Can one audit firm do SOC 2 and ISO 27001 together?
Often yes, if the firm holds both a CPA license for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 accreditation, or partners with an accredited certification body. Many providers now run a combined audit that shares evidence and fieldwork to save time.
The full answer
The two engagements require different credentials. SOC 2 is an AICPA attestation that only a licensed CPA firm can sign under SSAE No. 18. ISO 27001 certification must be issued by a certification body accredited by an ISO/IEC 17021 accreditation authority. One organization can hold or partner across both, but a single signature does not cover the other.
In practice, combined audits are common. A firm that offers both, or a CPA firm allied with an accredited certification body, can run one evidence-gathering effort and map it to both standards. Because encryption, access control, and risk-management controls overlap, this cuts duplicated interviews and document requests, especially in the first year.
Cost still reflects two frameworks. ISO 27001 Stage 1 plus Stage 2 audits run about $14,000 to $50,000 for small and mid-size companies, with US certification-body day rates of roughly $1,500 to $2,200 per audit day, per OneTrust, StrongDM, and accredited-CB market quotes from 2025 and 2026. SOC 2 is priced separately on top.
One caveat: AICPA independence rules bar the attestation firm from designing or operating the controls it audits, so the same provider cannot also build your program. When comparing bundled offers, confirm each credential separately and use a directory to find firms that genuinely cover both.
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Related questions
Do I need both SOC 2 and ISO 27001?
Usually not at first. Most US startups start with SOC 2 to close deals; ISO 27001 matters more for international or enterprise buyers. Many companies eventually hold both because auditors can reuse overlapping evidence.
Do government buyers accept SOC 2?
Sometimes. State and local agencies and government contractors often accept a SOC 2 Type 2, but most federal cloud work requires FedRAMP, and defense contracts increasingly require CMMC. SOC 2 helps, yet rarely replaces those government-specific programs.
Does PCI DSS overlap with SOC 2?
Yes, they share many technical controls — access management, encryption, logging, and vulnerability management — but they don't substitute for each other. PCI DSS is a prescriptive, mandatory standard for handling cardholder data; SOC 2 is a flexible CPA attestation.
Does SOC 2 cover AI and LLM features?
Yes, indirectly. SOC 2 has no AI-specific criteria, but its technology-neutral Trust Services Criteria cover any system in your defined scope — including AI and LLM features — for security, availability, confidentiality, processing integrity, and privacy.
Does SOC 2 help with GDPR?
Partly. SOC 2 is not a GDPR certification, but a report with the confidentiality and privacy criteria demonstrates many security safeguards the GDPR expects. You still need GDPR-specific steps like lawful basis, data subject rights, and processing agreements.
Does SOC 2 satisfy HIPAA?
No. SOC 2 is a voluntary AICPA attestation; HIPAA is US federal law for protected health information. A SOC 2 report can show strong security controls, but it does not prove HIPAA compliance or replace a HIPAA risk assessment.
Sources: AICPA SSAE No. 18 attestation standards; OneTrust and StrongDM ISO 27001 cost guides, 2025; Accredited certification-body market quotes, 2025-2026. Answer written and maintained by the AuditNex research team; last reviewed July 26, 2026. AuditNex is a marketplace — accredited firms price and scope engagements independently.