Get the one your next buyers ask for. Companies selling mainly in North America usually start with SOC 2, and companies targeting international markets usually start with ISO 27001. The two are not interchangeable, but they share many controls, so the second is easier than the first.
Safeguard publishes this guide and sells a competing product, so we describe other sources only from their own pages. As of 19 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- SOC 2 is an attestation report from a CPA firm. ISO 27001 is a certificate for a management system.
- Neither substitutes for the other when a buyer names one in a contract.
- Start with whichever your largest open deals require, and check the actual request.
- Doing both at the same time doubles the effort in the first year.
What is the difference between SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
SOC 2 gives you a report to share with customers. ISO 27001 gives you a certificate you can display publicly. Probo's comparison describes SOC 2 as more flexible, built on Trust Services Criteria, and ISO 27001 as more prescriptive, requiring a formal information security management system.
An official SOC 2 report must come from an external auditor at a licensed CPA firm, per the Cloud Security Alliance. ISO certification runs on a three-year cycle, with a first surveillance audit within twelve months and a recertification audit normally every three years, per Wikipedia's summary of the standard.
| Criteria | SOC 2 | ISO 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | Report | Certificate |
| Who issues it | CPA firm | Certification body |
| Basis | Trust Services Criteria | Management system plus Annex A (93 controls in the 2022 edition) |
| Typical geography | North America | Global |
| Cycle | Annual report, valid one year | Three-year cycle with surveillance audits |
Which should a startup get first?
Choose by where your revenue is. Probo recommends SOC 2 if your main customers and growth plans are in North America, and ISO 27001 if you are targeting international markets. It describes a common path: SOC 2 first, then ISO 27001 when you expand into Europe and Asia.
Can one cover the other?
Not on its own. Probo says the frameworks are not interchangeable, so a SOC 2 report may not satisfy a customer who requires ISO 27001, and the reverse. It also says they share many overlapping controls, and that the second is significantly easier than the first. Probo gives no overlap percentage, and we have not found a sourced one.
How to decide in ten minutes
- Open your last five security questionnaires or contracts. Which framework is named?
- Ask your top three prospects which they need, in writing.
- Check the deal region: US and Canada points to SOC 2, Europe and Asia points to ISO 27001.
- If regulators matter in your sector, check which they expect.
- If both are named, start with the one tied to the larger deal and plan the second for the next year.
For deeper context see which framework to pursue first and ISO 27001 or SOC 2: read the buyer request.
Frequently asked questions
Is ISO 27001 harder than SOC 2?
It is more prescriptive, because it requires a formal management system and a Statement of Applicability. SOC 2 is more flexible about how you meet the criteria.
Does ISO 27001 replace SOC 2?
No. A customer who asks for a SOC 2 report is unlikely to accept a certificate in its place, and the other way round.
Can I do both at once?
You can, but the first year is heavier. Most sources suggest sequencing them.
Who can issue an ISO 27001 certificate?
A certification body, commonly accredited by a national accreditation body, though accreditation is not compulsory. Accredited certificates can be checked through IAF CertSearch.
Sources
- https://www.probo.com/blog/2025-10-08-soc2-or-iso27001
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO/IEC_27001
- https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/articles/who-performs-a-soc-2-audit-the-role-of-soc-2-auditors-vs-compliance-software
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
