I’m often asked about the difference between ISO 27001 and SOC 2. As someone who has not only audited both but also worked on the company side facilitating these audits, I’ve seen the full picture from both perspectives. Here’s a recent conversation I had with a colleague on this very topic.
Colleague: “I’ve been hearing a lot about SOC2 and ISO 27001, but I’m still not clear on what makes them different. Could you explain?”
Me: “Sure, happy to. At a high level, SOC2 is all about verifying your security controls. That’s its focus—just security, and that’s it. ISO 27001, on the other hand, is much broader because it’s a management system audit, not just a security control check.”
Colleague: “What do you mean by ‘management system’?”
Me: “So, with ISO 27001, you’re not just looking at security in isolation. It’s about how the company as a whole manages information security, including risks, priorities, and objectives that management sets. This means it covers not only technical controls but also things like how you protect intellectual property, physical security, employee training, and how management tracks progress toward these objectives. It’s much more holistic.”
Colleague: “That sounds bigger than just security.”
Me: “Exactly! Think of it this way: SOC2 is focused on verifying security controls—like a pen test report or security procedures. But ISO 27001 looks at the bigger picture, like, ‘Is the company managing risks effectively?’ and ‘Are employees trained to understand these risks?’”
Colleague: “Could you give me an example?”
Me: “Sure. Let’s say there’s a company—Company A—that does software development in the cloud and has employees spread around the globe. They’ve got access to personal data from customers, and management wants to demonstrate they’re protecting that data.
With SOC2, they’ll prepare by doing a self-assessment, maybe showing off a fancy penetration test they paid for. But here’s the thing: if everything’s managed in a respected cloud provider, like AWS or Azure, that pen test is often not even needed. The risks there are low because the cloud provider is responsible for much of that security. Instead, the real focus should be on prioritizing risks and using the team’s precious resources more wisely—like looking at remote employees, their access to data, and making sure they’ve been trained properly. But SOC2 doesn’t address these management-level issues. It’s just checking if controls are in place, not how well the company is running overall.”
Colleague: “And how does ISO 27001 handle that?”
Me: “With ISO 27001, the audit starts from the management’s goals and risk evaluation. So, instead of just looking at the security team’s work, we’d consider whether the remote employees—who have access to personal data—are being properly trained. Are there policies for remote work? Is management making sure these risks are handled? It’s not about ticking boxes for controls but looking at the entire life cycle of the organization.”
Colleague: “That makes sense. So, who audits SOC2 versus ISO 27001?”
Me: “Here’s another key difference. SOC2 audits are done by CPAs—accountants—who often see things through the lens of financial controls. They’re great at what they do, but it’s not always an information security-focused audit. ISO 27001, though, is audited by information security management professionals. These auditors live and breathe information security; they see different systems every week and can provide much more targeted feedback.”
Colleague: “I didn’t know SOC2 was audited by accountants!”
Me: “Yep, and the process can get drawn out. With SOC2, you’re preparing the assessment, then they come in for weeks of fieldwork. You may need two auditors—one CPA and one ISO specialist. This can really add up with travel and hotel costs for weeks at a time.
With ISO 27001, it’s much simpler. The audit only takes about a week or two every three years, with a few short follow-ups in between to check there haven’t been any major changes.”
Colleague: “So ISO 27001 is less disruptive?”
Me: “Exactly! It’s more efficient and doesn’t require a big, special team to manage it. SOC2 can sometimes feel like you’re managing an audit project year-round, whereas ISO 27001 just looks at how your system works day-to-day, without needing big special reports. It saves a lot of time and money.”
Colleague: “Wow, sounds like ISO 27001 is definitely the more comprehensive approach.”
Me: “It is! It’s holistic, shorter in terms of audit time, and you don’t end up paying a fortune in travel expenses for auditors. Plus, it focuses on the entire organization, not just one narrow piece.”
