Direct answer: ISO 27001 software helps with two things: managing the ISMS documentation (scope, Statement of Applicability, risk treatment plan, internal audit, management review) and collecting evidence for the Annex A controls. Drata and Scrut handle multi-framework overlap well, Vanta and Secureframe cover it competently, and the documentation half is where ISO differs most from SOC 2. The certification audit is a separate accredited body and cannot be bought as software.
How ISO 27001 differs from SOC 2 for tooling
SOC 2 is an attestation against criteria. ISO 27001 certifies a management system, so the artefacts an auditor asks for are different: a defined scope, a Statement of Applicability justifying every Annex A control you did or did not apply, a risk assessment and treatment plan, evidence of internal audit, and records of management review. Tooling that is strong on technical evidence can still be thin on this documentation spine, which is where first-time ISO projects usually stall.
The options
Drata
Strong multi-framework handling, which matters because most teams doing ISO are also doing or planning SOC 2 and want the overlap counted once.
Scrut
Broad standard coverage for the price, frequently shortlisted for ISO plus others.
Vanta
Solid ISO support and the widest integration surface. Auditor familiarity is a real advantage during the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
Secureframe
Comparable, with more included support depending on tier.
traztech Workspace, free
Covers the understanding and self-assessment half: every Annex A control in plain English, an evidence register, a policy library, and a risk register, which is the piece ISO leans on hardest. It does not generate a Statement of Applicability or run your internal audit, and it does not do continuous evidence collection. We build it, so check it yourself.
What no software does
- Define your scope. The single most consequential ISO decision, and it is a judgement call.
- Justify the Statement of Applicability. Each inclusion and exclusion needs a defensible reason.
- Run the internal audit. It has to be independent of whoever operates the control.
- Hold the management review. A meeting with minutes, not a dashboard.
- Certify you. That is an accredited certification body, on a three-year cycle with surveillance audits.
Frequently asked
Can one tool cover ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
Yes, and it is usually the right move. The control overlap is real, particularly on policies, so the documents get written once.
Do I need software to certify?
No. The standard requires a management system, not a subscription.
What is the biggest first-timer mistake?
Scoping too broadly. A wide scope multiplies evidence, audit days, and cost, and it is very hard to narrow later.