FAQ
The answer depends on who is asking: your US customers or your global ones.
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are both information security frameworks, but they serve different purposes. SOC 2 is a US-centric audit standard developed by the AICPA, most commonly requested by North American enterprise customers during vendor assessments. ISO 27001 is an international standard recognized globally, often required by European and APAC customers.
Key differences: SOC 2 evaluates controls against Trust Services Criteria and results in an attestation report. ISO 27001 requires implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS) and results in a certification. SOC 2 renews annually. ISO 27001 certification lasts three years with annual surveillance audits.
Many mid-market SaaS companies need both. Roughly 70 to 80 percent of the controls overlap, so pursuing both simultaneously is significantly more efficient than doing them sequentially.
Careful Security helps companies achieve both through our 90-Day Program. We map overlapping controls once and apply them to both frameworks. Dashr.ai surfaces evidence collection for both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 in a single platform.
Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of origin, output, cost, and best fit.
| Dimension | SOC 2 | ISO 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | AICPA (US) | ISO/IEC (International) |
| Recognition | North America | Global |
| Output | Attestation Report | Certification |
| Validity | Annual renewal | 3 years with annual surveillance |
| Timeline | 90 days typical | 6–12 months typical |
| Cost Range | $15K–$80K | $20K–$100K |
| Best For | SaaS selling to US enterprise | Companies with global customers or regulated industries |
| Control Overlap | ~70–80% overlap with ISO 27001 | ~70–80% overlap with SOC 2 |
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"We went from zero security program to SOC 2 Type II certified in 84 days. Careful Security handled everything: policies, controls, evidence, auditor coordination. We just showed up to the calls."