Standards comparison
ISO 27001, SOC 2, SBP, SECP, PTA and PCI DSS, compared.
Short answer: ISO 27001 is the most widely requested security certification for Pakistani IT exporters and enterprises; SOC 2 suits US-facing SaaS; SBP, SECP and PTA set mandatory requirements for the sectors they regulate; and PCI DSS applies to anyone handling card payments.
| Attribute | ISO 27001 | SOC 2 | SBP Cyber Security Framework | SECP IT Governance | PTA CTDISR | PCI DSS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | International standard for an information security management system (ISMS) | US attestation framework against the AICPA Trust Services Criteria | State Bank of Pakistan cyber security requirements for regulated financial institutions | Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan IT and cyber security expectations for the corporate sector | PTA's Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations for telecom licensees | Global payment card industry data security standard, now at v4.0.1 |
| Outcome | Certificate | Attestation report (Type I or Type II) | Regulatory compliance, examined by SBP | Regulatory compliance under SECP circulars | Regulatory compliance under PTA regulations | Validated compliance (RoC or SAQ) |
| Who requires it | Customers, tenders and international partners | US and international enterprise customers | Banks, EMIs, payment system operators and payment service providers | Listed companies and SECP-regulated entities | Telecom and internet service providers licensed by PTA | Any organisation storing, processing or transmitting card data |
| Scope | Risk-based; you define the scope and select Annex A controls | Chosen trust criteria for a defined system | Governance, cyber defence, incident reporting and resilience | IT governance, risk and security controls for the corporate sector | Classification and protection of critical telecom data and infrastructure | The cardholder data environment and connected systems |
| Ongoing | Annual surveillance audits, recertification every three years | Typically reissued annually | Continuing compliance with SBP circulars and examinations | Continuing compliance as SECP circulars evolve | Continuing compliance with PTA regulations | Annual validation and continuous control operation |
| Best fit | IT exporters, enterprises and anyone selling to international customers | SaaS selling into the US market | Financial institutions regulated by the State Bank | Listed companies and the wider corporate sector | Telecom operators and ISPs | Fintechs, payment gateways, EMIs and merchants |
General guidance only; confirm current scheme rules with the relevant body.
Common questions
ISO 27001 or SOC 2: which do overseas customers ask for?+
International and enterprise buyers most often ask for ISO 27001 certification. SOC 2 is more common when selling to US customers. Many Pakistani IT exporters start with ISO 27001 and map to SOC 2 later, because the controls overlap substantially.
Is the SBP Cyber Security Framework a certification?+
No. It is a set of regulatory expectations from the State Bank of Pakistan for the institutions it supervises, introduced through circulars including BPRD Circular 05 of 2017. Compliance is examined by the regulator rather than certified by a third party.
Does ISO 27001 cover our SBP or SECP obligations?+
Not by itself. The overlap is substantial, but regulators set their own specific expectations and reporting duties. CNETS maps SBP, SECP and PTA requirements into your ISMS so one program covers both, with the differences explicitly addressed.
Who needs to comply with PTA's CTDISR?+
Telecom operators and internet service providers licensed by the PTA must meet the Critical Telecom Data and Infrastructure Security Regulations, which cover the classification and protection of critical telecom data and infrastructure.
Does PCI DSS apply to Pakistani fintechs?+
Yes. PCI DSS applies wherever card data is stored, processed or transmitted, regardless of country. Pakistani fintechs, payment gateways, EMIs and merchants handling card payments must validate compliance, now against PCI DSS v4.0.1.
Can an AI policy replace ISO 42001?+
An AI policy states intent. ISO 42001 adds the management system around it: an AI inventory, risk and impact assessments, roles, competence, monitoring, internal audit and management review. A policy alone does not show that AI risks are being managed.
Can we combine ISO 27001 and ISO 42001?+
Yes. Both follow the ISO harmonised structure, so governance, risk, document control, internal audit and management review can be shared in one integrated management system.
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