OpenClaw Enterprise Security & Compliance Guide (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR)

Data Privacy Architecture: OpenClaw processes all AI interactions on infrastructure you control. Conversation data, memory, and context stay on your servers. The only external call is to your chosen AI provider (Anthropic/OpenAI) for inference — and even that can be replaced with self-hosted models like Llama for complete air-gapping. No telemetry, no analytics, no data collection by OpenClaw itself.

Data Flow Analysis: User message → Your OpenClaw server → AI API (Claude/GPT) → Response back to your server → User. Memory and context stored locally in ~/.openclaw/. Logs written to your filesystem. No intermediate cloud services, no third-party data processors. Map this to your data flow diagrams for compliance documentation.

On-Premise Deployment: Full on-premise installation supported. Deploy on your own servers, VMs, or Kubernetes cluster. No internet dependency except AI API calls (which can be proxied through your egress controls). Air-gapped deployment possible with self-hosted LLMs — contact us for Llama/Mistral integration guidance.

Cloud vs On-Premise Decision Matrix: Cloud (managed): Faster setup, automatic updates, we handle infrastructure. Best for: Startups, teams without dedicated IT. On-Premise: Complete data control, runs in your security perimeter, your compliance posture. Best for: Regulated industries, government, enterprises with existing infrastructure.

SOC 2 Compliance Considerations: OpenClaw self-hosted inherits your SOC 2 controls. Key mappings — CC6.1 (Logical Access): RBAC system controls who accesses what. CC6.7 (Data Transmission): TLS 1.3 for all network traffic. CC7.2 (System Monitoring): Audit logs capture all AI interactions. CC8.1 (Change Management): Version-controlled config in ~/.openclaw/. Document your OpenClaw deployment in your SOC 2 system description as a self-hosted AI orchestration layer.

HIPAA Compliance for Healthcare: PHI should never be sent to cloud AI APIs without a BAA. Options: 1) Use OpenClaw with a HIPAA-eligible AI provider (Azure OpenAI with BAA), 2) Deploy self-hosted models (Llama) for complete PHI isolation, 3) Implement PHI detection and redaction before AI processing. Technical safeguards: Enable audit logging (required), encrypt data at rest (FileVault/LUKS), network segmentation between OpenClaw and EHR systems.

GDPR Compliance for EU Data: Deploy OpenClaw in EU data centers (Hetzner Germany, OVH France, or your own EU infrastructure). Data residency: All conversation data stays in your EU deployment. Right to erasure: Delete user data with 'openclaw memory clear --user <id>'. Data processing records: Audit logs provide full interaction history. No data transfers outside EU when self-hosted in EU.

API Key Management — Security Best Practices: Never commit API keys to git. Use environment variables: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY. For teams: Use a secrets manager (HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, 1Password). Rotate keys quarterly or after any suspected exposure. OpenClaw stores keys encrypted at rest using OS keychain (macOS Keychain, Windows Credential Manager, Linux secret-service).

API Key Management — Enterprise Setup: Create dedicated API keys per environment (dev, staging, prod). Set usage limits at the provider level (Anthropic Console → Usage Limits). Monitor API spend with alerts at 50%, 80%, 100% of budget. Use separate billing accounts for different departments if needed. Implement IP allowlisting at the API provider if available.

Audit Logging — Configuration: Enable comprehensive logging in config.yaml: 'audit: { enabled: true, level: detailed, destination: file }'. Log levels: 'minimal' (user actions only), 'standard' (actions + AI responses), 'detailed' (full request/response including prompts). Logs include: timestamp, user ID, action type, target resources, AI model used, token count, response time.

Audit Logging — Integration with SIEM: Export logs in JSON format for SIEM ingestion. Syslog output supported: 'audit: { destination: syslog, syslogHost: your-siem.company.com }'. Splunk, Datadog, and ELK stack integration guides available. Set up alerts for: unusual usage patterns, after-hours access, bulk data operations, failed authentication attempts.

Audit Logging — Retention and Archival: Configure retention: 'audit: { retentionDays: 90 }'. For compliance (7-year retention): Archive to S3/GCS with lifecycle policies. Logs are append-only by default — no modification or deletion through OpenClaw interface. Implement log integrity verification with checksums for forensic readiness.

