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GRC Tools for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Compliance
First Published:
January 12, 2026
Content Written For:
Small & Medium Businesses
Large Organisations & Infrastructure
Government
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GRC tools play a critical role in helping organisations achieve and maintain ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance. As audits become more continuous and expectations around evidence quality increase, manual approaches struggle to keep pace. Consequently, many organisations adopt GRC tools to centralise controls, automate evidence collection, and maintain audit readiness year-round.
However, tools alone do not guarantee successful certification or strong audit outcomes. This guide explains how GRC tools support ISO 27001 and SOC 2 in practice, where automation delivers the most value, and why governance and advisory oversight remain essential.
In practice, SOC 2 rarely exists in isolation. Many Australian organisations pursue SOC 2 as part of a broader managed compliance programme, aligning it with ISO/IEC 27001 certification , SOC 2 certification, Essential Eight maturity, PCI-DSS compliance, and ongoing vendor risk management to reduce audit duplication and strengthen assurance outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- GRC tools are essential for maintaining ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance by automating evidence collection and centralising controls.
- Organisations use GRC tools to streamline compliance processes, replace manual methods, and ensure continuous audit readiness.
- ISO 27001 focuses on governance and risk management, while SOC 2 emphasises ongoing control effectiveness, requiring tailored GRC tool capabilities.
- Choosing GRC tools requires assessing framework coverage, automation depth, and internal governance to avoid common pitfalls.
- Advisory support remains crucial for interpreting regulations and designing effective controls, complementing GRC tools for long-term success.
Why ISO 27001 and SOC 2 drive GRC tool adoption
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are two of the most commercially significant assurance frameworks. Both require organisations to demonstrate that security controls are not only defined, but also operating effectively over time.
As organisations scale, several challenges emerge. Evidence becomes fragmented, control ownership is unclear, and audit preparation becomes disruptive. Therefore, GRC tools are increasingly used to provide structure and consistency across compliance programmes.
In practice, organisations adopt GRC tools to:
- Replace spreadsheets and document-heavy compliance processes
- Centralise control ownership and accountability
- Automate evidence collection across cloud and SaaS environments
- Maintain continuous audit readiness rather than point-in-time compliance
Although ISO 27001 and SOC 2 differ in structure, the operational burden they introduce is remarkably similar.
How GRC tools support ISO 27001 compliance
ISO 27001 is built around the concept of an information security management system. This requires governance, risk management, and continuous improvement, not just technical controls. GRC tools support ISO 27001 by acting as the system of record for how the ISMS is designed and operated.
Specifically, GRC tools help organisations:
- Map security controls to ISO 27001 clauses and Annex A controls
- Maintain policies, procedures, and approval workflows
- Track risk assessments, treatment plans, and risk acceptance
- Collect evidence demonstrating control operation and monitoring
- Support internal audits, management reviews, and surveillance audits
Automation significantly reduces administrative effort. Nevertheless, decisions around risk treatment and control design still require experienced judgement.
How GRC tools support SOC 2 compliance
SOC 2 focuses on the Trust Services Criteria and requires organisations to demonstrate that controls operate effectively over a defined reporting period. As a result, ongoing evidence collection is essential.
GRC tools support SOC 2 compliance by:
- Mapping controls to relevant Trust Services Criteria
- Automating evidence collection for access management, logging, and change control
- Tracking exceptions, issues, and remediation actions
- Managing auditor requests and reporting workflows
Because SOC 2 is principle-based rather than prescriptive, interpretation plays a critical role. Consequently, organisations must ensure that automation aligns with auditor expectations.
ISO 27001 vs SOC 2: key differences GRC tools must handle
Although ISO 27001 and SOC 2 share common objectives, they differ in emphasis and structure.
ISO 27001 requires a formal management system with defined governance processes and continual improvement. In contrast, SOC 2 focuses on demonstrating control effectiveness over a specific reporting period.
Therefore, effective GRC tools must support:
- Governance workflows, risk management, and management oversight for ISO 27001
- Continuous evidence collection and reporting for SOC 2
- Flexible control mapping that avoids duplication across frameworks
Tools that oversimplify one framework often struggle to scale across both.
Choosing GRC tools for ISO 27001 and SOC 2
Selecting the right GRC tools for ISO 27001 and SOC 2 requires more than a feature comparison. Organisations should evaluate tools against operational reality.
- First, assess framework coverage and flexibility. GRC tools should support both standards without forcing duplicate controls or evidence.
- Second, evaluate automation depth. Evidence collection should integrate directly with your technology stack, reducing reliance on manual uploads.
- Third, consider audit workflows. Tools should facilitate collaboration with auditors while maintaining control over access and data integrity.
- Finally, consider internal capability. Without clear ownership and governance, even the most advanced GRC tools fail to deliver value.
Common mistakes organisations make
Despite good intentions, organisations often encounter issues when implementing GRC tools for ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
Common mistakes include:
- Treating certification as a one-off project rather than an ongoing programme
- Automating poorly designed or inappropriate controls
- Selecting tools based on speed to certification alone
- Underestimating the governance effort required to sustain compliance
Avoiding these pitfalls requires aligning tooling with people, process, and risk appetite.
Where GRC tools fall short without advisory support
While GRC tools streamline compliance activities, they do not replace professional judgement. Tools cannot interpret regulatory nuance, assess proportionality, or determine acceptable risk.
Advisory support remains critical for:
- Interpreting ISO 27001 clauses and SOC 2 criteria
- Designing controls that are effective and auditable
- Supporting certification, surveillance, and recertification audits
- Driving continuous improvement beyond minimum compliance
When GRC tools are paired with experienced advisory support, organisations achieve more resilient and sustainable outcomes.
How this fits into a broader GRC strategy
ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are often the foundation of a broader governance and risk programme. When implemented correctly, GRC tools provide a scalable platform that supports additional frameworks and regulatory obligations over time.
However, long-term success depends on governance discipline, executive oversight, and continuous improvement rather than tooling alone.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a GRC tool for ISO 27001 or SOC 2?
GRC tools are not mandatory. However, they significantly reduce effort, cost, and risk for organisations managing ongoing compliance obligations.
Can one GRC tool support both ISO 27001 and SOC 2?
Yes. Most modern GRC tools support both frameworks through shared control mapping and evidence reuse.
Do GRC tools replace ISO 27001 or SOC 2 auditors?
No. GRC tools support compliance activities but do not replace independent audits or professional advisory services.
About CyberPulse
CyberPulse is a security-first compliance partner helping organisations reduce cyber risk, build resilience and achieve certification with confidence. Founded by former CISOs and security leaders, we align technical depth with real-world context to deliver measurable outcomes across advisory, managed services, compliance and threat defence.
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