ISO 27001 vs SOC 2: Key Differences & Which to Choose in 2025

TL;DR: Quick Takeaways

•ISO 27001 is an international standard (93 controls); SOC 2 is US-focused (64+ controls)
•ISO 27001 requires certification audit ($15K-$50K); SOC 2 is attestation report ($15K-$100K)
•Both take 3-6 months to implement, with 65-75% control overlap
•ISO 27001 best for EU/global markets; SOC 2 for US enterprise customers
•Many companies pursue both for maximum market coverage

ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are the two most sought-after security compliance certifications in the world. Both validate that your organization follows information security best practices, but they differ significantly in origin, structure, recognition, and requirements.

ISO 27001, developed by the International Organization for Standardization, is a globally recognized standard with 93 controls covering information security management systems (ISMS). SOC 2, created by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), is primarily recognized in North America and focuses on five Trust Service Criteria with 64+ common controls.

This comprehensive guide compares ISO 27001 and SOC 2 across 10+ dimensions to help you choose the right certification (or both) based on your target market, customer requirements, budget, and compliance goals.

Aspect	ISO 27001	SOC 2
Origin	International (ISO/IEC)	United States (AICPA)
Number of Controls	93 controls (Annex A)	64+ common controls
Audit Type	Certification audit	Attestation report
Report Types	Certificate only	Type I (point-in-time) or Type II (6-12 months)
Timeline	3-6 months	3-6 months (Type I), 9-15 months (Type II)
Audit Cost	$15K-$50K	$15K-$100K+ (Type II)
Validity	3 years (annual surveillance)	12 months (Type II)
Best For	EU/Global markets	US enterprise customers
Control Overlap	65-75% overlap between frameworks

Detailed Framework Comparison

Origin & Global Recognition

ISO 27001

Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO 27001 is the world's most recognized information security standard. It's adopted by governments, enterprises, and regulated industries across 100+ countries.

✓Required for EU government contracts and GDPR compliance alignment
✓Recognized in UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and 95+ countries
✓Preferred by manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure

SOC 2

Created by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in 2010, SOC 2 is the de facto standard for US SaaS companies and service organizations. While primarily North American, it's increasingly recognized by global enterprises working with US vendors.

✓Required by 80%+ of US enterprise procurement teams
✓Standard for cloud services, SaaS platforms, and data processors
✓Growing recognition in Canada, UK, and Australia for US-serving companies

Control Structure & Requirements

ISO 27001

ISO 27001 requires implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS) with 93 controls across 14 categories in Annex A:

• A.5: Organizational controls (37 controls)
• A.6: People controls (8 controls)
• A.7: Physical controls (14 controls)
• A.8: Technological controls (34 controls)

Companies perform a risk assessment to determine which controls to implement via a Statement of Applicability (SoA).

SOC 2

SOC 2 is based on five Trust Service Criteria (TSC), with 64+ common controls:

• Security (required): Access controls, encryption, monitoring
• Availability: System uptime, disaster recovery
• Processing Integrity: Accurate, authorized processing
• Confidentiality: Data protection beyond security
• Privacy: PII handling and consent

Security is mandatory; other criteria are optional based on business model.

Audit Process & Timeline

ISO 27001

Phase 1: Gap Analysis & ISMS Implementation (2-4 months)

• Risk assessment
• Statement of Applicability (SoA)
• Policy documentation
• Control implementation

Phase 2: Certification Audit (1-2 months)

• Stage 1: Documentation review
• Stage 2: On-site audit (1-3 days)
• Corrective actions
• Certificate issuance

Maintenance

• Annual surveillance audits
• 3-year recertification

SOC 2

Phase 1: Readiness Assessment (2-3 months)

• Gap analysis against TSC
• Policy creation (20+ policies)
• Control implementation
• Evidence collection setup

Phase 2: Type I Audit (1 month)

• Point-in-time control design review
• Sampling and testing
• Report issuance (2-4 weeks)

Phase 3: Type II Audit (6-12 months)

• Operating effectiveness testing over 6-12 months
• Quarterly evidence collection
• Final audit and report

Cost Comparison

ISO 27001 Total Cost

Certification Body Audit$15K-$50K

Compliance Platform (annual)$5K-$30K

Consultant/Advisory (optional)$10K-$40K

Annual Surveillance Audit$5K-$15K/yr

Year 1 Total$35K-$135K

SOC 2 Total Cost

Type I Audit$15K-$30K

Type II Audit$20K-$100K+

Compliance Platform (annual)$5K-$30K

Consultant/Advisory (optional)$10K-$50K

Year 1 Total (Type II)$50K-$210K

Cost Factors: Audit costs vary by company size (headcount), system complexity, number of locations, and chosen criteria/controls. Type II SOC 2 audits are typically more expensive due to longer audit period and operating effectiveness testing.

