ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR: Key Benefits of a Combined Compliance Strategy

With the rapid digital transformation across industries, data protection and cybersecurity have become central to business operations. Organizations today face growing pressure to meet stringent regulatory and industry standards.

Among the most widely recognized frameworks and regulations are ISO 27001, SOC 2, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Each of these addresses specific aspects of data security and privacy, but when adopted together, they can create a robust and comprehensive compliance strategy.

In this blog, we’ll explore each standard, compare their scopes, and highlight why adopting a combined compliance strategy is a smart move for forward-thinking businesses.

Compliance is more than just a checkbox activity – it’s a competitive differentiator. ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR serve different purposes but all aim to protect data, maintain trust, and reduce risks. Understanding how these frameworks intersect helps organizations save resources, avoid duplication, and build a stronger security posture.

ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving information security through a risk management process.

Key Highlights:

• Focuses on protecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
• Applicable to organizations of all sizes and industries.
• Based on a continuous improvement cycle (Plan-Do-Check-Act).
• Requires risk assessments and treatment plans.

System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 is an auditing procedure developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It focuses on how organizations manage customer data based on five Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

Key Highlights:

• Designed for service providers storing customer data in the cloud.
• Comes in two types: Type I (point-in-time) and Type II (over a period).
• Demonstrates internal controls for data security and operational effectiveness.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a regulation enacted by the European Union to protect personal data and privacy of individuals within the EU and EEA.

Key Highlights:

• Applies to any organization handling EU residents’ data, regardless of location.
• Emphasizes user rights (e.g., right to access, right to be forgotten).
• Requires lawful basis for data processing and explicit consent.
• Mandates breach notification within 72 hours.

Although ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR differ in origin and scope, they all aim to strengthen data security and privacy. Understanding where they overlap, and where they diverge — helps organizations optimize their compliance efforts without redundancy.

Criteria	ISO 27001	SOC 2	GDPR
Nature	International security standard	Industry-specific audit framework	Legal regulation (EU-wide)
Origin/Authority	Developed by ISO/IEC	Developed by AICPA (US-based)	Enacted by European Union legislation
Focus Area	ISMS (Information Security Management System)	Trust Service Criteria: Security, Availability, etc.	Personal data protection and privacy rights
Applicability	Any organization, any industry	Mainly SaaS and cloud service providers	Any entity processing EU residents’ data
Certification Type	ISO certificate via accredited body	SOC 2 Type I or II report by CPA firm	No certification; compliance via legal audits
Audit Frequency	Typically annual surveillance audits	Type I (point-in-time), Type II (6–12 months)	Based on regulatory inspections or complaints
Privacy Focus	Basic focus on PII protection	Privacy is optional (5th TSC)	Core focus – transparency, consent, rights

Adopting a unified approach to ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR offers several strategic advantages:

Conduct a Gap Assessment

• Evaluate where your current security posture stands against ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR requirements.

Map Controls Across Standards

• Identify overlapping controls and create a unified control framework.

Build an Integrated ISMS

• Use ISO 27001 as the foundation. Its structured approach makes it easier to incorporate SOC 2 controls and GDPR privacy requirements.

Automate Where Possible

• Use compliance management platforms to streamline documentation, audits, and evidence collection.

Develop Comprehensive Policies

• Combine information security, privacy, and operational controls into a single set of policies and procedures.

Train Employees

• Educate staff on shared responsibilities across all compliance areas — security awareness, data handling, and privacy rights.

Plan for Ongoing Monitoring

• Continuous monitoring is key to maintaining compliance. Schedule regular audits, reviews, and updates.

Implementing a unified compliance strategy across ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR is highly beneficial — but it’s not without challenges. Here are the most common roadblocks organizations face and actionable ways to overcome them:

1. Overlapping and Conflicting Requirements

The Challenge:
While these standards and regulations share many principles, they often express them differently. For example, ISO 27001 focuses on risk-based controls, SOC 2 on trust criteria, and GDPR on legal bases for personal data processing. This can create confusion or misalignment in implementation.

How to Overcome:

• Use control mapping tools or frameworks like the Cloud Security Alliance’s CAIQ or NIST CSF crosswalks to align controls.
• Create a centralized compliance matrix that maps each requirement to your existing controls and policies.
• Leverage expert consultants to interpret regulatory language and harmonize frameworks.

2. Resource Constraints (Time, People, Budget)

The Challenge:
Small and mid-sized companies often struggle to dedicate the necessary resources for compliance initiatives, especially when trying to tackle multiple standards simultaneously.

How to Overcome:

• Prioritize based on risk and business impact (e.g., GDPR first if operating in the EU).
• Opt for a phased approach, addressing overlapping controls first before moving to unique requirements.
• Use automated compliance platforms (e.g., Drata, Vanta, or Sprinto) to reduce manual effort and scale efficiently.

3. Siloed Teams and Poor Communication

The Challenge:
Security, legal, IT, and compliance teams often work in silos, leading to redundant efforts, inconsistent documentation, or missed deadlines.

How to Overcome:

• Form a cross-functional compliance task force with representation from all relevant departments.
• Use centralized compliance dashboards and project management tools to improve visibility and accountability.
• Conduct joint training sessions and periodic sync meetings to align goals and timelines.

4. Audit Fatigue

The Challenge:
Undergoing separate audits for ISO 27001 certification, SOC 2 attestation, and GDPR assessments can be time-consuming and disruptive.

How to Overcome:

• Align audit cycles and coordinate audit timelines to consolidate efforts where possible.
• Maintain a compliance evidence repository to quickly respond to audit requests across multiple standards.
• Standardize documentation formats to reuse policies, procedures, and reports efficiently.

Security and privacy are non-negotiable. Organizations must adapt to a landscape of overlapping standards and rising customer expectations. Rather than treating ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR as separate silos, integrating them into a combined compliance strategy creates a streamlined, cost-effective, and powerful approach to data protection.

By aligning these frameworks, businesses not only ensure compliance but also build long-term resilience, win customer trust, and stay competitive in a fast-moving market.

At StrongBox IT, we help businesses design and implement integrated compliance strategies across ISO 27001, SOC 2, and GDPR. Get in touch with our experts to kickstart your journey toward unified, efficient, and effective compliance.