SaaS Compliance and ISO Certification for Technology Companies
SaaS compliance is what enterprise buyers check before they sign: an ISO 27001 certificate, a SOC 2 report, or both. Accredify Global certifies SaaS platforms, cloud and hosting firms, managed service providers, and software teams. For SOC 2, we run readiness and a licensed CPA partner firm signs the report. You get a tailored proposal after a free scoping review.
What SaaS Compliance Means for a Technology Company
SaaS compliance is independent evidence that your product and company protect customer data to a recognized standard. In practice it usually means an ISO 27001 certificate, a SOC 2 report, or both. Privacy, AI, and service management standards follow as you grow.
An ISO certificate and a SOC 2 report are different things. ISO 27001 certification comes from an accredited certification body after a two-stage audit. A SOC 2 report is an attestation that only a licensed CPA firm can sign. Our ISO 27001 vs SOC 2 guide compares them in detail.
Accredify Global is a UAF-accredited certification body under the IAF MLA framework. For ISO standards we audit and certify, but we do not consult. Standard-level details are on our ISO 27001 certification and SOC 1 and SOC 2 pages.
SaaS Compliance in 2026: What Has Changed
ISO 27001:2022 is the only valid edition. The transition from the 2013 edition ended on 31 October 2025. Any certificate still citing ISO 27001:2013 is no longer valid, so check what your vendors and your own certificate show.
ISO 27701 now stands alone. ISO/IEC 27701:2025 was published on 14 October 2025 as a standalone privacy management standard. You no longer need ISO 27001 first. Accreditation bodies are still setting the transition rules for 2019 certificates.
AI buyers want governance proof. Enterprise customers now send AI questionnaires alongside security ones. ISO 42001 is the management system standard for AI and is increasingly requested for AI features.
Sources: ISO/IEC 27701:2025 (ISO) · DNV, ISO/IEC 27701 revision
Which Technology Companies Need SaaS Compliance Certificates?
Most projects start with a security questionnaire, a procurement gate, or a stalled enterprise deal.
B2B software selling to enterprises that require ISO 27001 or SOC 2 before signing.
IaaS, PaaS, hosting, and data centre providers whose customers rely on availability and change control.
MSPs and IT outsourcers holding privileged access to customer systems. See ISO 20000 certification.
Software serving banks and payment firms. See our banking industry page.
Companies shipping AI models or features that customers must assess for risk.
Apps and platforms handling patient data. See our healthcare industry page.
SaaS Compliance Frameworks, and What We Provide
Start with what your buyers ask for. Add the rest as your market grows.
| Framework | What it covers | When tech companies need it | What Accredify Global provides |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO 27001 | Information security management | Global and EU buyers, tenders, and most security questionnaires | Certification |
| SOC 2 | Attestation on security and other trust services criteria | US enterprise buyers who name SOC 2 in procurement | Readiness, with attestation by a licensed CPA partner firm |
| ISO 27701 | Privacy information management | Products processing personal data for EU and global customers | Certification |
| ISO 42001 | AI management system | AI features and models customers must assess | Certification |
| ISO 20000-1 | IT service management | MSPs, hosting, and IT outsourcing contracts | Accredited certification |
| ISO 22301 | Business continuity | Critical services with strict uptime commitments | Certification |
| VAPT | Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing | Annual test evidence for buyers, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 | Testing and report |
| GDPR / HIPAA / PCI DSS | Privacy and payment rules | Personal, health, or card data in scope | Readiness assessment, not certification |
| DORA / NIS2 | EU operational resilience and cyber laws | Suppliers to EU financial firms and essential sectors | Readiness assessment, not certification |
ISO 27001 or SOC 2 First? A Quick Guide for SaaS Teams
Let your pipeline decide. Look at the last ten security questionnaires you received.
Start with ISO 27001 if
- Most buyers are in Europe, the Middle East, India, or Asia
- Tenders list ISO 27001 as a requirement
- You want a certificate on the wall and on your trust page
- You plan to add ISO 27701 or ISO 42001 later
Start with SOC 2 if
- Most buyers are US enterprises
- Procurement asks for a SOC 2 Type II report by name
- Customers want detail on how each control was tested
- You serve US financial or health customers
Many teams do both within a year. The controls overlap heavily, so evidence collected for one supports the other.
