ISO 27001 for startups
ISO 27001 certifies your information security management system (ISMS). Unlike a SOC 2 report from a CPA firm, the certificate comes from a certification body, and accreditation is how you check that body's competence.
What the sources say
- ISO doesn't perform certification or issue certificates. External certification bodies do. [ISO]
- Accreditation is formal recognition by an accreditation body that a certification body works to international standards. ISO says it isn't compulsory, but it's independent confirmation of competence. [ISO]
- In the US, ANAB accredits ISO/IEC 27001 certification bodies under ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 27006. [ANAB]
In this section
| ISO 27001 cost | Published audit and year-one ranges, attributed. |
|---|---|
| Certification bodies & auditors | 22 firms in our directory that list ISO 27001, plus how to check accreditation. |
| ISO 27001 compliance software | 7 of the 8 platforms we track list ISO 27001. |
Frequently asked questions
Who issues an ISO 27001 certificate?
A certification body. ISO itself doesn't certify anyone. Accreditation by a national accreditation body, such as ANAB in the US, independently confirms a certification body's competence, per ISO.
How is this different from SOC 2?
SOC 2 is an attestation report from a licensed CPA firm. ISO 27001 is a certificate for your ISMS. See SOC 2 vs ISO 27001.
How long is the certificate valid?
Three years, with surveillance audits in years 2 and 3. See our SOC 2 vs ISO 27001 guide for sources.
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Last verified 2026-10-19.