Why ISO 27001 Certification Matters for Growing Companies

Your enterprise prospects are asking more challenging security questions. European customers want proof of a systematic approach to information security. Partners in regulated industries need internationally recognized certifications.

While SOC 2 tells customers "we secure your data," ISO 27001 certification proves you've built a management system that not only protects information but continuously improves over time. It's the difference between demonstrating controls and proving you have a formal, auditable security program.

For SaaS companies pursuing enterprise deals, understanding ISO 27001 requirements is no longer optional. The good news? If you're already working on SOC 2, you're 60-70% of the way to ISO 27001 certification.

This guide breaks down the 2025 ISO 27001 requirements, shows precisely how they map to SOC 2 controls, and provides a practical roadmap for achieving certification without duplicating compliance work.

What is ISO 27001? Understanding the Gold Standard

ISO 27001 is the internationally recognized standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization, it provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information and ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

How ISO 27001 Differs from SOC 2

SOC 2 focuses on demonstrating that specific controls are designed and operating effectively through an external audit. It's flexible, allowing organizations to design controls as they see fit.

ISO 27001 requires organizations to establish a formal ISMS—a comprehensive, documented framework for managing information security risks. It's prescriptive about what the management system must include and how you continuously improve it. Read our full analysis on the Key Differences Between ISO 27001 vs. SOC 2.

Key distinction: SOC 2 proves controls work. ISO 27001 proves you have a systematic, continuously improving security management program.

Why Organizations Pursue ISO 27001

International credibility - Recognized globally, essential for European and multinational customers

Regulatory alignment - Many regulations (GDPR, NIS2, financial services) explicitly reference ISO 27001

Competitive advantage - Differentiates in RFP processes where it's often required

Enterprise sales - Large organizations trust the rigorous third-party certification process

Risk management - Forces systematic thinking about information security risks

The Three Core ISO 27001 Requirements

Requirement 1: Build an Information Security Management System

The ISMS is your security program's foundation, defining how your organization:

• Identifies and assesses risks systematically

• Implements appropriate controls based on risk profile

• Monitors progress through metrics and reviews

• Continuously improves security posture

In practice: You need documented policies, defined processes, assigned responsibilities, and evidence that your security program operates consistently.

Requirement 2: Complete a Formal Risk Assessment

ISO 27001 doesn't prescribe which risks matter—you decide based on business context. However, you must:

• Document your risk assessment methodology

• Identify information assets and their value

• Identify realistic threats and vulnerabilities

• Assess the likelihood and potential impact

• Create risk treatment plans

• Maintain an active risk register

Critical insight: Your risk assessment must drive control selection. Auditors verify that implemented controls actually address identified risks.

Requirement 3: Implement Applicable Controls

ISO 27001:2022 includes 93 security controls organized into four categories. Your responsibility:

• Select controls relevant to your risks

• Create a Statement of Applicability (SoA) justifying selections

• Document implementation details

• Collect evidence proving effectiveness

You don't need all 93 controls selected based on risk assessment, but must justify every inclusion and exclusion.

Understanding ISO 27001 Structure: Clauses 4-10

Clause 4: Context of the Organization

Requirements: Understand your organization's purpose, stakeholders, and security requirements.

Deliverables: Documented services, protected information, affected stakeholders, and ISMS scope boundaries.

Clause 5: Leadership and Commitment

Requirements: Executive leadership must actively support the ISMS.

Deliverables: Leadership approval, resource allocation, assigned roles, established policies, and aligned security objectives.

Clause 6: Planning

Requirements: Systematic planning for addressing risks and opportunities.

Deliverables: Risk assessment, treatment plans, security objectives, and Statement of Applicability.

Clause 7: Support

Requirements: Resources, competence, awareness, communication, and documentation.

Deliverables: Adequate resources, training programs, documented procedures, and communication plans.

Clause 8: Operation

Requirements: Running your security processes daily.

Deliverables: Change management, incident response, access control, backups, secure development, and vendor risk management with supporting evidence.

Clause 9: Performance Evaluation

Requirements: Measuring, monitoring, and evaluating ISMS effectiveness.

Deliverables: Regular monitoring, internal audits, management reviews, and security metrics analysis.

Clause 10: Improvement

Requirements: Continuous improvement based on findings.

