SOC 2 or ISO 27001 — which one should your startup choose?

The Answer

Are you wondering whether to go for SOC 2 or ISO 27001? Let me break it down for you.

SOC 2 is an attestation: a CPA firm evaluates your security controls and gives you a report. It's big in the US SaaS market, especially if you're selling to enterprises.

ISO 27001 is a certification. It involves building a full information security management system, and it's recognized globally.

SOC 2 gives you flexibility — you can pick the service criteria that fit your business. ISO 27001 is more structured, with a fixed set of controls and governance requirements.

So what's right for you? Targeting US clients? Start with SOC 2. Going global? ISO 27001 might be a better first step. Eventually, most growing SaaS companies need both. Which one's next for you — ISO 27001 or SOC 2? Let me know in the comments.