Getting robust data security and compliance has become paramount for organizations globally, especially in today’s cyber crime-prone world. According to a recent study, 68% of business leaders feel their cybersecurity risks are increasing. Among the myriad frameworks available, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 stand out as gold standards in compliance. SOC 2 is predominantly favored in the United States, particularly among service organizations, while ISO 27001 enjoys widespread global acceptance. Together, these frameworks offer a comprehensive approach to information security, helping businesses protect sensitive data and build trust with their clients.
Although, both compliance frameworks SOC 2 & ISO 27001 provide comprehensive guidelines for managing and protecting sensitive data. However, understanding how they align can be challenging. This guide will explore the similarities and differences between SOC 2 and ISO 27001 Compliance mapping and provide a detailed mapping of their criteria.
SOC 2:
ISO 27001:
Also, read their complete difference- https://socurely.com/iso-27001-and-soc-2-deciphering-the-differences-and-making-the-right-choice/
SOC 2 Mapping: SOC 2 mapping involves aligning the Trust Service Criteria (TSC) defined by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) with specific security controls within an organization. The five TSCs—Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy—serve as a framework for evaluating how well an organization protects and manages customer data. Mapping these criteria requires a detailed analysis of existing security measures and identifying areas where enhancements or additional controls are necessary. The goal is to ensure that the organization’s practices not only meet the baseline requirements of SOC 2 but also support continuous improvement in data protection and risk management. This process often involves internal audits, risk assessments, and the implementation of robust policies and procedures.
ISO 27001 Mapping: ISO 27001 mapping focuses on aligning an organization’s Information Security Management System (ISMS) with the standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This involves identifying the specific requirements and controls outlined in ISO 27001 and ensuring that the organization’s ISMS encompasses these elements. The standard includes 114 controls across 14 domains, covering areas such as asset management, access control, cryptography, physical and environmental security, and incident management. Mapping to ISO 27001 requires a systematic approach to document, implement, and monitor these controls, ensuring they are effectively integrated into the organization’s overall security strategy. Regular audits and reviews are essential to maintaining compliance and adapting to new security challenges.
If your company intends to adopt both ISO 27001 and SOC 2, you’re in luck because there are many similarities between these two standards. Considering how many needs, restrictions, and overlapping criteria, chances are you won’t have to work twice as hard. The complying with standards can be accelerated by methodically fulfilling all of their criteria at once. This is mapping using common criteria.
What is the extent of the overlap, then? Since every company is subject to a different set of rules and laws, there is no definitive solution. However, as the AICPA’s mapping spreadsheet illustrates, the great majority of SOC 2 and ISO rules overlap.
The exact controls that make SOC 2 are encapsulated in a set of five guiding principles known as the Trust Services Criteria:
The 10 “clauses” that include up ISO 27001 controls cover an organization’s security responsibilities.
If you want to align the compliance frameworks, you need to know a few things!
Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:
The first step in mapping SOC 2 to ISO 27001 is identifying where the controls and criteria of the two frameworks overlap. Both frameworks share common goals of ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
For instance:
Once you have identified overlapping controls, perform a gap analysis to pinpoint areas where your current security measures meet the requirements of one framework but may need enhancement to satisfy the other.
For example, ISO 27001 has more detailed requirements for risk assessment and treatment processes, which are not explicitly covered under SOC 2.
Based on the gap analysis, develop and implement controls that satisfy SOC 2 and ISO 27001 requirements.
This process includes:
Documenting your processes is crucial for both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance. Detailed records not only help in audits but also in maintaining consistency in your security practices.
For instance, keep records of:
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring and improvement of security controls. Establish a routine for:
Consider a company that handles customer data and needs to ensure it meets both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance. Here’s a practical mapping example:
By aligning these controls, the company not only meets the stringent requirements of both frameworks but also ensures a unified, efficient approach to managing information security.
Finding the controls listed in one compliance framework and mapping them to similar controls in another framework is the process of control mapping for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
The primary focus is the alignment of specific control. As it happens between two sets of controls. Finding areas of overlap, similarities, or gaps between controls is the aim of control mapping, ensuring that the appropriate controls are in place to meet the needs of both frameworks.
The mapping will be contingent upon the particular controls delineated in your ISO 27001 implementation and your SOC 2 report.
Mapping SOC 2 and ISO 27001 criteria offers several benefits:
At Socurely, we believe that effective mapping of SOC 2 and ISO 27001 criteria is crucial for robust security compliance. Our expertise in guiding organizations through this process ensures that they meet the highest standards of data protection and operational integrity. By aligning controls and continuously monitoring practices, we help businesses achieve and maintain compliance with confidence.
With Socurely, all of your compliance needs are taken care of for you through compliance automation. By automating the gathering of evidence, providing structured implementation, and ongoing monitoring, the Socurely compliance team goes above and beyond to save you time and money.
With its easy-to-use automation, seamless connection, and unambiguous checklist, we have you covered for everything from creating policies to mapping controls to conducting audits.
SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a compliance framework developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to help service organizations manage customer data based on five “Trust Service Criteria.”
SOC 2 vs. ISO 27001 control mapping is the process of identifying and aligning the specific controls and criteria of each framework to streamline compliance. This involves analyzing the requirements of both frameworks and creating a unified control set that satisfies both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 standards. This process reduces redundancy, optimizes resources, and ensures comprehensive security compliance.
The SOC 2 change management policy outlines procedures for managing changes to systems and processes. It ensures that changes are authorized, documented, tested, and monitored to maintain compliance and security.
Mapping common criteria for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance is a strategic approach to achieving robust security standards. By aligning controls and leveraging the strengths of both frameworks, organizations can enhance their security posture, optimize resources, and build trust with clients and stakeholders. With the right partner, like Socurely, this process becomes manageable and effective, ensuring comprehensive compliance and continuous improvement in data protection.
