ISO 27001, SOC 2, and ISO 27701 Explained. Why they matter for Digital Credential and Transcript Processing Platforms
Dev Srivastava
Jan 23, 2026
Last month, a registrar at a large state university asked us a straightforward question during a demo: "Where exactly does our student data go when we upload a transcript?"
It's the kind of question that should have a simple answer, and in most instances, companies would give a boilerplate response involving cloud infrastructure and encryption. But in practice, it opens a dozen more: Who can access it? How long is it stored? What happens if there's a breach? Can you prove any of this?
These questions matter because academic records aren't just files. They're regulated student information containing identity data, educational history, sometimes financial details or immigration status. And as higher education moves toward digital-first operations and AI-enabled transcript processing, the stakes around these questions have gotten considerably higher.
At Trential, we've built our entire platform around a pretty simple belief: if you can't answer these questions with documentation and third-party verification, you shouldn't be handling student data. That's why today we're sharing a milestone we've been working toward since day one: Trential products are now compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and SOC 2 Type II.
Last month, a registrar at a large state university asked us a straightforward question during a demo: "Where exactly does our student data go when we upload a transcript?"
It's the kind of question that should have a simple answer, and in most instances, companies would give a boilerplate response involving cloud infrastructure and encryption. But in practice, it opens a dozen more: Who can access it? How long is it stored? What happens if there's a breach? Can you prove any of this?
These questions matter because academic records aren't just files. They're regulated student information containing identity data, educational history, sometimes financial details or immigration status. And as higher education moves toward digital-first operations and AI-enabled transcript processing, the stakes around these questions have gotten considerably higher.
At Trential, we've built our entire platform around a pretty simple belief: if you can't answer these questions with documentation and third-party verification, you shouldn't be handling student data. That's why today we're sharing a milestone we've been working toward since day one: Trential products are now compliant with ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and SOC 2 Type II.
Data Security Challenges in Higher Education Record Management
Application volumes are up. International student mobility is more complex. AI is transforming how transcripts get processed and reviewed. Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny around personal data and cross-border processing keeps intensifying.
Admissions offices and registrars are caught in the middle. They need to move faster, but they're also being asked harder questions about vendor risk management. Where is student data processed? Who has access? What information security controls are in place? And crucially, how do we know those controls actually work?
These aren't hypothetical concerns. A digital transcript contains enough personal information to cause real harm if it's mishandled. Scale that across thousands of applicants, add automated processing into the mix, and suddenly you're talking about institutional liability, not just operational efficiency.
Data Security Challenges in Higher Education Record Management
Application volumes are up. International student mobility is more complex. AI is transforming how transcripts get processed and reviewed. Meanwhile, regulatory scrutiny around personal data and cross-border processing keeps intensifying.
Admissions offices and registrars are caught in the middle. They need to move faster, but they're also being asked harder questions about vendor risk management. Where is student data processed? Who has access? What information security controls are in place? And crucially, how do we know those controls actually work?
These aren't hypothetical concerns. A digital transcript contains enough personal information to cause real harm if it's mishandled. Scale that across thousands of applicants, add automated processing into the mix, and suddenly you're talking about institutional liability, not just operational efficiency.
Why "We Take Security Seriously" Doesn't Cut It Anymore
Every vendor says they encrypt data. Every credential platform mentions access controls and cloud infrastructure. That's table stakes—necessary but not sufficient.
Real security maturity isn't a feature list. It's a formal information security program that defines how data is protected throughout its entire lifecycle. How risks are assessed. How security incidents are handled. How access is governed. How accountability is enforced over time, not just at launch.
Independent security certifications exist specifically to answer the question that institutions care about: Is this vendor structurally built to protect sensitive student data at scale?
ISO 27001, SOC 2, and ISO 27701 aren't just certifications you apply for. They require documented security policies, operational controls, continuous monitoring, and external security audits. They're designed to show whether data security is baked into how an organization operates or just bolted on afterward.
