SOC 2 vs ISO 27001
SOC 2 vs ISO 27001: Cost Comparison
Understand how pricing differs between SOC 2 and ISO 27001—auditors, tools, internal time, and retests.
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| Aspect | SOC 2 | ISO 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| Audit fees | Varies by Type I vs II and scope | Certification body fees plus surveillance audits |
| Internal time | Security, engineering, IT, and leadership for evidence | ISMS owners, risk committee, internal audit time |
| Tooling | Logging, access reviews, ticketing, pentest | Same plus risk management tooling and document control |
| Retests | Pentest retests, control remediation | Follow-up audits for nonconformities |
| Renewals | Annual report refresh | Annual surveillance, full recert every 3 years |
Decision guide
- •Budget SOC 2 Type I as a first milestone, then expand to Type II or ISO as customer requirements grow.
- •Use ISO if you need a certifiable standard for international or regulated buyers; factor in surveillance costs.
- •Keep pentest and logging budget shared across both frameworks to reduce duplicate spend.
FAQ
Is ISO always more expensive?
Not always, but ISO includes certification and surveillance costs. SOC 2 cost depends on Type I vs II and scope complexity.
Can we reuse tooling?
Yes. Access reviews, logging, ticketing, and change management tools support both. Add risk tools for ISO if needed.
How do retests factor in?
Plan for pentest retests and remediation for SOC 2; plan for nonconformity follow-ups in ISO.
What about consultant costs?
Both may use advisors. Keep control ownership internal and use consultants for gap analysis or policy refinement.
Do we need separate auditors?
Typically yes—CPA firms for SOC 2, certification bodies for ISO. Some groups offer both; ensure independence requirements are met.
How do we avoid double-spending?
Share a single control library, evidence store, and cadence. Align pentests and access reviews to serve both frameworks.
Last updated: 2026-02-04