As organizations increasingly rely on Large Language Models (LLMs) to power their applications, the need for robust security and compliance frameworks has never been more critical. Whether you're handling sensitive customer data, processing healthcare information, or serving users in the European Union, your LLM gateway must meet stringent regulatory requirements.
At Requesty, we've seen firsthand how compliance challenges can slow down AI adoption. That's why we've built security and compliance features directly into our platform, helping over 15,000 developers route their LLM traffic securely while maintaining regulatory compliance.
This comprehensive guide breaks down the essential security and compliance requirements for LLM gateways, focusing on three critical frameworks: SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR. We'll provide actionable checklists and show you how to implement these standards effectively.
Why Compliance Matters for LLM Gateways
LLM gateways sit at a critical junction in your infrastructure, processing potentially sensitive data including:
Personal identifiable information (PII)
Protected health information (PHI)
Proprietary business data
Customer conversations and queries
With 83-85% of enterprise buyers now requiring SOC 2 compliance as a vendor prerequisite, and regulatory penalties reaching millions of dollars, compliance isn't just about avoiding fines—it's about enabling business growth and maintaining customer trust.
Modern LLM gateways like Requesty's unified platform must balance the need for powerful AI capabilities with stringent security requirements. This means implementing robust access controls, encryption, monitoring, and incident response capabilities while maintaining the flexibility to route between 160+ models.
Understanding the Big Three: SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR
Before diving into specific checklists, let's understand what each framework requires and when it applies to your LLM gateway.
SOC 2: The Enterprise Standard
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) has become the de facto standard for SaaS and cloud service providers. It evaluates how organizations manage customer data based on five Trust Services Criteria:
Security (mandatory): Protection against unauthorized access
Availability: System uptime and reliability
Processing Integrity: Accurate and complete processing
Confidentiality: Protection of confidential information
Privacy: Personal information handling
For LLM gateways, SOC 2 Type 2 certification (which assesses operational effectiveness over 6-12 months) demonstrates to enterprise customers that you have mature security controls in place. This is particularly important when using enterprise features like SSO integration and user spend limits.
HIPAA: Healthcare's Gold Standard
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) applies to any organization handling protected health information (PHI). This includes:
Healthcare providers using LLMs for patient interactions
Health tech companies processing medical data
Any LLM gateway that might receive PHI in prompts or responses
HIPAA requires three types of safeguards:
Administrative: Policies, training, and risk assessments
Physical: Facility and device security
Technical: Access controls, encryption, and audit logs
Non-compliance can result in fines up to $1.5 million per violation, making HIPAA compliance essential for healthcare applications.
GDPR: Global Privacy Protection
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to any organization processing data of EU residents, regardless of where the company is located. Key requirements include:
Lawful basis for data processing
Strong data subject rights (access, erasure, portability)
Data minimization and purpose limitation
Breach notification within 72 hours
Privacy by design and default
With penalties up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover, GDPR compliance is crucial for any LLM gateway with international users.
The Complete Security & Compliance Checklist
Here's your comprehensive checklist for achieving compliance across all three frameworks:
Core Security Controls (All Frameworks)
Access Management
Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) for all systems
Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for admin access
Use API key rotation and management policies
Maintain principle of least privilege
Encryption
Encrypt all data at rest using AES-256 or stronger
Use TLS 1.2+ for all data in transit
Implement end-to-end encryption for sensitive data flows
Manage encryption keys securely with rotation policies
Monitoring and Logging
Deploy comprehensive audit logging for all access and changes
Implement real-time security monitoring (SIEM)
Set up anomaly detection for unusual patterns
Maintain logs for required retention periods (varies by framework)
Incident Response
Document incident response procedures
Establish clear escalation paths
Test response plans quarterly
Maintain breach notification procedures for each framework
Using Requesty's security features, you can implement many of these controls automatically, including guardrails for prompt injection protection and comprehensive audit logging across all 160+ supported models.
SOC 2 Specific Requirements
Security (Mandatory)
Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing (annually minimum)
Security awareness training for all employees
Vendor risk management program
Change management procedures
Availability
Disaster recovery and business continuity plans
Uptime monitoring and SLAs
Redundancy and failover capabilities
Capacity planning and monitoring
Requesty's routing optimizations provide built-in failover and load balancing, ensuring high availability even when individual model providers experience outages.
Processing Integrity
Input validation for all prompts
Output validation for model responses
Error handling and logging procedures
Data quality controls
Confidentiality
Data classification and labeling
Confidentiality agreements with employees and vendors
Access reviews (quarterly minimum)
Secure data disposal procedures
Privacy
Privacy policy and notices
Consent management systems
Data retention and deletion policies
Privacy impact assessments
HIPAA Specific Requirements
Administrative Safeguards
Designate a HIPAA Security Officer
Conduct annual risk assessments
Develop workforce training programs
Execute Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with all vendors
Implement sanction policies for violations
Physical Safeguards
Facility access controls and visitor logs
Workstation security policies
Device and media controls
Equipment disposal procedures
Technical Safeguards
Unique user identification for each person
Automatic logoff after inactivity
Encryption of all ePHI
Audit controls tracking all PHI access
Integrity controls preventing unauthorized changes
Transmission security for all PHI in transit
When handling healthcare data, Requesty's guardrails can automatically detect and redact PHI, ensuring compliance while maintaining functionality.
