When clients start asking how you protect their data, two names come up most: ISO 27001 and SOC 2. They overlap, but they are not the same thing, and picking the wrong one first wastes months.
The short version
ISO 27001 is an international standard for an information security management system. You build the system, an accredited body audits it, and you get a certificate recognised worldwide.
SOC 2 is a report, not a certificate. An auditor examines your controls against trust principles and writes an attestation. It is especially expected by US and SaaS customers.
How to choose
- Selling mostly to US or SaaS customers who ask for "your SOC 2"? Start with SOC 2.
- Selling internationally, or to enterprises and government? ISO 27001 travels further.
- Need it fast for one deal? A SOC 2 Type 1 can move quicker than full ISO certification.
The good news
The underlying work, risk assessment, policies, access control, logging, vendor management, overlaps heavily. Build the controls once and you are most of the way to either. The decision is really about which piece of paper your buyers want to see first.