SOC 2 vs. NIST: What's the Difference? (And Which is Right for Your Organization)

Both SOC 2 and NIST are security frameworks that are designed to protect customer data. But they take different approaches and are needed in different circumstances.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through both frameworks and explore their differences, what they have in common, and how to decide which is right for your organization.

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) is a compliance framework designed to prove to other businesses that your organization manages data securely. SOC 2 was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and it’s the universal currency for commercial trust in the North American market. In almost all cases, a SOC 2 report is needed to close deals with enterprise clients.

Rather than offering a strict list of controls every organization must implement, the framework is based on five Trust Service Criteria: Security (the common criteria), Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. And it’s up to each individual organization how it implements controls, procedures and policies to satisfy those criteria.

There are two types of SOC 2 report: SOC 2 Type I and SOC 2 Type II. Type I looks at your controls at a single moment in time to verify that they’re in place, whereas Type II analyzes the effectiveness of your controls over a period of time (usually 3-6 months).

What is NIST?

When people compare SOC 2 vs. NIST, they are almost always referring to NIST SP 800-171 (or its certification model, CMMC), which are the mandatory standards for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in the DoD supply chain.

NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology )is a non-regulatory U.S. federal agency that operates within the U.S. Department of Commerce. There are two key components of NIST:

• The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST CSF): A high-level, strategic framework organized around five core functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.
• The NIST Special Publication (SP) 800 Series: These are the detailed, tactical publications that get into the weeds of NIST implementation. NIST SP 800-171, documents the 110 security controls that are the technical backbone of CMMC Level 2 (which is mandatory for protecting controlled unclassified information (CUI) in the DoD supply chain). Whereas NIST 800-53 shares security and privacy controls designed to safeguard federal information systems.

Unlike SOC 2’s flexible implementation approach, NIST is a rigid, prescriptive standard. For example to meet NIST 800-171 compliance requirements, your organization must successfully implement 110 specific security controls to pass an audit.

The Key Differences Between SOC 2 and NIST

Scope

SOC 2 is designed specifically for service organizations that store, process, or transmit customer data (like SaaS platforms, cloud providers, or payroll processors). The primary goal of SOC 2 is often to show partners and potential partners that you can be trusted to handle sensitive data. For startups targeting enterprise deals, SOC 2 compliance is often a non-negotiable sales blocker.

NIST (specifically the NIST Cybersecurity Framework or CSF) has a broader scope and is used by a wider range of organizations from government agencies (and organizations that work for those agencies) to tech companies. Whereas SOC 2 is focussed on showcasing your posture to outside organizations, NIST is focused more on internal security and meeting regulatory requirements.

Focus and Control Structure

SOC 2 zeroes in on the Trust Services Criteria: Security (the mandatory “Common Criteria”), Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. Your audit will test if your controls effectively meet these criteria.

NIST frameworks (like NIST 800-53 and 800-171) give your organization a list of predefined security controls that must be implemented. It’s a much more prescriptive framework that leaves little choice in how you implement controls. NIST is often required for government-related work and is mandated through CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) for any organization that handles Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD).

Certification vs. Attestation

SOC 2 requires a formal attestation from an independent CPA firm that will audit your controls and issue a Type I or Type II report. This report can then be used to prove the effectiveness of your security posture to procurement teams and sometimes bypass security questionnaires.

NIST typically has no official certification body for the private sector. The exception is if you are a defense contractor. Under CMMC, you may need a third-party assessment to prove CMMC compliance, which is built on NIST standards.

Implementation and Flexibility

Because NIST is voluntary (for most), you can implement it at your own pace. You might start by just focusing on the Identify function to get a better asset inventory. The exception is if you’re a DoD contractor and implementing NIST 800-171 controls as part of CMMC Level 2 certification, in this instance, your implementation must be verified by a third-party auditor (C3PAO) in order for your organization to be eligible for contracts that handle CUI.

With SOC 2, while you can choose which optional Trust Services Criteria to include, once you pick them, you must demonstrate effective controls for them. If a control fails during your audit window, it goes in the report meaning you’ll get a ‘Qualified’ SOC 2 report, whereas an ‘Unqualified’ report means your organization passed with no issues.

