Security Certification

SOC 2 vs. ISO 27001:
Which certification does your deal actually need?

The honest deciding factor usually isn't which framework is "better." It's which one the deal, RFP, or customer base on the table actually requires.

9–18mo

SOC 2 Type 2 timeline

zero to issued report

6–12mo

Observation period

Type 2 requirement

Trust Service Criteria

Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity, Privacy

$20–50K

Auditor fees

typical Type 2 report cost

What each one actually attests

SOC 2

An AICPA framework, delivered as an attestation report from an independent CPA firm, evaluating controls against the Trust Services Criteria. Overwhelmingly the standard US enterprise buyers ask for, particularly in SaaS and technology procurement.

ISO 27001

An international standard for information security management systems, certified by an accredited certification body. The standard more commonly expected outside the US — Europe, the Middle East, and much of Asia.

Head-to-head comparison

Dimension	SOC 2	ISO 27001
Issued by	Independent CPA firm (AICPA framework)	Accredited certification body
Format	Attestation report	Certification
Primary geography	US enterprise / SaaS procurement	Europe, Middle East, Asia
Evaluates	Trust Services Criteria controls	Information security management system (ISMS)
Typical timeline	9–18 months (Type 2)	6–12 months
Renewal	Annual Type 2 report	Annual surveillance, 3-year recertification

What the full path looks like

Gap assessment against the Trust Services Criteria or ISO Annex A controls, control implementation (access management, encryption, logging, vulnerability management, incident response), policy and procedure development an auditor accepts and a team can actually operationalise, then automated evidence collection and audit fieldwork. A real-world case: a B2B SaaS company with 18 control gaps and no compliance tooling closed an $380K enterprise deal within two weeks of its SOC 2 Type 2 report — and $2.1M in ARR in the following quarter, citing the certification directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the actual difference between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2?

Type 1 attests that controls are designed appropriately at a single point in time. Type 2 attests that those controls operated effectively over an observation period, typically 6 to 12 months. Enterprise clients almost always require Type 2 specifically.

How long does SOC 2 Type 2 actually take, start to finish?

From zero to an issued report: 9 to 18 months. That includes 2 to 4 months of gap remediation, the 6-to-12-month observation period Type 2 itself requires, and 1 to 2 months for audit fieldwork and report issuance.

Do you need an external auditor for SOC 2, and who provides one?

Yes — a SOC 2 report has to be issued by an independent CPA firm; no consulting engagement can substitute for that. The practical path is partnering with an accredited SOC 2 auditor and coordinating the entire audit process.

What does a SOC 2 program actually cost, all in?

Implementation typically runs £25,000–60,000 depending on starting security posture and organisation size. Auditor fees for the Type 2 report itself typically run $20,000–50,000. Compliance automation tooling adds roughly $1,000–3,000 a month ongoing.

Not sure if SOC 2 or ISO 27001 applies to your organisation?

Our compliance team scopes applicability in a 30-minute call — no charge.

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