Multi-Framework Intelligence
PCI vs ISO 27001 vs SOC 2
Which compliance framework does your business actually need?
8 Major Compliance Frameworks at a Glance
Each card summarises purpose, control count, typical cost, and whether GRCTrack supports the framework today.
PCI DSS
v4.0.1
Protect cardholder data and reduce payment card fraud through security controls for all entities that store, process, or transmit cardholder data.
Controls
322
Typical Cost
$1,000-$200,000+/year depending on merchant level and scope
ISO 27001
v2022
Establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve an information security management system (ISMS) to protect information assets.
Controls
93
Typical Cost
$15,000-$80,000 for initial certification, $5,000-$25,000/year for maintenance
SOC 2
vType II
Evaluate and report on controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a service organisation.
Controls
64
Typical Cost
$20,000-$100,000 for Type II report, $10,000-$30,000/year ongoing
GDPR
v2018
Protect the personal data and privacy of individuals in the European Union and European Economic Area.
Controls
99
Typical Cost
$10,000-$50,000 for compliance program setup, ongoing internal costs
HIPAA
vSecurity Rule
Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Controls
45
Typical Cost
$10,000-$60,000 for compliance program, ongoing internal costs
NIST CSF
v2.0
Provide a common language and systematic methodology for managing cybersecurity risk across critical infrastructure and organisations of all sizes.
Controls
106
Typical Cost
$5,000-$30,000 for gap assessment, implementation varies widely
Cyber Essentials
v2023
Provide a baseline set of cybersecurity controls to protect organisations against the most common cyber attacks.
Controls
5
Typical Cost
£300-£500 for CE, £1,500-£5,000 for CE Plus
DORA
v2025
Strengthen the digital operational resilience of EU financial entities by establishing uniform requirements for ICT risk management, incident reporting, and ...
Controls
21
Typical Cost
$50,000-$500,000+ depending on organisation size and complexity
Control Overlap Matrix
Percentages indicate approximate shared controls between each framework pair. Higher overlap means greater efficiency when pursuing both.
| PCI DSS | ISO 27001 | SOC 2 | GDPR | HIPAA | NIST CSF | Cyber Essentials | DORA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCI DSS | 100% | 60% | 50% | 30% | 40% | 70% | 80% | 45% |
| ISO 27001 | 60% | 100% | 65% | 50% | 55% | 75% | 60% | 55% |
| SOC 2 | 50% | 65% | 100% | 40% | 45% | 60% | 45% | 40% |
| GDPR | 30% | 50% | 40% | 100% | 35% | 35% | 20% | 30% |
| HIPAA | 40% | 55% | 45% | 35% | 100% | 50% | 30% | 35% |
| NIST CSF | 70% | 75% | 60% | 35% | 50% | 100% | 65% | 55% |
| Cyber Essentials | 80% | 60% | 45% | 20% | 30% | 65% | 100% | 25% |
| DORA | 45% | 55% | 40% | 30% | 35% | 55% | 25% | 100% |
Which Framework Do You Need?
Your industry and use case determine which frameworks apply. Here are the most common scenarios.
Scenario
Payment processing
Recommended Framework(s)
Mandatory for any organisation that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data. Start here if you accept card payments in any form.
Scenario
Enterprise SaaS
Recommended Framework(s)
Enterprise buyers expect SOC 2 Type II reports and ISO 27001 certification. Pursuing both simultaneously leverages 65% shared controls.
Scenario
Healthcare
Recommended Framework(s)
HIPAA is mandatory for ePHI. If you also process patient payments, PCI DSS applies in parallel. Approximately 40% control overlap exists.
Scenario
EU data processing
Recommended Framework(s)
Applies to any organisation processing personal data of EU/EEA residents, regardless of where you are based. Fines up to 4% of global revenue.
Scenario
UK SME
Recommended Framework(s)
Required for UK government contracts involving sensitive data. Cyber Essentials Plus adds hands-on verification. Affordable starting at just £300.
Scenario
Financial services (EU)
Recommended Framework(s)
DORA became mandatory in January 2025 for EU financial entities. If you also handle card payments, PCI DSS applies alongside with 45% shared controls.
Scenario
Government contracts
Recommended Framework(s)
NIST CSF is the de facto standard for US government and critical infrastructure. Combine with ISO 27001 for international credibility — 75% overlap.
Multi-Framework Efficiency
Pursuing multiple frameworks does not mean multiplying your workload. Control mapping reveals shared requirements that only need to be implemented once.
60%
PCI DSS + ISO 27001 Shared Controls
Access control, encryption, incident management, and operations security overlap heavily between these two frameworks.
~35%
Effort Saved with Integrated Approach
Organisations that implement PCI DSS and ISO 27001 together save approximately 35% total effort versus implementing them sequentially.
10
Frameworks Supported by GRCTrack
Map controls across PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, NIST CSF, Cyber Essentials, DORA, and more from a single platform.
GRCTrack Supports 10 Frameworks
Start with the framework you need most. Add more as your business grows. Shared controls are mapped automatically so you never duplicate work.