SOC 2
AICPA framework for service organization security controls
ISO 20000
International standard for service management systems
Quick Verdict
SOC 2 provides voluntary trust assurance on data security for SaaS providers, while ISO 20000 certifies comprehensive service management systems for ITSM. Enterprises adopt SOC 2 for vendor trust; service firms choose ISO 20000 for operational excellence and market differentiation.
SOC 2
System and Organization Controls 2
Key Features
- Trust Services Criteria with mandatory Security foundation
- Type 2 audits prove operating effectiveness over time
- Flexible scoping of optional criteria like Availability
- Independent CPA firm attestation report
- Overlaps 80% with ISO 27001 and NIST frameworks
ISO 20000
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 Service management system requirements
Key Features
- Annex SL structure for ISO integration
- End-to-end service lifecycle controls
- PDCA-driven continual improvement
- Risk-based planning and leadership accountability
- Multi-supplier and ecosystem governance
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
SOC 2 Details
What It Is
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a voluntary attestation framework developed by the AICPA for service organizations handling customer data. It evaluates controls based on Trust Services Criteria (TSC) using a risk-based approach focused on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Key Components
- Five TSC: Security (mandatory, CC1-CC9 common criteria), plus optional Availability (A1), Confidentiality (C1), Processing Integrity (PI1), Privacy (P1-P11)
- ~50-100 controls mapped to criteria, with redundancy (2-3 per point)
- Built on COSO principles; Type 1 (design) or Type 2 (operating effectiveness over 3-12 months)
- Independent CPA audit and attestation report
Why Organizations Use It
- Accelerates enterprise sales, unlocks markets like SaaS marketplaces
- Builds stakeholder trust, reduces due diligence friction
- Mitigates breach risks, enhances resilience
- Strategic moat with ROI in months via higher ACVs
- Voluntary but market-mandated for tech/fintech
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, control deployment, monitoring, audit
- Tools like Vanta automate evidence; 3-6 months prep + audit
- Targets SaaS/cloud providers any size; annual recertification (178 words)
ISO 20000 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 is the international certifiable standard for establishing, implementing, and improving a service management system (SMS). It provides auditable requirements for managing the full service lifecycle—planning, design, transition, delivery, and continual improvement—across IT and other services. Built on Annex SL high-level structure and PDCA cycle, it emphasizes risk-based thinking and flexibility with frameworks like ITIL.
Key Components
- **Clauses 4-10Context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- **Clause 8 operationsService portfolio, relationships, supply/demand, design/transition, resolution, assurance.
- Core processes: Incident/problem management, change/release, configuration/asset, availability/continuity, security.
- Certifiable via accredited bodies with Stage 1/2 audits, surveillance, recertification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives reliability, efficiency, customer trust; reduces risks/outages.
- Market differentiation, procurement advantage; integrates with ISO 9001/27001.
- Voluntary but supports regulations via proven governance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: Gap analysis, design, deploy, audit (12-18 months typical).
- Applies to all sizes/industries; requires leadership, training, tooling.
Key Differences
| Aspect | SOC 2 | ISO 20000 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Security, availability, confidentiality, privacy, integrity of customer data | Full service lifecycle: planning, design, delivery, improvement |
| Industry | SaaS, cloud, fintech, service organizations worldwide | ITSM, managed services, all service providers globally |
| Nature | Voluntary AICPA attestation framework | Voluntary certifiable management system standard |
| Testing | Type 1/2 audits by CPA, 3-12 months operating effectiveness | Stage 1/2 certification audits, surveillance, recertification |
| Penalties | No legal penalties, market exclusion, lost deals | No legal penalties, certification loss, reputational damage |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about SOC 2 and ISO 20000
SOC 2 FAQ
ISO 20000 FAQ
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