Why Integrate?
Cut Redundancy
Consolidate risk assessments, policies, training, and evidence—collect once, reuse across frameworks.
Strengthen Security
Focus on true risk reduction (configuration, detection, response), not duplicative checklists.
Accelerate Deals
Faster SOC 2 reports & ISO certification cycles unlock enterprise sales; PCI attestation keeps payments flowing.
Lower Cost
Fewer audit days, fewer tools, and streamlined ops mean measurable OPEX savings.
The Three Standards in Brief
ISO/IEC 27001
A global, certifiable **Information Security Management System (ISMS)** standard. Risk‑based governance, continuous improvement, and Annex A controls make it an ideal backbone for multi‑framework programs. (See: ISO 27001 mapping guidance and industry analyses) #references[1][2]
SOC 2
An attestation for service organizations based on the **Trust Services Criteria** (Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, Privacy). Focused on proving your controls are suitably designed and operating effectively (Type 2). #references[2][4]
PCI DSS
A prescriptive, mandatory standard for entities that **store, process, or transmit cardholder data**. Emphasizes secure network architecture, strong access control, encryption, testing, and monitoring.
These shared themes are widely discussed in mapping resources and vendor‑neutral explainers. #references[1][2][4][6]Where They Overlap
The Integrated Approach (ISO 27001 as Backbone)
1) Build a Unified Control Matrix
Create a single control catalog that maps ISO 27001 Annex A controls to **SOC 2 TSC** and **PCI DSS** requirements. This becomes your source of truth for audits and evidence.
2) Harmonize Policies & Procedures
Publish one Information Security Policy set (access control, asset management, incident response, change, vendor, crypto) with clauses referencing SOC 2 and PCI DSS specifics.
3) Centralize Risk Management
Run one risk methodology (ISO 27001). Include **cardholder data environment (CDE)** risks and **Trust Services Criteria** considerations in the same register.
4) Streamline Evidence & Audits
Automate evidence collection (tickets, configs, logs) once; tag it for ISO, SOC 2, and PCI. Plan **integrated internal audits by process** (e.g., “Payment Processing” or “CI/CD”) instead of by standard. #references[2][4]
5) Digitize with Microsoft 365 (quick wins)
- SharePoint – controlled policy library and SoA
- Power Automate – evidence collection & CAPA workflow
- Lists/Dataverse – risk register & control matrix
- Power BI – SOC 2/ISO/PCI dashboards with drill‑downs
- Teams – audit collaboration and approvals
6‑Month Roadmap
Months 1–2: Discover & Design
- Scope the ISMS and the PCI **CDE**; define SOC 2 system boundaries.
- Gap‑assess ISO, SOC 2, and PCI controls; draft the **control matrix**.
- Publish the integrated policy set & risk methodology.
Months 3–4: Implement & Automate
- Roll out unified procedures (access, incident, change, vendor).
- Automate evidence capture (backups, MFA, vulnerability scans).
- Harden the CDE: segmentation, key management, logging.
Month 5: Test & Audit
- Run an integrated internal audit by process; fix nonconformities.
- Finalize Statement of Applicability (SoA) & SOC 2 controls; prep PCI AOC/ROC with QSA (if applicable).
Month 6: Attest & Improve
- External audits: ISO 27001 Stage 1/2, SOC 2 Type 1/Type 2 timeline, PCI SAQ/ROC.
- Management review; set next‑cycle improvements.
KPIs & Dashboards
MFA coverage, privileged access reviews on time
Time to remediate High/Critical in prod & CDE
MTTD/MTTR for high‑severity incidents
Evidence freshness, overdue CAPAs, % audits on time
Control Mapping (Quick View)
Illustrative, not exhaustive. Use it as a starter and tailor to your scoping, architecture, and risk profile.
| Theme | ISO 27001 (Annex A) | SOC 2 (TSC) | PCI DSS (v4.x) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access Control | A.5, A.6 (IAM, least privilege, MFA policies) | CC6.x (Logical & role‑based access) | Req 7–8 (Access, authN, MFA, IDs) |
| Risk Management | Clauses 6 & 8; A.5 (risk process, SoA) | CC3 (Risk assessment), CC2 (Board oversight) | Req 12.3 (Risk assessment) |
| Incident Response | A.5, A.8 (IR policy, roles, lessons) | CC7 (Monitoring/IR), A1 (Availability) | Req 12.10 (IR plan, testing) |
| Encryption & Key Mgmt | A.8.24–A.8.28 (Crypto controls) | CC6.8 / C1 (Confidentiality) | Req 3–4 (Data protection, keys, TLS) |
| Logging & Monitoring | A.8.15 (Logging), A.8.16 (Monitoring) | CC7.x (Security monitoring) | Req 10 (Logging, integrity, review) |
| Change & SDLC | A.8.32–A.8.28 (Change, secure dev) | CC8 (Change), PI (Processing Integrity) | Req 6 (Secure SDLC, change control) |
| Vendor Security | A.5.19–A.5.23 (Supplier relationships) | CC9 (Third‑party risk) | Req 12.8 (Service provider management) |
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Siloed ownership: Stand up an Integrated Compliance Council (Security, IT, Eng, Product, Legal, Finance) with clear RACI.
- Over‑documentation: Prefer process maps, RACIs, and checklists over narrative bloat. Keep policies principle‑based; put how‑tos in procedures/runbooks.
- Evidence chaos: Automate collection from sources (IdP, EDR, scanners, CI/CD). Tag evidence to controls; set freshness SLAs.
- PCI scope creep: Minimize the **CDE** via tokenization, network segmentation, and isolation; it shrinks audit effort and risk.
References & Further Reading
- Ampcus Cyber (2025). ISO 27001 Mapping with SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST CSF. ampcuscyber.com
- JumpCloud (2025). How ISO 27001 Fits with SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. jumpcloud.com
- PCI Security Standards Council. PCI DSS Resources & Guidance. securityboulevard.com
- ISMS.online. ISO 27001 and PCI DSS Integration. isms.online
- Trust Services Criteria overview (AICPA-aligned explainers). trustnetinc.com
Note: Your exact mappings will depend on scope, architecture, and risk appetite. Always confirm PCI DSS requirements with your QSA and align SOC 2 scope with your auditor.