Starting with SOC 2? Why ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 Are the Natural Next Step

Most organizations don’t wake up one morning excited to pursue SOC 2. They start because a customer asked. Or a prospect paused a deal. Or sales came back from a call and said, “We need this to move forward.”

So teams get to work. Policies are written. Evidence is gathered. Screenshots are taken. Logs are chased down. And eventually, after months of effort, SOC 2 is complete.

There’s usually a moment of relief when it’s over!

And then comes the next question. “What about ISO 27001?”  “And do we need to think about privacy standards like ISO 27701?”

For many teams, that question brings hesitation. It can feel like starting over: more frameworks, more audits, more complexity. But in reality, if you’ve already gone through SOC 2, you’re much closer to ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 than you think.

This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about making what you’ve already done work harder for you.

What is SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701?

SOC 2 is a cybersecurity compliance framework designed to show that service providers handle customer data responsibly. It focuses on how controls operate in practice, things like access management, system monitoring, incident response, and change control, so customers can trust that their data is being stored and processed securely.

ISO 27001 is an international standard that helps organizations build a structured approach to information security. Instead of focusing on a single control or audit, it centers on an Information Security Management System (ISMS): a living program that identifies risks, puts the right controls in place, and improves over time.

ISO 27701 builds on the ISO 27001 foundation by adding privacy into the picture. It extends the ISMS into a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS), giving organizations a clear way to manage personally identifiable information (PII) and align with global privacy expectations, including regulations like GDPR. 

What SOC 2 Gives You (And What It Doesn’t)

SOC 2 is often the first formal compliance framework organizations tackle, especially SaaS companies operating in North America. And for a good reason. SOC 2 forces maturity.

It makes teams define how access is granted, how incidents are handled, how changes are reviewed, and how risks are monitored in practice, not just on paper. It proves that controls exist and that they operate.

What SOC 2 doesn’t do as well is help organizations step back and ask broader questions:

·  Why are these controls in place?

·  Which risks matter most?

·  How do we ensure this doesn’t turn into a yearly scramble?

SOC 2 validates execution. It doesn’t always provide along-term structure. That’s where ISO standards come in – they’re not replacements, but rather reinforcements. 

Why ISO 27001 Fits So Naturally After SOC 2

ISO 27001 introduces something many SOC 2 programs are missing – intentional governance.

Instead of focusing primarily on whether a control operated, ISO 27001 asks:

·  Have you defined your information security risks?

·  Have you decided how to treat them?

·  Are leadership and management involved in reviewing and improving the program?

If you’ve already completed SOC 2, much of this foundation already exists:

·  Your policies

·  Your access controls

·  Your incident response process

·  Your vendor management practices

ISO 27001 doesn’t ask you to throw those away. It asks you to connect them – through risk management, accountability, and continuous improvement.

For many teams, ISO 27001 is the point where compliance stops feeling reactive and starts feeling purposeful. 

The Privacy Conversation You Can’t Put Off Forever

Privacy often starts as a side conversation.

Maybe it’s addressed through a privacy policy. Maybe it’s handled informally through legal review. Maybe it’s covered “enough” for SOC 2.

But as organizations grow, privacy becomes harder to manage without structure. Customer expectations change. Regulations evolve. Questions start coming in about data handling, retention, and user rights.

ISO 27701 exists for this reason.

It extends ISO 27001 by adding a privacy lens that focuses specifically on PII and how it’s collected, processed, stored, and removed. ISO27701 doesn’t assume perfection. It assumes reality.

It recognizes that organizations play different roles. Sometimes they are data controllers, sometimes processors. Privacy needs to be managed intentionally, just like security. For teams already thinking about ISO 27001, then ISO 27701 isn’t a leap. It’s a natural extension. 

The Common Fear: “This Sounds Like Too Much”

One of the most common concerns we hear is simple and honest: “This already feels like a lot.” That feeling makes sense. Compliance work is detailed, time-consuming, and often layered on top of already-full roles. But here’s what tends to surprise teams once they step back –

Most of the work overlaps. The same policies, controls, risks, and evidence can support SOC 2, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701. If they’re organized with intention. The difference isn’t the work itself. It’s how that work is managed. 

Turning Compliance Effort Into Confidence

Organizations that feel confident expanding their compliance frameworks usually share a few things in common:

·  They understand how frameworks overlap

·  They manage controls centrally instead of in silos

·  They reuse evidence instead of recreating it

·  They track risks, not just audit findings

Instead of treating each framework as a separate mountain to climb, they build a single foundation and let each standard sit on top of it.

This is where having the right GRC platform matters. 

Where LockThreat Fits In

LockThreat wasn’t built to help organizations “check the next box.” It was built to help teams see the full picture.

When SOC 2 controls, ISO requirements, and privacy obligations live in the same system:

·  Overlap becomes visible

·  Gaps become manageable

·  Expansion feels intentional, instead of chaotic

Teams can map once and report many times. They can track risk instead of chasing artifacts. They can grow their compliance program without starting over each year.

For organizations considering ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 after SOC 2, this clarity is often what makes the difference between hesitation and confidence. 

Compliance as a Program, Not a Moment

SOC 2 is often the first major milestone, and it’s an important one. But it doesn’t have to be the last.

ISO 27001 brings structure. ISO 27701 brings trust around privacy. Together, they turn compliance from a yearly event into a living program. The organizations that succeed long-term aren’t the ones doing the most frameworks. They’re the ones managing them well.

If you’re already on the SOC 2 path, expanding doesn’t mean starting over. It means building forward – with clarity, confidence, and the right support.

And that’s exactly where we see teams thrive.