The plain‑English difference, how buyers interpret each, and how to plan your path.

For B2B sales in the United States, SOC 2 often clears reviews. For global enterprise, ISO 27001 is a strong signal. ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 cover security and privacy together. Pick what your buyers expect and right size the scope to your risk.

Invest when growth or risk makes it necessary. Triggers: moving upmarket to enterprise, handling regulated data (personal, health, payments), scaling outbound marketing, or preparing for diligence (SOC 2/ISO). Pick a lightweight baseline, automate evidence early, and build only what buyers and risk demand.

Pick the framework buyers expect and your risks demand. U.S. SaaS often starts with SOC 2; global enterprise favors ISO 27001. Add sector rules (HIPAA, PCI, GLBA) only if you handle that data. Use NIST CSF or CIS as your practical baseline. Map data flows, avoid over-scope, and automate evidence.