SOC 2 vs. ISO 27001: Which One Do You Need?
It's the most common question in compliance: "Should we get SOC 2 or ISO 27001?" The answer often depends on your customers and your location.
The High-Level Difference
SOC 2 is an attestation report primarily popular in North America. It proves your controls work. ISO 27001 is an international certification standard. It proves you have a management system to handle security.
Comparison Table
| Feature | SOC 2 | ISO 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| Market | North America (US/Canada) | Global / International |
| Output | Audit Report (Private) | Certificate (Public) |
| Flexibility | High (Select TSCs) | Rigid (Prescriptive) |
| Renewal | Annual | 3-Year Cycle (Surveillance yearly) |
Which to Choose?
- Choose SOC 2 if: Your clients are mostly US-based SaaS companies or enterprises.
- Choose ISO 27001 if: You have international clients or want to build a formal ISMS structure.
- Choose Both if: You are a global enterprise SaaS scaling rapidly. There is about 80% overlap in controls.