Strategy · Filed · London · 7 min read
SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: Which Framework to Pursue First
The buyer, geographic, and operating factors that determine whether a security program should lead with SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022, or both in parallel.
By Cyber Inspect Editorial Board
The frameworks are not substitutes
SOC 2 is an attestation report produced by a licensed CPA firm under AICPA standards. ISO 27001 is a certification against an international management-system standard, issued by an accredited certification body. They serve overlapping but distinct buyer expectations.
Decide by buyer geography
- US-heavy enterprise pipeline → lead with SOC 2 Type II.
- EMEA and APAC enterprise pipeline → lead with ISO 27001:2022.
- Global pipeline above $10M ARR → run both in parallel; the marginal cost of the second is 30–40% of the first.
The shared control estate
Approximately 70% of controls map cleanly between the two frameworks when the ISMS scope aligns with the SOC 2 system boundary. Companies that plan for dual-attestation from day one avoid the rework that comes from bolting ISO 27001 onto an established SOC 2 program.