GDPR Specific Requirements
Lawful Basis and Transparency
Document lawful basis for each processing activity
Provide clear, accessible privacy notices
Maintain records of processing activities
Implement privacy by design principles
Data Subject Rights
Access request procedures (respond within 30 days)
Rectification capabilities
Erasure mechanisms ("right to be forgotten")
Data portability in machine-readable format
Objection and restriction procedures
Data Protection
Data minimization practices
Purpose limitation controls
Storage limitation policies
Accuracy maintenance procedures
Accountability
Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)
Data Processing Agreements with all processors
Breach notification procedures (72-hour deadline)
DPO appointment (if required)
Implementation Strategy for LLM Gateways
Successfully implementing these compliance frameworks requires a strategic approach:
Phase 1: Assessment and Scoping (Weeks 1-2)
1. Identify Applicable Frameworks
Determine which regulations apply based on your data types and geography
Consider customer requirements and contractual obligations
Plan for future expansion and requirements
2. Define Scope
Map all systems processing sensitive data
Identify data flows through your LLM gateway
Document all third-party integrations and vendors
3. Gap Analysis
Compare current controls against requirements
Prioritize high-risk gaps
Estimate resources needed for remediation
Phase 2: Control Implementation (Weeks 3-8)
1. Technical Controls
Deploy encryption for data at rest and in transit
Implement access controls and MFA
Set up monitoring and logging infrastructure
Configure Requesty's security features including guardrails
2. Administrative Controls
Develop required policies and procedures
Create training programs
Establish incident response procedures
Execute necessary agreements (BAAs, DPAs)
3. Physical Controls
Secure facility access
Implement device controls
Establish media handling procedures
Phase 3: Automation and Optimization (Weeks 9-12)
Modern compliance platforms can automate up to 75% of compliance tasks. Consider:
Automated evidence collection
Continuous control monitoring
Policy template libraries
Integrated risk assessments
Automated audit preparation
Requesty's enterprise features include built-in compliance tools like user budgets, SSO integration, and comprehensive analytics that simplify audit preparation.
Phase 4: Audit and Certification (Ongoing)
1. Internal Audits
Conduct quarterly self-assessments
Test incident response procedures
Review and update policies
Monitor control effectiveness
2. External Audits
Select qualified auditors
Prepare evidence packages
Remediate findings promptly
Maintain continuous compliance
Leveraging Technology for Compliance
Modern LLM gateways need sophisticated tools to maintain compliance while delivering high performance. Here's how technology can help:
Automated Compliance Monitoring
Real-time control monitoring
Automated evidence collection
Compliance dashboards and reporting
Integration with existing security tools
Requesty's platform provides comprehensive logging and monitoring across all API calls, making audit trails automatic and compliance reporting straightforward.
Smart Data Handling
Automatic PII/PHI detection and redaction
Dynamic data classification
Consent management integration
Automated retention and deletion
Our guardrails feature can automatically detect and handle sensitive data according to your compliance requirements.
Intelligent Routing for Compliance
Route sensitive data to compliant models only
Implement geographic restrictions
Enforce data residency requirements
Apply model-specific security policies
With Requesty's smart routing, you can automatically route requests based on compliance requirements, ensuring healthcare data only goes to HIPAA-compliant models or EU data stays within GDPR-compliant infrastructure.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
Understanding the risks helps justify compliance investments:
Financial Impact
HIPAA fines: Up to $1.5 million per violation
GDPR penalties: Up to €20 million or 4% of global turnover
Increased insurance premiums: Up to 58% higher for non-compliant organizations
Lost business: 83% of enterprise RFPs require SOC 2
Operational Impact
Breach remediation costs averaging $4.45 million
Business disruption during investigations
Increased audit and legal costs
Resource diversion from growth initiatives
Reputational Impact
Customer churn increases by 7% post-breach
Negative media coverage
Loss of competitive advantage
Difficulty attracting top talent
Best Practices for Continuous Compliance
Compliance isn't a one-time achievement—it requires ongoing attention:
1. Regular Reviews
Quarterly control assessments
Annual risk assessments
Policy updates as regulations change
Vendor compliance reviews
2. Employee Training
Initial security awareness training
Annual refreshers
Role-specific training
Incident response drills
3. Technology Updates
Security patch management
Regular vulnerability scanning
Encryption algorithm updates
Access control reviews
4. Documentation
Maintain current policies
Document all changes
Keep audit trails complete
Update risk registers
5. Vendor Management
Regular vendor assessments
Updated agreements
Compliance attestations
Incident notification procedures
Getting Started with Compliant LLM Routing
Implementing comprehensive compliance across SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR can seem overwhelming, but the right approach and tools make it manageable. Here's your action plan:
1. Assess Your Requirements
Identify which frameworks apply to your use case
Understand your data types and flows
Define your compliance timeline
2. Choose the Right Platform
Select an LLM gateway with built-in compliance features
Ensure the platform supports your required frameworks
Verify the vendor's own compliance certifications
3. Implement Controls Systematically
Start with high-risk areas
Use automation where possible
Document everything
Test regularly
4. Monitor and Improve
Set up continuous monitoring
Regular internal assessments
Stay updated on regulatory changes
Learn from incidents and near-misses
Requesty simplifies this journey by providing a unified LLM gateway with enterprise-grade security features, comprehensive audit logging, and built-in guardrails. Our platform helps you maintain compliance while accessing 160+ models through a single, secure API.
Conclusion
Security and compliance for LLM gateways isn't just about checking boxes—it's about building trust with your users and enabling sustainable growth. By implementing the controls outlined in this guide, you'll not only meet regulatory requirements but also build a more secure, reliable platform.
The convergence of SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR requirements around core security controls means that a unified approach to compliance is both possible and efficient. With the right tools and processes, you can maintain continuous compliance while focusing on delivering value through AI.
Ready to build a compliant LLM gateway? Start with Requesty and get access to 160+ models with built-in security features, comprehensive logging, and enterprise-grade compliance tools. Our platform helps you save up to 80% on costs while maintaining the highest security standards.
For more information on implementing specific compliance features, check out our security documentation or explore our enterprise features designed for organizations with strict compliance requirements.