Why "We Take Security Seriously" Doesn't Cut It Anymore
Every vendor says they encrypt data. Every credential platform mentions access controls and cloud infrastructure. That's table stakes—necessary but not sufficient.
Real security maturity isn't a feature list. It's a formal information security program that defines how data is protected throughout its entire lifecycle. How risks are assessed. How security incidents are handled. How access is governed. How accountability is enforced over time, not just at launch.
Independent security certifications exist specifically to answer the question that institutions care about: Is this vendor structurally built to protect sensitive student data at scale?
ISO 27001, SOC 2, and ISO 27701 aren't just certifications you apply for. They require documented security policies, operational controls, continuous monitoring, and external security audits. They're designed to show whether data security is baked into how an organization operates or just bolted on afterward.
What ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and ISO 27701 Compliance Actually Mean
Here's what Trential's security compliance program looks like in practice:
ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security
ISO 27001 means we operate a formal Information Security Management System (ISMS). It's not just a policy document but a living framework for identifying security risks, implementing security controls, and continuously improving how we handle sensitive data.
SOC 2 Type II Compliance for Data Protection
SOC 2 Type II goes further. It provides independent assurance not only that our security controls are designed appropriately, but that they've been operating effectively over time. An auditor spent months testing whether we actually do what we say we do. This compliance standard focuses on five trust service criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
ISO 27701 for Privacy Information Management
ISO 27701 extends those security foundations into structured privacy governance. It clarifies how personal data is handled, processed, and protected across every workflow, not just in theory, but in documented, auditable practice. This privacy framework is particularly important for institutions managing student records across borders.
Together, these security frameworks address the core pillars of trust in credential operations: confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy accountability.
What ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, and ISO 27701 Compliance Actually Mean
Here's what Trential's security compliance program looks like in practice:
ISO 27001 Certification for Information Security
ISO 27001 means we operate a formal Information Security Management System (ISMS). It's not just a policy document but a living framework for identifying security risks, implementing security controls, and continuously improving how we handle sensitive data.
SOC 2 Type II Compliance for Data Protection
SOC 2 Type II goes further. It provides independent assurance not only that our security controls are designed appropriately, but that they've been operating effectively over time. An auditor spent months testing whether we actually do what we say we do. This compliance standard focuses on five trust service criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
ISO 27701 for Privacy Information Management
ISO 27701 extends those security foundations into structured privacy governance. It clarifies how personal data is handled, processed, and protected across every workflow, not just in theory, but in documented, auditable practice. This privacy framework is particularly important for institutions managing student records across borders.
Together, these security frameworks address the core pillars of trust in credential operations: confidentiality, integrity, availability, and privacy accountability.
Benefits for Admissions and Registrar Teams
If you're in admissions or managing a registrar's office, transcript workflows aren't just operational—they're compliance-sensitive and reputation-critical. You're dealing with controlled student data that moves between applicants, sending institutions, receiving institutions, and verification services. One weak link in data security can create problems that ripple across the entire process.
A compliance program grounded in ISO and SOC security standards means:
Access to transcript and applicant data is controlled and auditable
AI-enabled credential processing has the same governance standards as manual ones
There are defined procedures for incident response and risk management
It's easier to demonstrate alignment with your institution's privacy obligations and third-party oversight requirements
Security Compliance Across Platforms
Our security compliance program covers everything—TruEnroll, Primary Source Verification (PSV), the GPA Calculator, all of it. We didn't treat data security as something to add after building the products. We built a unified foundation where governance, access controls, data handling standards, and privacy practices stay consistent across the entire credential management ecosystem.
That matters because you're not evaluating isolated tools. You're working with credential infrastructure where security and privacy are embedded in the design, from transcript ingestion and analysis to verification and academic data exchange.
The Future of Secure Digital Credentials
The future of credentialing will be global, interoperable, and increasingly automated. AI will handle more of the heavy lifting in transcript evaluation. Student data will move faster and cross more borders. None of that works without trust.