Deliverables: Tracked nonconformities, corrective actions, updated controls, and evolved ISMS.

ISO 27001 Requirements vs SOC 2: Complete Mapping

Governance and Management

Key difference: ISO 27001 mandates formal management reviews and internal audits.

Risk Assessment

Efficiency: Your ISO 27001 risk assessment directly satisfies SOC 2 CC3 requirements.

Access Control

Implementation: Nearly identical. Implement once, satisfy both frameworks.

Monitoring and Logging

Incident Response

Change Management

Evidence Requirements for ISO 27001 Certification

Governance Evidence

• Information Security Policy

• Risk assessment reports

• Statement of Applicability

• Internal audit reports

• Management review minutes

• Security objectives documentation

People Evidence

• Training completion records

• Background check procedures

• Onboarding checklists

• Offboarding access removal logs

• NDA acknowledgments

Physical Security Evidence

• Badge access logs

• Visitor logs

• Server room procedures

• Equipment disposal records

Technical Security Evidence

• MFA configurations

• Log retention settings

• SIEM documentation

• Vulnerability scan results

• Backup test results

• Code review approvals

• Encryption documentation

• Network diagrams

Operational Evidence

• Change management tickets

• Incident response postmortems

• Quarterly access reviews

• Vendor security assessments

• Disaster recovery test results

Common Implementation Challenges

Challenge 1: Outdated Risk Assessments

Solution: Use structured methodology, identify assets systematically, document realistic threats, rate consistently, review quarterly, and track treatment progress.

Challenge 2: Missing Internal Audits

Solution: Schedule audits 6 months before certification, cover entire ISMS scope, document findings thoroughly, track corrective actions, and present results in management reviews.

Challenge 3: Inconsistent Vendor Reviews

Solution: Classify vendors by risk, define review frequency, track schedules centrally, collect updated documentation, document all reviews, and monitor vendor incidents.

Challenge 4: Inadequate Change Documentation

Solution: Standardize approval workflows, require documented PR reviews, capture deployment evidence automatically, link changes to tickets, and maintain change logs.

Challenge 5: Undocumented Incidents

Solution: Create standardized reporting forms, use dedicated channels, maintain timestamped tickets, write postmortems for all incidents, conduct annual tabletops, and document improvements.

Implementation Roadmap

Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-2)

Define scope, create initial ISO 27001 documentation, establish governance, and assign roles.

Phase 2: Risk Assessment (Month 3)

Document methodology, create asset inventory, identify threats, assess impact, develop treatment plans, and create Statement of Applicability.

Phase 3: Control Implementation (Months 4-7)

Priority 1: Access management, logging, incident response, backups

Priority 2: Vendor risk, change management, training, physical security, vulnerability management

Phase 4: Documentation (Month 8)

Finalize policies, document procedures, establish evidence collection, create templates, and set up a central repository.

Phase 5: Internal Audit (Month 9)

Conduct a comprehensive audit, document findings, implement corrective actions, and verify effectiveness.

Phase 6: Management Review (Month 10)

Present performance to leadership, review findings, assess objectives, identify improvements, and document decisions.

Phase 7: Certification (Months 11-12)

Stage 1: Documentation review and readiness confirmation

Stage 2: Implementation assessment, interviews, evidence review, and control testing

Outcome: 3-year certificate with annual surveillance audits

Combined ISO 27001 + SOC 2 Strategy

Step 1: SOC 2 Type 1 (3-6 months) for fast control proof

Step 2: Build ISO 27001 ISMS on top (3-6 months) with 60-70% controls reused

Step 3: SOC 2 Type 2 in parallel (6-12 months) for operating effectiveness

Step 4: ISO 27001 certification (2-3 months) for international recognition

Total timeline: 12-18 months to both certifications with significant resource efficiency.

Conclusion

ISO 27001 certification demonstrates systematic, continuous improvement in information security beyond basic compliance.

Organizations approaching ISO 27001 as an opportunity to strengthen security, rather than merely checking boxes, gain the most value. The ISMS framework promotes systematic thinking that benefits your business, regardless of your certification status.

Modern compliance platforms automate control mapping, evidence collection, and documentation management, transforming months of work into weeks while ensuring continuous audit-readiness.

Ready for Your Compliance?

Simplify your path to ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification. Book a free DSALTA demo today to see how automation can accelerate your audit and maintain continuous compliance.