ISO 27001 vs SOC 2 - Cost, Scope, and Which You Need

Two different frameworks, 80-90% control overlap, and very different buyer expectations. Here is a vendor-neutral comparison to help you decide, including the cost of pursuing both.

Updated May 2026

Which Should You Choose?

Scenario

Selling to European enterprise or government

Recommendation: ISO 27001

European procurement processes frequently require ISO 27001 certification. SOC 2 is often not recognised or accepted.

Scenario

Selling US SaaS to enterprise buyers

Recommendation: SOC 2 Type II

US enterprise security reviews almost always request SOC 2 Type II. ISO 27001 is a bonus but rarely a requirement.

Scenario

Global SaaS or cloud platform

Recommendation: Both ISO 27001 + SOC 2

Pursuing both maximises deal velocity globally. 30-40% savings from control overlap makes the combined cost compelling.

Scenario

UK-based business, any sector

Recommendation: ISO 27001 first

UK government supply chains require ISO 27001. Cyber Essentials Plus is the lighter alternative. SOC 2 has limited traction in UK procurement.

Scenario

Healthcare (US HIPAA)

Recommendation: SOC 2 + HIPAA

SOC 2 with Privacy TSC demonstrates HIPAA compliance to US healthcare buyers more directly than ISO 27001.

Scenario

Defence supply chain

Recommendation: ISO 27001

UK, EU, and Australian defence mandate ISO 27001. US defence requires CMMC (a separate framework above both standards).

Detailed Comparison

Attribute	ISO 27001	SOC 2
Recognition	International (ISO/IEC). Required by European, UK, and Australian procurement.	US-originated (AICPA). Standard for US enterprise SaaS sales.
Output	Certificate from accredited CB, valid 3 years.	Attestation report from CPA firm. Not a certificate.
Audit frequency	Year 1: certification. Year 2-3: surveillance. Year 3: recertification.	Annual renewal (Type II covers 6-12 month observation period).
Controls	93 Annex A controls across 4 themes.	Trust Services Criteria. Security is mandatory; others optional.
Cost (small)	$15,000-$50,000 first year	$20,000-$60,000 first year
Cost (medium)	$50,000-$150,000 first year	$40,000-$120,000 first year
Timeline	6-18 months	3-6 months (Type I), 9-15 months (Type II)
Annual cost	$5K-$60K (surveillance)	$10K-$70K (renewal)
Who issues it	Accredited CBs (BSI, Bureau Veritas, LRQA, DNV)	Licensed CPA firms (Schellman, A-LIGN, Coalfire)

Cost of Pursuing Both Together

Pursuing ISO 27001 and SOC 2 together saves 30-40% compared to separate implementations. This is because approximately 80-90% of controls overlap, evidence can be collected once and used for both, and your compliance platform manages both frameworks simultaneously.

Small (11-50)

ISO 27001 alone$15K-$50K

SOC 2 alone$20K-$60K

Both combined$30K-$80K

Save $5K-$30K

Medium (51-250)

ISO 27001 alone$50K-$150K

SOC 2 alone$40K-$120K

Both combined$70K-$200K

Save $20K-$70K

Large (251-1K)

ISO 27001 alone$150K-$350K

SOC 2 alone$80K-$250K

Both combined$180K-$450K

Save $50K-$150K

Related Compliance Cost Guides

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93 Annex A Controls

See which controls map to SOC 2 TSC

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I get ISO 27001 or SOC 2 first?

If your primary market is the US, start with SOC 2 Type II as it directly unblocks enterprise sales. If your primary market is Europe, government, or defence, start with ISO 27001. If you sell globally, start with whichever is blocking more deals right now and add the second framework within 6-12 months.

How much does it cost to get both ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

Combined first-year cost is typically 30-40% less than doing each separately. A small organisation (11-50 employees) might spend $30,000-$80,000 for both, compared to $15,000-$50,000 for ISO 27001 alone and $20,000-$60,000 for SOC 2 alone. The savings come from shared controls, shared evidence, and reduced consultant time.

What is the controls overlap between ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

Approximately 80-90% of controls overlap. ISO 27001 Annex A organisational controls map closely to SOC 2 Security TSC. Both require access management, encryption, incident management, vendor management, and awareness training. ISO 27001 has stronger physical security requirements; SOC 2 has stronger availability and processing integrity criteria.

Can the same auditor do both ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

No. ISO 27001 requires an accredited certification body (UKAS, ANAB, etc.) while SOC 2 requires a licensed CPA firm. Some large firms (BSI, Schellman, A-LIGN) can do both under one roof, but it will be different teams and separate reports. Using one firm for both can reduce scheduling overhead and evidence re-collection.