Similarities between SOC 2 and NIST

It’s not all different. Despite the key differences listed above, there’s a lot of overlap. Both frameworks are ultimately focused on data security and preventing unauthorized access.

If you have a robust SOC 2 program, you likely have about 60-70% of the DNA needed for NIST. You already have:

• Access Control: You (hopefully) have MFA and least-privilege access.
• Incident Response: You have a plan for when things go wrong.
• Configuration Management: You track changes to your code and infrastructure.
• Cybersecurity Risk Management: You periodically check what could kill the company.

The difference is that SOC 2 accepts "we do this generally," while NIST demands "show me the specific setting for session timeout."

Similarities Between SOC 2 and NIST

Both frameworks are fundamentally about risk management. Here is where the two frameworks align:

Shared DNA in Security Controls

If you implement controls to meet NIST standards, you are likely 80% of the way to SOC 2 (and vice versa) because the specific controls required by both frameworks can overlap significantly. For example:

• Access Control: Both require you to limit who can access your systems (e.g., MFA, role-based access).
• Incident Response: Both require a plan for what happens when things go wrong.
• Vendor Management: Both demand that you assess the security of the third-party tools you use, a critical part of modern vendor risk management.

Policy-First Approach

Both frameworks require you to move beyond ad-hoc security. It is not enough to secure a laptop, you need a written policy stating how laptops are secured, and evidence that you followed that policy.

Continuous Monitoring

Compliance is no longer about simply passing an audit once per year. Both SOC 2 (specifically Type II) and NIST emphasize continuous monitoring. So you need to prove that your controls are working all the time, not just the day the auditor visits.

Trust and Reputation

Both serve as a signal of maturity to the market. While SOC 2 is a standard requirement for any service organization selling to enterprise customers in North America, aligning with NIST is increasingly recognized as a mark of a mature security posture. Enterprise buyers know that a company following NIST guidelines is likely far more resilient than one that isn't, even if there isn't a formal certificate involved. That said, many enterprise buyers will still require a SOC 2 report even if your organization is aligned with NIST standards.

SOC 2 vs. NIST: Which Should You Choose?

It depends on your business goals.

If your primary pain point is that deals are stalling because enterprise buyers want to see proof of your security practices and the effectiveness of your controls, you need SOC 2. It is the currency of trust in the B2B SaaS world.

If your primary goal is to build a security program from scratch and you want a logical roadmap to ensure you aren't missing anything, it may make sense to start with NIST. It guides you through the fundamentals of vendor risk management and incident response without the pressure of an impending audit.

If you’re a government contractor working with the DoD, the NIST 800-171 is also essential for CMMC Level 2.

Costs and Resources for SOC 2 and NIST Implementation

After "which framework is better?" The second most common question I get is "how much is this going to cost me?" Here’s what you need to know about the costs involved with each framework:

The answer depends on whether you're paying with a check (SOC 2) or with sweat equity (NIST).

SOC 2 Costs

For most startups and mid-market companies in 2026, the cost of a SOC 2 audit will cost between $10,000-$50,000. For enterprise organizations, it can cost $100,000+ depending on the size of your organization and the complexity of your cybersecurity infrastructure.

NIST Costs

Since NIST (generally) doesn't have a paid external audit, the cost here is almost entirely operational. You need to allocate internal staff to perform risk assessments, document policies, and monitor controls continuously.

If you’re implementing NIST as part of your journey towards CMMC compliance, the costs will ramp up quickly:

• For small businesses working toward CMMC Level 1, costs may begin around $5,000–$10,000. This typically covers self-assessments and limited remediation efforts.
• Costs for CMMC Level 2 certification can range from $50,000 - $200,000+. Level 2 requires the implementation of 110 security controls aligned with NIST SP 800-171 and a formal assessment by a C3PAO.

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We offer expert-led implementation of SOC 2, NIST 800-171, and NIST 800-53 frameworks as well as CMMC.

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