How to Leverage ISO 27001 to Obtain a SOC 2 Report
If your organization has scaled to work with clients in and outside of the U.S., you might be curious about the benefits of a compliance framework that meets both national and international requirements. Two compliance standards to consider are ISO 27001 and SOC 2, which both help your organization meet compliance requirements and keep customer data safe.
BARR is proud to say we’re one of a handful of firms in the nation that meet the requirements of the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to issue both ISO 27001 certifications and SOC 2 reports, respectively*.
This means that organizations seeking ISO 27001 certification and a SOC 2 audit now have a unified team of auditors to perform both assessments.
Let’s take a look at some of the differences between an ISO 27001 certification and a SOC 2 report, the benefits of obtaining both, and how BARR will serve as your audit partner, guiding you through the process to achieve both successfully.
ISO 27001 vs. SOC 2
While the two frameworks cover similar topics, one big difference between ISO 27001 and SOC 2 engagements is that specific standards can be certified under the ISO 27001 series. SOC 2 audits result in an attestation report rather than certification.
As an internationally accepted standard, ISO 27001 is also great for organizations serving clients abroad. SOC 2 uses the U.S.-based AICPA Trust Services Criteria to meet the needs of a broad range of users that require detailed information and assurance about the controls of service organizations.
When choosing the right framework—or both—to best support your organization, you’ll want to consider available resources, organization complexity, location, and how much time you have to go through the audit process.
Achieving Both ISO 27001 and SOC 2—How it Works
So, how does it work to audit against two frameworks through one engagement? While certifying toward ISO 27001 takes a certain amount of initial planning, its flexibility means most requirements will map over seamlessly with SOC 2 controls.
Let’s explore the details of our proven process.
Timeframes
Certification to ISO 27001 consists of two stages, both including walkthroughs, a review of nonconformities, and a remediation plan. Following preparation for the two-stage ISO audit, stage one generally takes two to three days to complete. Stage two can be achieved for most organizations within one to two weeks. BARR will then issue an internal report and public-facing certification, suitable for three years with surveillance audits at least annually. For a helpful step-by-step approach to certification, check out our video.
The duration for SOC 2 reporting depends on the type you acquire. If your organization has previously documented your controls through an automation partner, Type 1 reports may be performed immediately. Type 1 reports offer a point-in-time service, testing your design on a specific date. Type 2 reports generally audit a three to 12-month period of time.
While ISO 27001 certification requires a certain amount of days with your auditor, BARR’s team of experts will leverage our resources to map SOC 2 control requirements during your ISO 27001 meetings. This allows your organization to bypass additional walkthroughs to obtain a SOC 2 Type 2 report simultaneously, saving you countless hours to achieve two of the highest levels of security.
Benefits
Having ISO 27001 certification and a SOC 2 report under your belt increases consumer trust, and you’ll stand out as an organization that takes security seriously while instilling the most confidence in your clients.
Benefits of obtaining both ISO 27001 and SOC 2:
- Save time and resources to achieve security and compliance
- Increase your customer trust
- Enhance organizational brand value
- Avoid fines and penalties
- Remain transparent with stakeholders
- Assure that controls are operating effectively
- Keep up-to-date with regular requirements
When it comes to obtaining both ISO 27001 certification and a SOC 2 report, Attest Manager at BARR Marc Gold said, “Though they are two completely separate audits, working with SOC 2 auditors who are also certified ISO Lead Auditors can make the process feel more like one and a half audits.”
Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about BARR’s “test once, report many” approach with ISO 27001 and SOC 2.