Trust that student data is protected. Trust that automated credential systems are governed responsibly. Trust that digital credential platforms operate with transparency, accountability, and institutional-grade security controls.
These security certifications aren't the finish line, but they're the baseline for operating in this space. They represent Trential's long-term commitment to building credential verification infrastructure that institutions can rely on, not just to move faster, but to operate more securely and confidently as the landscape keeps evolving.
Because in credential exchange, security really isn't a feature. It's the foundation everything else is built on.
Benefits for Admissions and Registrar Teams
If you're in admissions or managing a registrar's office, transcript workflows aren't just operational—they're compliance-sensitive and reputation-critical. You're dealing with controlled student data that moves between applicants, sending institutions, receiving institutions, and verification services. One weak link in data security can create problems that ripple across the entire process.
A compliance program grounded in ISO and SOC security standards means:
Access to transcript and applicant data is controlled and auditable
AI-enabled credential processing has the same governance standards as manual ones
There are defined procedures for incident response and risk management
It's easier to demonstrate alignment with your institution's privacy obligations and third-party oversight requirements
Security Compliance Across Platforms
Our security compliance program covers everything—TruEnroll, Primary Source Verification (PSV), the GPA Calculator, all of it. We didn't treat data security as something to add after building the products. We built a unified foundation where governance, access controls, data handling standards, and privacy practices stay consistent across the entire credential management ecosystem.
That matters because you're not evaluating isolated tools. You're working with credential infrastructure where security and privacy are embedded in the design, from transcript ingestion and analysis to verification and academic data exchange.
The Future of Secure Digital Credentials
The future of credentialing will be global, interoperable, and increasingly automated. AI will handle more of the heavy lifting in transcript evaluation. Student data will move faster and cross more borders. None of that works without trust.
Trust that student data is protected. Trust that automated credential systems are governed responsibly. Trust that digital credential platforms operate with transparency, accountability, and institutional-grade security controls.
These security certifications aren't the finish line, but they're the baseline for operating in this space. They represent Trential's long-term commitment to building credential verification infrastructure that institutions can rely on, not just to move faster, but to operate more securely and confidently as the landscape keeps evolving.
Because in credential exchange, security really isn't a feature. It's the foundation everything else is built on.
FAQs About Security Certifications for Credential Processing Platforms
What is ISO 27001 certification?
ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS) that provides a framework for managing sensitive data through risk management processes and security controls.
What does SOC 2 Type II compliance mean?
SOC 2 Type II is an auditing standard that evaluates how well a company's security controls operate over time, focusing on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Why is ISO 27701 important for student data?
ISO 27701 extends ISO 27001 to include privacy information management, ensuring personal data like student records is handled according to privacy regulations and best practices.
How do these certifications protect student information?
These certifications require documented policies, regular audits, incident response procedures, and continuous monitoring to ensure student data remains confidential and secure throughout its lifecycle.
What should institutions look for in credential platform security?
Institutions should verify third-party security certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2, ask about data handling practices, review access controls, and ensure vendors can provide audit documentation.
FAQs About Security Certifications for Credential Processing Platforms
What is ISO 27001 certification?
ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS) that provides a framework for managing sensitive data through risk management processes and security controls.
What does SOC 2 Type II compliance mean?
SOC 2 Type II is an auditing standard that evaluates how well a company's security controls operate over time, focusing on security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Why is ISO 27701 important for student data?
ISO 27701 extends ISO 27001 to include privacy information management, ensuring personal data like student records is handled according to privacy regulations and best practices.
How do these certifications protect student information?
These certifications require documented policies, regular audits, incident response procedures, and continuous monitoring to ensure student data remains confidential and secure throughout its lifecycle.
What should institutions look for in credential platform security?
Institutions should verify third-party security certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2, ask about data handling practices, review access controls, and ensure vendors can provide audit documentation.