Framework comparison · Free audit on each

SOC 2 vs ISO 27001

~70% of the controls overlap, but the report format, certifying body, and buyer expectation differ sharply. US enterprise buyers want SOC 2; EU/APAC and regulated buyers want ISO 27001. Most growing SaaS eventually do both. Side-by-side below, free readiness audit on each.

Free SOC 2 audit →Free ISO 27001:2022 audit →

Side-by-side

DimensionSOC 2ISO 27001:2022
Full nameSystem and Organization Controls 2 (AICPA TSC 2017)ISO/IEC 27001:2022 — Information Security Management System
JurisdictionPrimarily US — global recognition for SaaSGlobal — internationally recognized standard
Who must complySaaS / service organizations selling to enterprises (especially US Fortune 500 + financial services)Any org needing internationally-recognized security cert; required for many EU public-sector + critical-infra contracts
EnforcerAICPA-licensed CPA firm (independent attestation)Accredited certification body (e.g. BSI, Bureau Veritas, Schellman)
Max fine / exposureNo fine — but enterprise deals lost without it (62% of B2B buyers per Vanta 2024)No fine — but lost EU/UK procurement, especially public sector + financial services
Certification modelAttestation report (Type 1 or Type 2) — NOT a certificationTrue certificate (3-year cycle: stage 1 + 2 + surveillance years 1 & 2 + recert year 3)
CadenceType 2 = continuous 3–12 month observation period, refreshed annuallyAnnual surveillance audits; full recertification every 3 years
Top required clauses
  • Logical access control + MFA for all CDE access (CC6.1, CC6.6)
  • Change management + segregation of duties (CC8.1)
  • Vendor risk management + sub-processor inventory (CC9.2)
  • Incident response + 72-hour breach SLA (CC7.4)
  • Continuous monitoring + audit logging (CC7.2)
  • ISMS scope + Statement of Applicability (clause 4.3 + Annex A)
  • Asset inventory + classification (A.5.9, A.5.12, A.5.13)
  • Supplier security (A.5.19–5.23, expanded in 2022 revision)
  • 11 new 2022 controls (threat intel, data masking, ICT readiness, cloud, secure coding)
  • Management review (clause 9.3) + internal audit (clause 9.2)
Deep diveFull SOC 2 guide →Full ISO 27001:2022 guide →

Where they overlap — ~70%

If you already implement these for one framework, ~70% of the work for the other is already done.

✓Access control + least privilege + MFA
✓Asset inventory + classification
✓Change management
✓Vendor / third-party risk management
✓Incident response + breach notification
✓Encryption in transit + at rest
✓Logging + monitoring
✓Security awareness training
✓Risk assessment process
✓Business continuity (Availability TSC / A.5.29–5.30)

Where they diverge

Unique to SOC 2

  • Trust Service Criteria selectable: Security + optional Availability / Confidentiality / PI / Privacy
  • Type 1 (point-in-time) vs Type 2 (operating effectiveness over period)
  • Auditor issues an opinion letter; you share the full SOC 2 report under NDA
  • Customer Trust Center / Vanta / Drata / Secureframe ecosystem dominates
  • Faster to first report (3–6 months) — friendlier to startups

Unique to ISO 27001:2022

  • Requires a documented ISMS (Information Security Management System)
  • Statement of Applicability (SoA) — the most-scrutinized doc
  • Annex A 93 controls (4 themes: Organizational, People, Physical, Technological)
  • Public certificate — listed on registrar website (no NDA needed to verify)
  • Mandatory internal audit + management review evidence
  • 11 new 2022 controls: threat intelligence, data masking, ICT readiness, cloud, web filtering, secure coding, config monitoring, info deletion, monitoring activities, data leakage prevention, physical monitoring

Which one do I need?

Are you a US SaaS selling primarily to US enterprises (especially fintech/healthtech)?

→ SOC 2

SOC 2 Type 2 is table-stakes. ~62% of US B2B buyers require it before signing $50K+ ACV deals.

Are you targeting EU public-sector, EU financial services, or APAC enterprise buyers?

→ ISO 27001:2022

ISO 27001 is the lingua franca outside the US. EU procurement RFPs frequently mandate it; SOC 2 alone won't cut it.

Are you scaling beyond $5M ARR and selling globally?

→ SOC 2 + ISO 27001:2022

Standard pattern: start with SOC 2 Type 1 (3 months), Type 2 (12 months later), add ISO 27001 once you have ISMS rigor. ~70% control reuse means 30% incremental effort.

Pre-product-market-fit startup needing your first security cert?

→ SOC 2

SOC 2 Type 1 → Type 2 path is faster, cheaper, and what most early enterprise buyers ask for first.

Common pitfalls

Treating SOC 2 controls as a checklist for ISO 27001 cert

ISO 27001 requires a documented ISMS — risk methodology, SoA, internal audit program, management review cadence. SOC 2 has none of these formally. Plan ~30% incremental work, not zero.

Using ISO 27001:2013 controls (114) instead of 2022 (93)

The 2022 revision restructured Annex A and added 11 new controls. Policies citing the old 14-domain structure will fail stage-1.

Skipping the Statement of Applicability

The SoA documents which Annex A controls apply and the justification for any exclusions. Missing it = automatic stage-1 nonconformity.

FAQ

Can a single auditor do both at once?

Yes — firms like Schellman, BARR Advisory, A-LIGN, Prescient Assurance offer combined audits with shared evidence collection. Saves ~30% vs separate engagements.

What's the cost difference?

SOC 2: $15K–$60K for Type 1, $30K–$100K for Type 2 annually. ISO 27001: $15K–$50K for initial cert + $5K–$20K annual surveillance + recert in year 3. Combined motion typically $50K–$120K/year all-in.

Which one do I really NEED first?

Whatever your top-3 deals are asking for. Don't over-engineer. The other will follow as you expand markets.

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Audit against SOC 2 →Audit against ISO 27001:2022 →