Role-Based Access Control — User Roles: Define roles in config.yaml: 'roles: { admin: [all], analyst: [read, query], user: [chat] }'. Built-in permissions: 'chat' (basic AI interaction), 'read' (view data/files), 'write' (modify data), 'query' (database/API access), 'admin' (configuration, user management), 'audit' (view logs). Assign roles per user: 'users: { alice@company.com: admin, bob@company.com: analyst }'.

Role-Based Access Control — Permission Boundaries: Restrict which skills/integrations each role can access. Example: Sales team can only access CRM skill, not HR or Finance skills. Configure: 'roles: { sales: { skills: [crm, email], deny: [hr, finance] } }'. Implement approval workflows for sensitive actions using the 'confirm' directive in skills.

Role-Based Access Control — Directory Integration: LDAP/Active Directory integration for enterprise identity management. SSO support via SAML 2.0 or OIDC (Okta, Azure AD, Google Workspace). Automatic role assignment based on AD groups. Example: 'directory: { type: ldap, groupMapping: { CN=IT-Admins: admin, CN=Employees: user } }'.

Network Security — Encryption in Transit: All external connections use TLS 1.3 (minimum TLS 1.2 for legacy compatibility). Internal connections (localhost) don't traverse network. For distributed deployments: mTLS between OpenClaw components. Certificate management: Use your PKI or Let's Encrypt for public endpoints.

Network Security — Firewall and Network Segmentation: Inbound: Only expose necessary ports (443 for web, 8443 for API). Outbound: Whitelist AI API endpoints (api.anthropic.com, api.openai.com). Deploy in private subnet with NAT for outbound-only internet access. Implement network segmentation between OpenClaw and sensitive data sources (use jump host or API gateway).

Network Security — Zero Trust Architecture: OpenClaw supports zero trust patterns. Every request authenticated (no network-based trust). Short-lived tokens with automatic refresh. Device posture verification via integration with your MDM/endpoint security. Microsegmentation compatible — deploy behind Cloudflare Access, Tailscale, or Zscaler.

Encryption at Rest — Data Storage: Conversation memory encrypted using OS-native encryption (FileVault, BitLocker, LUKS). For additional security: Enable application-level encryption with 'storage: { encryption: aes-256-gcm, keySource: vault }'. Encryption keys stored in hardware security module (HSM) for maximum protection. Database files: SQLite with SQLCipher extension for encrypted storage.

Encryption at Rest — Key Management: Default: Keys derived from OS keychain (user password protected). Enterprise: Integrate with HashiCorp Vault, AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, or GCP KMS. Key rotation: Automatic re-encryption on key rotation with zero downtime. Separation of duties: Encryption keys managed by security team, not OpenClaw admins.

Vulnerability Management: OpenClaw dependencies scanned with npm audit / Dependabot. Subscribe to security advisories: hello@getopenclaw.ai mailing list. Patch management: Update monthly, critical patches within 72 hours. Penetration testing: Annual third-party pentest reports available under NDA for enterprise customers.

Incident Response Preparation: Document OpenClaw in your incident response runbooks. Key contacts: OpenClaw security team at hello@getopenclaw.ai (enterprise SLA: 4hr response). Forensic data available: Audit logs, API call records, memory snapshots. Kill switch: 'openclaw stop --immediate' halts all processing. Data preservation: Snapshot ~/.openclaw/ before any investigation.

Vendor Security Assessment: Security questionnaire (SIG, CAIQ) responses available for enterprise customers. Anthropic/OpenAI are your AI data processors — review their SOC 2 reports and DPAs. OpenClaw is the orchestration layer — no access to your data when self-hosted. Request our security whitepaper at hello@getopenclaw.ai for detailed architecture review.

Deployment Checklist for Security Review: 1) Choose deployment model (cloud/on-premise/hybrid). 2) Select AI provider and review their compliance posture. 3) Configure audit logging at appropriate level. 4) Set up RBAC with principle of least privilege. 5) Enable encryption at rest and in transit. 6) Integrate with existing SIEM/monitoring. 7) Document data flows for compliance team. 8) Schedule regular access reviews. 9) Establish patch management process. 10) Test incident response procedures.

Getting Enterprise Support: Enterprise tier includes: Dedicated security review, custom compliance documentation, SSO/LDAP setup assistance, priority security patches, direct Slack channel with security team. Contact hello@getopenclaw.ai or schedule at openclaw.ai/enterprise. We've helped healthcare systems, financial institutions, and government agencies deploy OpenClaw securely.