SOC 2 · ISO 27001 · 5 min read
SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: Passport vs Report Card
Two ways to prove security maturity: what each is, and which one a buyer is really asking for.
The core difference
Both prove a security program works, but differently. A useful analogy: ISO 27001 is a passport; SOC 2 is a report card.
- ISO/IEC 27001 certifies that you run a working Information Security Management System (ISMS) to an international standard. The output is a certificate: a yes/no credential recognized globally.
- SOC 2 is an attestation report in which a CPA firm describes and tests your controls. The output is a detailed report a customer reads, not a certificate.
What each one is
- ISO 27001 is a *standard* you get *certified* against by an accredited certification body, after a Stage 1 (documentation) and Stage 2 (implementation) audit, with surveillance audits each year.
- SOC 2 is governed by the AICPA and produces a Type I or Type II report against the Trust Services Criteria, performed by a CPA firm.
Which does a buyer want?
It depends on the market. North American SaaS buyers most often ask for a SOC 2 Type II report they can review. International and enterprise buyers frequently require an ISO 27001 certificate. Many mature companies pursue both, because the underlying controls overlap heavily: one well-run ISMS can satisfy most of a SOC 2 engagement and vice versa.