You need SOC 2 or ISO 27001 when enterprise or international customers require proof of security before buying, and the gap is usually missing technical controls such as access reviews, logging, secure development and evidence collection.
Reviewed by: Codersarts Security Engineering Team · Last updated: November 2026
What it means when you need SOC 2 or ISO 27001
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are the two security standards enterprise buyers ask for most. SOC 2 is an attestation report from a CPA firm, most requested by US customers. ISO 27001 is a certification against an international standard, most requested in Europe, Asia and globally.
Policies are part of both, but auditors also check that technical controls actually run: access reviews, MFA, logging, secure development, vulnerability management and backups. For most software companies, that engineering work is the bottleneck.
Symptoms: you're in the right place if
Enterprise prospects require SOC 2 or ISO 27001 before signing
Security questionnaires take weeks and keep repeating
You don't have regular access reviews or audit logs
Evidence would have to be collected by hand with screenshots
You're not sure whether you need SOC 2, ISO 27001 or both
Customers rarely accept a promise that you'll get certified later. Starting readiness early is what keeps deals moving.
Business function
Business functions affected: Engineering, Sales, Leadership, and Operations.
Typical owner: Founder or CTO, often with a compliance lead or consultant.
Common stage: Startups and SaaS companies moving upmarket, and companies selling to regulated industries.
Is this the right help for you?
A good fit if:
A deal or market requires SOC 2 or ISO 27001
You need the technical controls built, not just policies
You want evidence collected automatically
You plan to do both standards and want to build once
Not the right fit if:
You need someone to issue the report or certificate: only accredited auditors can
You only need policies written, with no engineering work
First steps toward SOC 2 or ISO 27001
Ask your customers which standard they require, and by when
Turn on MFA for every tool and cloud account
Enable audit logging in your cloud and code hosting
List your systems, vendors and who has admin access
Business impact: what it costs to leave it unfixed
Lost deals: enterprise buyers choose vendors that already have reports.
Slow sales: each questionnaire takes weeks.
Distraction: engineers answer questions instead of building.
Failed audits: controls that exist on paper but don't run get flagged.
Root causes: why compliance gets stuck
Controls not built
Policies say access is reviewed, but no process or tooling exists.
Manual evidence
Screenshots collected the week before the audit.
No secure development process
No code review, scanning or change records in the pipeline.
Unclear scope
Not knowing which systems, standards or criteria apply.
Common compliance scenarios
Scenario | Usual cause | First fix |
|---|---|---|
US enterprise deal needs SOC 2 | No report yet | SOC 2 readiness, then a Type 1 or Type 2 audit |
EU customer requires ISO 27001 | No ISMS or certification | ISO 27001 gap analysis and controls |
Gap analysis shows missing logging | Audit logs not enabled | Enable and centralize logs with retention |
Auditor finds old accounts | No offboarding or access reviews | Automated access reviews and offboarding |
Compliance readiness checklist
Every “no” is a likely gap.
Access
Is MFA enforced everywhere?
Are access reviews done and recorded quarterly?
Development
Are code reviews and security scans required before merge?
Are production changes recorded?
Operations
Are logs centralized and retained?
Are backups tested?
Evidence
Is evidence collected automatically?
Do you know which controls map to which criteria?
Potential solution family
Solution type: Comply. We build the controls auditors check and the evidence that proves them.
Solution family: Compliance readiness engineering: gap analysis, technical controls, automated evidence and audit support for SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
How we fix it: getting audit-ready
1. Gap analysis
Compare your setup with SOC 2 criteria or ISO 27001 Annex A.
2. Plan
A prioritized roadmap to your audit date.
3. Build controls
MFA, access reviews, logging, scanning, backups and change management.
4. Automate evidence
Connect tools so evidence is collected continuously.
5. Verify
Internal check that every control runs.
6. Support the audit
Answer auditor questions on technical controls.
Typical timeline
Phase | Typical duration |
|---|---|
Gap analysis | 1–2 weeks |
Technical controls | 1–3 months |
SOC 2 Type 1 or ISO 27001 Stage 1 | After controls are in place |
SOC 2 Type 2 observation period | Usually 3–12 months |
Many startups reach SOC 2 Type 1 or ISO 27001 Stage 1 within three to six months of starting.
Mistakes to avoid
Writing policies first and building controls later
Collecting evidence by hand
Choosing every control instead of scoping by risk
Doing SOC 2 and ISO 27001 separately when most controls overlap
Required skills
SOC 2 readiness: controls and evidence for SOC 2.
ISO 27001 readiness: Annex A technical controls.
DevSecOps: secure development and change management.
Access control: MFA, SSO and access reviews.
Relevant technologies
Cloud: AWS, Azure and Google Cloud
Identity: Okta, Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID
Code and CI/CD: GitHub and GitLab
Compliance automation platforms for evidence collection
Diagnosis offer: start with a SOC 2 or ISO 27001 gap analysis
Find out exactly what's missing before you book an auditor.
What you get:
A gap report against SOC 2 or ISO 27001
A prioritized roadmap to your audit date
Technical controls built and documented
Evidence your auditor can check
Proof
Example engagement: SaaS startup needs SOC 2 for its first enterprise deal
An illustrative example based on the pattern we see most often. Client details are kept confidential.
The situation: A SaaS startup's largest prospect required a SOC 2 report within six months.
What we found:
MFA wasn't enforced on cloud and code accounts
No access reviews or centralized logs
No security scanning in CI/CD
What we changed:
Enforced MFA and SSO
Set up quarterly access reviews and centralized logging
Added scanning and change records to the pipeline
Connected tools for automatic evidence
The result: The company completed its SOC 2 Type 1 on schedule, and the prospect signed.
Why buyers trust Codersarts
Delivering software, cloud and security engineering for clients worldwide since 2018
A managed in-house engineering team, not a freelancer marketplace
Security engineers who are also developers, so we fix what we find
Testing only with written authorization and agreed scope
Confidential by default: we sign NDAs before accessing your code or accounts
Frequently asked questions
Do I need SOC 2 or ISO 27001?
US customers usually ask for SOC 2. European and international customers more often ask for ISO 27001. Many companies do both, since most controls overlap.
How long does SOC 2 take?
Readiness usually takes one to three months. A Type 1 report can follow, and a Type 2 report covers an observation period of usually three to twelve months.
Can you issue our SOC 2 report or ISO certificate?
No. Only CPA firms issue SOC 2 reports and accredited bodies certify ISO 27001. We prepare your controls and evidence.
What is the difference between SOC 2 Type 1 and Type 2?
Type 1 checks that controls are designed correctly at one point in time. Type 2 checks that they operated over a period.
Can we do SOC 2 and ISO 27001 together?
Yes. Building controls once and mapping them to both saves time and cost.
Related problems
Product not enterprise ready: the wider set of enterprise requirements.
Failed a security audit: when findings block a deal.
No CTO: when nobody owns security and compliance.
Codersarts cybersecurity services: every security service in one place.