What an ISO 27001 Auditor Checks at a SaaS Company
These are the areas where technology audits most often find gaps. Each maps to ISO 27001:2022 Annex A controls.
| Area | Annex A control | What the auditor looks for |
|---|---|---|
| Access reviews | 5.18 | Regular reviews of who can reach production and customer data |
| Supplier security | 5.19–5.22 | Cloud and SaaS vendors assessed, with security terms in contracts |
| Cloud services | 5.23 | How you choose, use, and exit cloud services |
| Logging and monitoring | 8.15, 8.16 | Logs kept, protected, and reviewed, with alerts acted on |
| Secure development | 8.25–8.29 | Code review, testing, and separated environments in your pipeline |
| Change management | 8.32 | Changes approved, tested, and traceable to tickets |
| Backup and recovery | 8.13 | Backups taken, tested, and restorable within agreed times |
Auditors sample evidence from your cloud console, identity provider, ticketing, and CI/CD tools. Consistent records matter more than long policies.
The ISO Certification Process for SaaS Companies
Six stages from first call to a certificate that stays valid for three years. Our ISO certification process guide has more detail.
Have a deal waiting on a certificate? A free scoping review gives you a realistic date.
Book a free scoping reviewWhat Drives the Cost of SaaS Compliance
There is no list price. ISO audit cost follows the audit man-days your scope needs. A free scoping review gives you a tailored proposal.
What sets the scope
- People — staff and contractors in scope
- Products — which products and environments are covered
- Locations — offices and fully remote teams
- Frameworks — ISO 27001 alone, or with SOC 2, ISO 27701, or ISO 42001
- SOC 2 type — Type I at a point in time, or Type II over a period
Ways to keep it efficient
- Scope to the product customers are buying, not the whole company
- Collect evidence once and map it to every framework
- Run a penetration test before Stage 2
- Combine ISO standards in one integrated certification audit
- Keep policies short and records complete
Questions to Ask a SaaS Compliance Provider
Worth asking before you sign, with Accredify Global's answers.
| Question to ask | Accredify Global's answer |
|---|---|
| Are you an accredited certification body? | Yes. We are UAF-accredited under the IAF MLA framework. Ask us for the scope that covers your standard. |
| Who signs the SOC 2 report? | A licensed CPA partner firm. Only a CPA firm can issue a SOC 2 report. |
| Will you build our ISO 27001 system? | No. For ISO certification we stay impartial, so we audit and certify but do not consult. See our impartiality commitments. |
| Can you audit a fully remote team? | Yes. We plan remote and on-site time to match how your company works. |
| How is it priced? | A tailored proposal after a free scoping review. |
| Can customers verify the certificate? | Yes, on our certificate verification page. |
FAQ: SaaS Compliance and ISO Certification
Straight answers on ISO 27001, SOC 2, privacy, AI, cost, and timelines.
What is SaaS compliance?
SaaS compliance is independent evidence that a software company protects customer data to a recognized standard. Enterprise buyers usually ask for an ISO 27001 certificate, a SOC 2 report, or both. Privacy, AI, and continuity standards often follow.
Should a SaaS company get ISO 27001 or SOC 2 first?
Let your buyers decide. US enterprise buyers often ask for SOC 2 by name. Buyers in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia usually ask for ISO 27001. Many teams do both within a year because the controls overlap.
Who issues a SOC 2 report?
Only a licensed CPA firm can issue a SOC 2 report. Accredify Global runs readiness and evidence work, and a licensed CPA partner firm performs the examination and signs the report.
Is ISO 27001:2013 still valid?
No. The transition to ISO 27001:2022 ended on 31 October 2025. Certificates citing the 2013 edition are no longer valid.
Do we need ISO 27001 before ISO 27701?
Not any more. ISO/IEC 27701:2025, published on 14 October 2025, is a standalone privacy management standard. Under the 2019 edition, ISO 27001 was a prerequisite.
Can a fully remote company get ISO 27001 certified?
Yes. The auditor samples evidence from your cloud, identity, ticketing, and development tools, and interviews your team. Remote audit time is planned within accreditation rules.
How much does SaaS compliance cost?
It depends on your scope and frameworks. ISO audit cost follows audit man-days, set by people, products, locations, and the standards you combine. SOC 2 depends on the criteria and whether you need Type I or Type II. Accredify Global reviews your scope for free and sends a tailored proposal.
Will Accredify Global build our ISO 27001 system?
No. For ISO certification we must stay impartial, so we do not design or write your system. We audit it, report findings with evidence, and make an independent certification decision.
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