How to Integrate SOC 2 and ISO 27001 Requirements into Your ERP
Enterprise systems like NetSuite, SAP, or Oracle are the backbone of many growing businesses. They handle everything from finance to HR, procurement to reporting.
But as your company scales—and especially as it prepares for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 audits—your ERP can become either a compliance accelerator or a liability.
Security and compliance don’t stop at your cloud infrastructure. If your ERP holds sensitive data or supports critical processes, it needs to be part of your audit readiness plan.
Here’s how to approach ERP integration with compliance in mind.
Why Your ERP Matters in SOC 2 and ISO 27001
Let’s be clear: most frameworks don’t call out your ERP by name. But both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 require that you define your environment, assess risk, and protect sensitive information.
Your ERP likely:
Stores PII, financials, or client data
Connects to third-party apps and services
Supports workflows tied to internal controls
Enables or limits user access to key records
If that’s the case, auditors will expect to see how your ERP fits into your control environment.
Step 1: Map Your ERP to Compliance Objectives
Start by identifying which Trust Services Criteria (SOC 2) or Annex A controls (ISO 27001) apply to your ERP.
Examples include:
Access Control: Who can access finance, HR, or admin modules?
Change Management: Are changes to configuration or roles logged and reviewed?
Segregation of Duties (SoD): Are conflicting roles (e.g., payables and approvals) separated?
Audit Logging: Can you track system events or user activity?
This mapping gives you a clear view of what to strengthen and what to monitor.
Step 2: Align ERP Roles with SoD Principles
Many compliance gaps in ERPs come from poor role design. Too often, users end up with admin access “just to unblock something.”
Review your user roles and:
Remove unnecessary permissions
Enforce least-privilege access
Separate key functions like payment initiation vs. approval
Monitor temporary access grants and ensure they’re revoked after use
Auditors love seeing clear, documented SoD rules—especially in systems that handle payments or procurement.
Step 3: Implement Access Reviews
Compliance frameworks require you to review access rights regularly, especially for high-risk systems.
In your ERP:
Run quarterly access reviews
Revoke dormant accounts or roles
Confirm that role assignments still match job duties
Document review and sign-off
Bonus points if your ERP has built-in audit logs that show who made changes and when.
Step 4: Secure Integrations and APIs
Most ERPs today aren’t standalone. They integrate with payroll tools, reporting platforms, procurement systems, and more.
Each integration introduces a potential risk.
Make sure you:
Use secure tokens or authentication
Limit what data is shared
Monitor integration logs
Keep an updated list of connected systems
You don’t need to shut down flexibility—you just need to manage it with intention.
Step 5: Document Your ERP Controls
Whether you’re going through SOC 2 or ISO 27001, documentation is your friend.
Document:
Your ERP scope (which modules are in scope for audit)
Control objectives and how each one is addressed
Screenshots or logs showing controls in action
Roles and responsibilities for ERP governance
Good documentation makes audits smoother and shows your team is in control.
Step 6: Align with a Broader ISMS or GRC Program
Your ERP shouldn’t sit in a silo. The best results come when it’s integrated with your wider information security management system (ISMS) or GRC program.
This includes:
Being part of your organization-wide risk assessment
Participating in incident response procedures
Reflecting security policies and access requirements
Including ERP stakeholders in internal audits and management reviews
When ERP controls are part of your bigger picture, compliance becomes more efficient and defensible.
Final Thought
SOC 2 and ISO 27001 aren’t just IT checklists. They reflect how your whole organization manages risk—including systems like your ERP that hold critical data and power day-to-day operations.
You don’t need to overhaul everything. But reviewing access, documenting controls, and mapping risks to your ERP environment can go a long way in strengthening your audit readiness.
How SAMN Consulting Helps
We work with companies integrating compliance controls into ERP systems like NetSuite, SAP, and Oracle. Whether you're preparing for SOC 2, ISO 27001, or improving internal governance, we help you:
Map ERP modules to relevant controls
Review roles and segregation of duties
Build audit-ready documentation
Align your ERP with your ISMS or compliance framework
📩 Get in touch to explore how we can support your ERP-integrated compliance strategy.
