How SIEM as a Service Helps with SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS Compliance

The diversification of the cyberthreat landscape has forced the regulatory bodies, such as HIPAA and PCI DSS, to enforce stringent directives. Any event of non-compliance with these regulations leads to reputational damage and heavy penalties for your business. For instance, OCR imposed civil penalties of $144,878,972 for HIPAA violations in 152 cases in 2024. 

Consequently, organizations are turning to modern security solutions like SIEM to ensure compliance and strengthen their security posture. SIEM tools collect, analyze, monitor, and correlate event data to ensure compliance. However, deploying on-premise SIEM tools often leads to operational complexities and unfeasible expenses.   

A more cost-efficient and versatile solution is SIEM as a Service. It is a cloud-based service that outsources the entire SIEM functions to a managed security service provider.  

Let’s discuss how SIEM as a Service can ensure compliance with three major regulations – SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. 

What is SIEM as a Service? 

SIEM as a Service is an offering by managed security service providers (MSSPs) in which they provide SIEM on their cloud environment. It relieves businesses from the hassles of deploying an on-premise SIEM platform. Organizations are charged only for the services availed during the billing cycle. 

Managed SIEM Service providers also enable businesses to comply with compliance standards by adhering to the necessary procedures and providing advanced reports for audits.     

Let’s discuss how SIEM as a Service facilitates compliance requirements for three major data regulations – HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOC 2.  

SIEM as a Service for HIPAA Compliance

In 2025, 725 data breaches were reported to the US Department of Health. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) was introduced by the HHS to safeguard the protected health information (PHI) of U.S citizens. 

HIPAA compliance requires all healthcare entities to deploy identity and access management, incident response mechanisms, and real-time monitoring. Moreover, it requires the institution to retain the event logs for six years on secure backup systems.       

SIEM as a Service ensures HIPAA compliance by – 

Data Retention – The SIEM as a Service providers store all the event logs required for compliance from multiple sources, such as cloud, endpoints, firewalls, and applications. 

Audit Control – According to HIPAA section (45 CFR §164.312(b)), all entities must deploy audit controls to record and examine activity related to protected health information. Outsourced SIEM offers healthcare entities with audit-ready reports, ensuring compliance.    

Access Management – HIPAA requires all organizations to prevent unauthorized access to all PHI. SIEM providers deploy advanced tools for behavior analysis and event correlation to detect unusual logins, privilege escalations, and suspicious patterns.

SIEM as a Service for PCI DSS Compliance 

The PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) includes protocols and mechanisms to protect payment card data, including the cardholder’s name, card security code, and expiration date. The PCI DSS outlines 12 requirements that every organization must adhere to in order to ensure compliance.  

SIEM as a Service helps in PCI DSS compliance by – 

Access Monitoring – The 10th requirement of PCI DSS regulation requires organizations to log and monitor all access to system components and cardholder data. Cloud SIEM provider ensures real-time access monitoring and log management of cardholder data from multiple sources on a centralized platform. 

Security Testing – According to the 11th requirement of the PCI DSS, institutions are required to test the security of their systems and networks regularly. Managed SIEM providers test and modify detection rules regularly, so that security systems are actively maintained and validated.     

Vulnerability Assessment – PCI DSS includes the protection of systems and networks from malicious software in its 5th requirement. SIEM monitors every endpoint, network, and application for vulnerabilities, and issues high-fidelity alerts to counter any cyber threat.   

SIEM as a Service for SOC 2 Compliance

SOC (Service Organization Control) is a compliance standard introduced by the AICPA, built on the Trust Services Criteria. These criteria necessitate the protocols required to ensure total protection of customer data. The Trust Services Criteria include five parameters –

1. Security
2. Availability
3. Processing Integrity
4. Confidentiality
5. Privacy

SIEM as a Service providers ensure SOC 2 compliance by – 

Accurate Reporting – A SOC audit is performed by a licensed CPA and demands accurate reports. Managed SIEM service providers offer a centralized dashboard and reports that consolidate data from multiple sources, making the audit process seamless and error-free.  

