Can I get both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?

Yes, and many companies do. One control-and-evidence program can support both, so the controls they share are implemented and evidenced once instead of twice.

Which is faster to achieve?

It depends on scope and readiness. A SOC 2 Type I can be quick, while ISO 27001 certification includes a two-stage external audit of your ISMS. Neither is trivial; both reward having controls and evidence already in place.

SOC 2

Do I need SOC 2 or ISO 27001?

Short answer

Both demonstrate strong information security, but they differ in form and audience. SOC 2 is a US attestation report (from a CPA firm) that customers read, common with North American buyers. ISO/IEC 27001 is an international certification of a management system (an ISMS), recognized globally. Choose based on where your customers are and what they ask for. Many companies eventually do both, and the controls the two share are implemented once.

Last updated September 17, 2026

SOC 2: a report, US-centric, buyer-facing

SOC 2 is an attestation against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria, delivered as a report you share under NDA. It is the most common request from North American enterprise buyers.

ISO 27001: a certification, international, system-focused

ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifies that you run an information security management system (ISMS), covering clauses 4 to 10 and Annex A’s 75+ controls, grouped into organizational, people, physical and technological themes. It is a globally recognized certificate issued by an accredited body.

Shared controls only need doing once

The two frameworks share a core of controls (access management, change management, risk assessment, incident response), though not evenly. In Keel's open control library, 64% of the controls that map to SOC 2 also map to ISO 27001, and those are 38% of what ISO 27001 draws on. With a crosswalk, evidence for a shared control is collected once and counts toward both, and the rest of each framework is its own work.

FAQ

Can I get both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?: Yes, and many companies do. One control-and-evidence program can support both, so the controls they share are implemented and evidenced once instead of twice.
Which is faster to achieve?: It depends on scope and readiness. A SOC 2 Type I can be quick, while ISO 27001 certification includes a two-stage external audit of your ISMS. Neither is trivial; both reward having controls and evidence already in place.

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