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Control Overlap: Why Pursue Both?

ISO 27001 and SOC 2 share 65-75% control overlap, meaning you can satisfy both frameworks with largely the same security implementations:

Overlapping Controls (Examples)

✓Access control and authentication (MFA, RBAC)
✓Encryption in transit and at rest
✓Security awareness training
✓Incident response procedures
✓Vendor risk management
✓Change management
✓Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
✓Backup and disaster recovery

Unique Requirements

ISO 27001 Specific:

• Formal ISMS documentation and management review
• Statement of Applicability (SoA)
• Risk treatment plan with risk register
• More emphasis on physical security controls

SOC 2 Specific:

• Trust Service Criteria mapping
• Detailed evidence collection for operating effectiveness
• Privacy criteria (if applicable)
• More emphasis on availability and monitoring

💡 Dual Certification Strategy

Many companies pursue both certifications simultaneously to maximize market reach:

→Implement controls once, satisfy both frameworks (70% overlap)
→Run audits 1-2 months apart to spread workload
→Use same evidence artifacts for both audits (policies, screenshots, logs)
→Total cost: ~$70K-$250K (both) vs $85K-$345K (separate)

Which Should You Choose?

Choose ISO 27001 if you:

✓Sell primarily to European, UK, or APAC markets
✓Need to comply with GDPR and demonstrate security alignment
✓Pursue government or defense contracts (often require ISO 27001)
✓Want a 3-year certification with annual surveillance (less audit overhead)
✓Operate in regulated industries (healthcare, finance, manufacturing)
✓Prefer a prescriptive standard with clear certification criteria

Choose SOC 2 if you:

✓Sell primarily to US enterprise customers
✓Are a SaaS, cloud service, or data processor
✓Face procurement requirements from US enterprise buyers (80%+ require SOC 2)
✓Want detailed attestation reports to share with customers (Type II)
✓Need to demonstrate operational effectiveness over time (Type II: 6-12 months)
✓Prefer flexible criteria selection (Security + optional Availability, Privacy, etc.)

Choose BOTH if you:

✓Serve both US and international markets (most common strategy for global SaaS)
✓Want maximum competitive advantage in security-conscious sales cycles
✓Can leverage 70% control overlap to reduce duplicate work
✓Have budget for dual certification (~$70K-$250K year 1, $30K-$120K ongoing)
✓Want to future-proof your compliance program as you expand globally

Key Takeaways

1
Origin matters for recognition: ISO 27001 is global (EU/APAC preferred), SOC 2 is US-dominant (80%+ of US enterprises require it).
2
Control overlap is significant: 65-75% of controls are the same, making dual certification feasible with 30-40% additional effort.
3
Costs vary widely: ISO 27001 ($35K-$135K year 1), SOC 2 Type II ($50K-$210K year 1). Platform automation reduces costs 60-80%.
4
Timeline similarity: Both take 3-6 months for initial certification. SOC 2 Type II requires additional 6-12 month observation period.
5
Strategic approach: Many companies pursue both to maximize market coverage. Start with primary market certification, add second within 6-12 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same policies and evidence for both ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

Yes! Most policies (information security, access control, incident response, etc.) satisfy both frameworks. You'll need some additional documentation for ISO 27001 (Statement of Applicability, risk register) and SOC 2 (TSC mapping, operating effectiveness evidence), but 70%+ of artifacts are reusable.

Which is harder to pass: ISO 27001 or SOC 2?

Difficulty is similar – both require comprehensive security controls. ISO 27001 has more prescriptive requirements (93 controls vs 64+), but SOC 2 Type II requires demonstrating operating effectiveness over 6-12 months. First-time certification difficulty is comparable; choose based on market requirements rather than perceived difficulty.

Do I need a consultant to get certified?

Not required, but highly recommended for first-time certification. Consultants ($10K-$50K) accelerate implementation and reduce audit findings. Alternatively, compliance automation platforms like LowerPlane include dedicated advisors at no extra cost ($4,995/year total vs $8-10K/year for standalone consulting).

How long are ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications valid?

ISO 27001 certificates are valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits. SOC 2 Type II reports are valid for 12 months and must be renewed annually. This makes ISO 27001 less administratively burdensome over time, but SOC 2 provides more up-to-date assurance for customers.

Can I get ISO 27001 certified in the US?

Absolutely. While ISO 27001 originated internationally, many US companies pursue it for global market access. Accredited certification bodies operate worldwide (ANAB-accredited in the US). You can get ISO 27001 certified anywhere and it's recognized globally.

Should I get SOC 2 Type I or Type II?

Type II is preferred by 90%+ of enterprise buyers because it demonstrates operating effectiveness over 6-12 months. Type I (point-in-time) is useful as a stepping stone or for early-stage companies. If budget allows, pursue Type II directly – most customers won't accept Type I as sufficient assurance.