24/7 Monitoring – The security criteria of SOC 2 require organizations to implement proper access management and network security protocols. SIEM tools monitor endpoints and networks around the clock to detect anomalies and unusual user behavior.

Incident Management –  To ensure SOC 2 compliance, businesses must deploy protocols and tools for the detection, analysis, and remediation of security incidents. With AI-powered SIEM, the providers ensure real-time alerts, escalation, and log analysis. 

Benefits of Using SIEM as a Service for Compliance

Now that we have learned how SIEM as a Service ensures SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS compliance, let’s discuss the benefits of Outsourced SIEM for businesses. 

1. Reduced IT Dependencies

SIEM as a Service reduces the dependency on the in-house IT team. As the service is cloud-based, all SIEM functions are handled remotely through advanced tools. This enables your on-premise IT team to focus on other core operations. 

2. Cost Savings

SIEM as a Service reduces the capital expenditure of procuring the advanced hardware and software tools for SIEM deployment. Consequently, organizations also don’t need to spend on hardware replacement and software updates. Moreover, Outsourced SIEM reduces the recurring expenses of training and hiring security professionals.   

3. Hassle-Free Scalability

As the corporate network expands, new information sources, such as applications, endpoints, and cloud workloads, are added to it. Consequently, organizations must scale their SIEM to accommodate them, resulting in increased expenses. Cloud SIEM can scale automatically as new sources get added to the security posture.  

4. Log Management

Managed SIEM service provider stores logs from different sources and events. These logs are then correlated and analyzed with AI and ML engines to ensure proactive threat detection.   

5. Audit Assurance

Cloud SIEM providers offer custom reports required for auditing various compliance standards, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS. Moreover, providers keep themselves updated with all amendments in these regulations and update their security posture accordingly. 

6. Rapid Deployment

Since SIEMaaS is a cloud-based offering and does not require any on-premise setup, it can be deployed quickly. On the contrary, on-premise SIEM can take a long time to set up. 

7. Access to Expert Professionals

Hiring skilled cybersecurity professionals for your organization can be challenging due to the rising skill gap. The SIEM as a Service providers deploy a team of cybersecurity experts to ensure effective information and event management.

8. Threat Intelligence 

 The SIEM providers integrate SIEM tools with threat intelligence to gather, analyze, and correlate data from multiple external sources. This ensures advanced threat detection and hunting. 

Choosing the Right SIEM as a Service Provider 

1. Compliance Expertise 

Ensure that the Cloud SIEM provider offers custom reports for all necessary regulations, including HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOC 2. It will reduce the time and effort required for audit preparations. 

2. Advanced Security Features 

The provider must deploy advanced security features on the cloud to secure the log data. You can look for features like encryption and access controls. Also, enquire about the provider’s data retention policies.    

3. 24//7 Monitoring and Alerts

Shortlist a provider that monitors the IT infrastructure continuously for effective data collection and real-time alerts. Look for a provider who not only monitors alerts but also triages incidents.

4. Customer Support

SIEM as a Service provider must offer 24/7 customer support for quick response and remediation of any security incident. Their team must be available on multiple channels to streamline responses. 

5. Diverse Services

The provider must offer diverse managed security services in addition to SIEM. It enables organizations to create a comprehensive security environment. Look for services like EDR, vulnerability assessment, threat intelligence, and more.   

6. Transparent Pricing

Ensure the provider has a transparent pricing model with no hidden fees. You must ask the provider if they can customize the pricing plan as per your requirements.

Guarantee Compliance with SIEM as a Service

SIEMaaS provides a cost-effective way to meet regulatory requirements while enhancing your overall security posture. With around-the-clock monitoring, compliance-ready reporting, and advanced threat protocols, organizations can avoid the risks and penalties associated with non-compliance. However, with numerous providers in the market, selecting the right partner can feel overwhelming. 

Considering Outsourced SIEM, but not sure where to start? Talk to our Solutions Consultant and book a free consultation today.