packets.buildWhat comes after SOC 2 is the question US-enterprise sellers hit once the first report is in a data room and the next customer asks for something else. In 2026 that something else is often ISO 27001, ISO 42001, or both. They are not the same second mountain. ISO 27001 is an information security management system. ISO 42001 is an AI management system. SOC 2 is an attestation over a defined system, not an ISO certificate.
This hub replaces a generic "all frameworks" pillar page. Packets still implements end to end. We do not pretend one comparison chart is a legal opinion. If you have not done SOC 2 and your buyers are EU or AI-governance heavy, you may not need to "finish SOC 2 first." Start with the data and the contracts you already have.
What comes after SOC 2 if the next ask is security
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the usual second program when European buyers, insurers, or public-sector-adjacent deals want a certifiable ISMS. You reuse a lot of access, logging, vendor, and incident muscle you built for SOC 2, then you add formal scope, risk treatment, Statement of Applicability, internal audit, and a certification body. Official overview: ISO 27001. Deep guide: ISO 27001 compliance and SOC 2 vs ISO 27001.
Industry blogs often claim most SOC 2 control work has a home in 27001. Treat that as directional, not a Packets statistic. The management-system clauses are still new work if you never ran an ISMS.
What comes after SOC 2 if the product is AI
ISO 42001 does not ride along as leftover SOC 2 criteria. Impact assessments, data-for-AI, human oversight, and AI suppliers are not TSC leftovers. If customers send model-card questionnaires or EU AI Act language, what comes after SOC 2 is an AIMS, usually beside an ISMS rather than instead of one. Hub: ISO 42001 certification. Official standard: ISO/IEC 42001.
Skipping 27001 and jumping only to 42001 leaves security reviewers without an ISMS. Skipping 42001 and only adding 27001 leaves AI questions unanswered. Packets' default for AI-native teams is both programs, one owner.
A simple chooser
- US healthcare PHI: HIPAA remains sector law. It is not the ISO decision.
- EU personal data: GDPR in parallel. Neither ISO certificate is a GDPR substitute. See data privacy and operations.
- AI in the product for enterprise: put ISO 42001 on the roadmap even if SOC 2 is already done.
- No AI in production: ISO 27001 is the usual "what comes after SOC 2" for international buyers.
Packets implements the stack rather than selling a single-framework silo. End-to-end compliance, ISO 27001, AI governance. Software-only buyers: Packets vs Scrut.
What we will not do on this page
We will not claim Packets certifies you. We will not invent how many companies are 42001-certified worldwide. We will not use a fake percentage for control overlap. Cluster posts (27001 vs 42001, SOC 2 vs 42001, the three-framework stack) go deeper.
Frequently asked questions
Is what comes after SOC 2 always ISO 27001?
No. It depends on buyer geography and whether AI systems are material. That is the point of this hub.
Can we run SOC 2 and ISO 42001 with no ISMS?
Possible on paper. Painful in reviews. Most AI-native teams should not.
Does a GRC tool pick the sequence?
No. Contracts and data flows pick it. Tools store evidence. People own the AIMS and ISMS. See tool vs consultant vs hire.
Where do we start this week?
Write the next three customer asks on a page. If two mention AI governance, read the 42001 guide first. Score gaps with a free audit score and contact Packets if you need a specialist.
Also: SOC 2 hub if you still need the attestation explained, and AI governance for NIST and the EU AI Act beside ISO 42001.
