Core differences: Certification vs Attestation
| Dimension | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 | SOC 2 (Type I & Type II) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Outcome | Accredited Certification confirming an Information Security Management System (ISMS) meets the international standard. | Formal Attestation Report expressing an independent CPA's opinion on whether controls were designed and operating effectively. |
| Market Demand | Preferred in Europe, the UK, Asia-Pacific, and Indian enterprise tenders. | Mandatory for selling software to US enterprise buyers, financial institutions, and Fortune 500 firms. |
| Audit Frequency | 3-year certification cycle with mandatory annual surveillance audits. | Annual examination report (Type II reports typically cover 12-month periods). |
The smart approach: Harmonized dual implementation
If your SaaS business sells globally, you will eventually be asked for both. Because the technical controls (MFA, encryption, backup testing, change management, background checks) overlap by over 70%, we design a single, unified evidence repository that satisfies both frameworks simultaneously without duplicate engineering effort.