Shieldra
ISO 27001 vs SOC 2
ISO 27001 is an international standard that certifies an organization’s ISMS; an accredited body issues a pass/fail certificate valid for three years. SOC 2 is a US attestation: a licensed CPA firm examines your controls against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria and writes a detailed report. Industry estimates put the control overlap at roughly 70-80%.
What it is
| ISO 27001 | SOC 2 |
|---|
| Type of result | Certification of an ISMS | Attestation report on controls |
| Output document | 1-2 page pass/fail certificate | 40-60 page report describing and testing each control |
| Who issues it | Accredited certification body | Licensed CPA firm |
| Standard / criteria | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (plus 2024 amendment) | AICPA 2017 Trust Services Criteria |
Cost, timeline & validity
| ISO 27001 | SOC 2 |
|---|
| First-year cost (small org) | ~$15,000-$50,000 all-in (reported) | Type II audit fee commonly ~$12,000-$20,000 (reported) |
| Typical time to achieve | ~3-6 months | Type I ~3-6 months; Type II adds a 3-12 month window |
| Validity | Certificate valid 3 years (annual surveillance) | Report relied on for ~12 months; renewed annually |
Control framework & overlap
| ISO 27001 | SOC 2 |
|---|
| Control source | 93 Annex A controls (apply or justify exclusion) | Trust Services Criteria; Security mandatory |
| Structure | 4 themes: Organizational, People, Physical, Technological | 5 categories: Security (CC1-CC9) + 4 optional |
| Estimated overlap | ~70-80% of controls map to SOC 2 (industry estimate) | ~70-80% map to ISO 27001 Annex A (industry estimate) |
Who typically needs which
- ISO 27001 fits companies selling internationally or into EU/global enterprise procurement.
- SOC 2 fits US-based SaaS and B2B vendors selling to North American buyers.
- Healthcare teams can reuse HIPAA Security Rule evidence toward both, since controls overlap heavily.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need both ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
Most companies do not. Choose based on your buyers: SOC 2 for US and SaaS customers, ISO 27001 for international or EU/global enterprise. Because roughly 70-80% of their controls overlap, some firms pursue both, but only when contracts in both markets demand it.
Which should I do first, ISO 27001 or SOC 2?
Lead with whichever your customers ask for. US SaaS and health-tech vendors usually start with SOC 2; teams selling into Europe or global enterprise often start with ISO 27001. The large overlap means the second framework is far faster once the first is done.
How much do ISO 27001 and SOC 2 overlap?
Industry estimates put the overlap at roughly 70-80% of controls, concentrated in access control, risk management, change management, and incident response. AICPA publishes a Trust Services Criteria-to-ISO 27001 mapping reference. The main gap is ISO 27001’s requirement for a documented, organization-wide ISMS.
Is ISO 27001 a certification and SOC 2 a report?
Yes. ISO 27001 results in a 1-2 page pass/fail certificate from an accredited body, valid three years with annual surveillance audits. SOC 2 results in a 40-60 page attestation report written by a licensed CPA firm, typically refreshed every year.
