Compliance

ISO 27001 vs SOC 2: Which One Do You Need?

By NextGarrison Security TeamPublished 6 min read

Both prove you take security seriously, and they overlap a lot. The right one to start with depends mostly on where your customers are.

In plain English

  • ISO 27001 and SOC 2 both show customers that you protect their data well.
  • ISO 27001 gives you a certificate; SOC 2 gives you a written report from an auditor.
  • US customers usually ask for SOC 2; UK, European and Asian customers often prefer ISO 27001.
  • The two overlap a lot, so doing one makes the other much easier.

The key difference

ISO 27001 is an international standard for an information security management system (ISMS). An ISMS is the set of policies, processes and checks you use to manage security. An accredited certification body (an approved audit company) audits you. If you pass, you get a certificate. It is usually valid for three years, with yearly surveillance audits (smaller check-up audits).

SOC 2 is a US framework from the AICPA, the US accounting body. A licensed CPA firm (a licensed accounting firm) examines your controls. It then writes a report describing them. For Type II, the report also says how well they worked over a period. There is no certificate. Read what is SOC 2 compliance for more.

Side by side

ISO 27001SOC 2
OutputCertificateAttestation report
Issued byAccredited certification bodyLicensed CPA firm
Most valued inUK, Europe, Asia, globalUnited States
FocusA management system that keeps improvingControls that meet the Trust Services Criteria
Shared with customersCertificate can be publicReport shared under NDA
Renewal3-year cycle with yearly surveillance auditsNew report usually every year

How much they overlap

A lot. Access control, logging, change management, vendor risk, incident response and security training appear in both. Once you have one, adding the other is mostly paperwork and an extra audit. It is not a new security program. Many growing SaaS companies end up with both.

Which to do first

  • Selling mainly to US companies? Start with SOC 2. US buyers ask for it by name.
  • Selling in the UK, Europe or Asia, or to governments? ISO 27001 is often the expected badge.
  • In iGaming? The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) security rules are based on ISO 27001, so it is the natural foundation. See our UKGC security audit guide.
  • Not sure? Look at your last ten security questionnaires and lost deals. The framework your customers ask for most is the one to do first.

How we help

We prepare you for either or both: gap assessment, policies, controls, evidence and support through the audit. We map controls once so the work counts for both. The certificate and the SOC 2 report come from your own independent certification body and CPA firm.

#ISO 27001#SOC 2

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Written by

NextGarrison Security Team

Penetration testers, SOC analysts and compliance consultants

Our consultants test applications and networks, run 24/7 security monitoring and prepare companies for SOC 2, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS assessments. We write about what we see in real engagements, in plain English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ISO 27001 harder than SOC 2?

Not harder, but different. ISO 27001 asks for a full management system with risk assessment and continual improvement. SOC 2 focuses on whether specific controls are in place and working. The total effort is often similar.

Does ISO 27001 replace SOC 2?

Not for most US customers. They usually still ask for a SOC 2 report. Having ISO 27001 does make SOC 2 much faster because most controls are already in place.

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