Protecting sensitive data is a top priority for organizations across industries. With the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks, there’s a growing need for proactive measures that properly safeguard externally shared data.
A System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2® report and ISO/IEC 27001 certification are two of the most widely recognized mechanisms that help provide assurance over how an organization protects and safeguards data as well as its corresponding controls and processes around information security.
Explore what these two mechanisms are, how they can benefit your organization, and the challenges to consider when pursuing each of these and facing the respective assessments.
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SOC 2 reports have a set of criteria developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for evaluating the effectiveness of a service organization's controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy. These reports are often used by service providers to demonstrate their commitment to security and compliance to their customers.
ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard that provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). It’s designed to help organizations manage and protect their information assets and is often used as a benchmark for security and compliance across industries.
Although SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 share similar objectives, there are some notable differences between them. SOC 2 is primarily concerned with assessing an organization's controls over a defined system while ISO/IEC 27001 is focused on assessing conformity of an ISMS to the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. Additionally, SOC 2 reports are issued by a CPA firm, while ISO/IEC 27001 certification is awarded by accredited certification bodies.
The SOC 2 report is widely recognized in the United States, and its scope is specific to product or service offerings. The report includes system boundaries that outline processes, systems, and software used to support the in-scope product or service offerings.
There are two types of SOC 2 reports:
ISO certification is granted over an ISMS, which encompasses all relevant products, people, processes, technology, and locations defined by the organization. ISO certifications are granted for three years after a successful certification audit and require annual surveillance audits.
SOC 2 reports focus on controls while ISO certification focuses on the management system and its processes.
Both SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 are designed to help organizations protect sensitive information and maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. Organizations can consider both by undergoing an integrated audit to gain efficiency from overlapping domains.
Both SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 offer numerous benefits to organizations that implement them. For example, they can:
Implementing SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 requirements can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring significant investment in people, processes, and technology. Maintaining compliance with SOC 2 criteria and ISO/IEC 27001 requires ongoing effort and resources, which can be challenging for organizations with limited budgets or staff.
Common challenges often include:
Challenges associated with pursuing both include:
Obtaining both a SOC 2 report and an ISO/IEC 27001 certification is a significant commitment. Overcome common challenges and expedite the process with these tactics:
Both SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 can help organizations protect their sensitive information and demonstrate their commitment to security and compliance. Despite their key differences, both offer long-lasting benefits to organizations implementing them.
If you have questions about SOC 2 or ISO/IEC 27001 and how they can benefit your organization, connect with your Moss Adams professional.