 audit to demonstrate secure infrastructure. But if the EHR vendor that controls access, workflows, and interfaces with this data hasn’t also been audited, the system as a whole remains vulnerable.
Security is only as strong as the weakest link. Colleges must hold both their hosting and application vendors to the same level of trust and transparency.
How SOX Compliance Principles Apply to Higher Education
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was originally passed to reduce financial fraud in publicly traded companies. It requires these companies—and their third-party service providers—to implement strict controls and undergo regular audits.
While SOX specifically applies to corporate finance, its underlying principle—that third-party vendors must be independently audited when they impact critical systems—is just as relevant in higher education.
Colleges and universities rely on vendors for EHRs, payment systems, learning platforms, and more. If those vendors mishandle sensitive student data, the reputational and regulatory fallout can be just as serious.
Understanding SOC 2: Type 1 vs. Type 2
When evaluating whether a vendor has adequate SOC 2 coverage, it’s important to understand the two types:
- SOC 2 Type 1 examines whether security controls are properly designed at a single point in time.
- SOC 2 Type 2 assesses whether those controls are consistently followed and effective over a longer period (typically 6+ months).
For campus health centers, Type 2 is the stronger and more meaningful standard. It demonstrates not just good intentions, but a proven track record of secure operations.
For EHR vendors serving college campuses, SOC 2 is the audit that matters most.
What to Look for in an EHR Vendor
When assessing EHR vendors for your college or university, here are key questions to ask:
- Have you completed a Type 2 SOC 2 audit within the past 12 months?
- Can you provide documentation or attestations from your independent auditor?
- Are both your infrastructure partner (hosting) and your software platform (EHR) covered by SOC 2?
- How do your controls address each of the five Trust Service Criteria?
As regulatory expectations rise—and cyberattacks on student systems increase—it’s no longer enough to assume your partners are secure. Documentation matters!
Key Takeaways
Student health data is among the most sensitive information managed on campus. From immunizations and therapy notes to medication history and diagnoses, this data deserves the same level of protection as financial aid or academic records.
If your EHR vendor hasn’t undergone a Type 2 SOC 2 audit, your institution may be exposed to unnecessary risk—from data breaches to compliance violations.
SOC 2 isn’t just about passing an audit. It’s about proving—through independent validation—that your vendor is serious about protecting student privacy, supporting compliance, and earning your institution’s trust.
Medicat’s Commitment to Compliance
We believe your student health data deserves the highest level of protection. That’s why Medicat undergoes independent Type 2 SOC 2 audits, covering both our application and our infrastructure.
