Organizations must handle personally identifiable information (PII) data responsibly within their networks and cloud services to maintain trust with customers and business partners, while complying with an expanding array of state and international laws and regulations.
The ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO/IEC 27018 standards provide valuable guidance in helping organizations improve privacy data security and regulatory compliance—and build trust and credibility with customers and prospects—by aligning their data-protection policies, procedures, and controls with recognized global frameworks.
What Is ISO/IEC 27701?
The ISO/IEC 27701 standard guides organizations on managing personal information securely. The standard extends ISO/IEC 27001, which focuses on general information security, by adding specific requirements for handling personal data.
ISO/IEC 27701, applicable to any entity that processes or controls personal information, builds on the extensive security practices outlined in ISO/IEC 27001 by focusing on privacy management that provides guidance on handling personal data responsibly.
What Is ISO/IEC 27018?
The ISO/IEC 27018 standard, which provides guidelines for protecting personal data in cloud services, is designed for cloud service providers who process data on behalf of others. This standard helps ensure that personal information stored or processed in the cloud is secure.
By ensuring data privacy in cloud services, complying with the standard helps providers build trust and confidence with customers and prospects.
Similarities Between ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO/IEC 27018
Both standards offer strong data protection guidance designed to help companies secure personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, theft, or destruction. Organizations that are certified against 27701, or in compliance with 27018, demonstrate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for maintaining information security and customer privacy, as well as an ongoing commitment to safeguarding the data they’ve been entrusted to process and store.
Both standards are based on ISO/IEC 27001 and use that general information security framework as a foundation.
How Are ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO/IEC 27018 Different?
The two standards differ in the scope of their application. ISO/ICE 27701, for instance, is a certifiable standard. With ISO/IEC 27018, auditors are evaluating the organization’s compliance with the standard.
ISO/IEC 27701 applies broadly to any organization handling personal data, including data controllers and processors. This can include any organization, regardless of its industry or size, that wants to approach information security management systematically. The standard’s framework can be adapted to the specific needs of each organization seeking certification.
In contrast, ISO/IEC 27108 applies specifically to organizations that process PII in public cloud environments. These can be cloud service providers that process PII on behalf of their customers or provide support services for cloud service providers.
It can also be applicable to organizations that handle personal data in cloud environments, such as companies that develop or provide security software or services to protect PII in the cloud.
The standards also have a different regulatory alignment. ISO/IEC 27701 is aligned with several global privacy regulations, offering a comprehensive framework.
By providing guidelines for protecting PII, 27701 aligns with several global privacy regulations, including the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and other regional privacy laws.
Most acts share broad principles such as mandating data protection and privacy controls, restrictions on data use or sharing without consumer consent, transparency in data processing, and similar provisions.
The standards also differ in their timing. Including ISO/IEC 27018 essentially adds one additional day to an in-progress ISO/IEC 27001 audit. A 27701 certification can add from 2.5 days to 50% additional time to their 27001 audit if the organization under review is a processor and controller of PII.
Which Standard Is Right for You?
Both ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO/IEC 27018 are important for protecting personal information, but they serve different purposes. ISO/IEC 27701 offers a broad framework for privacy management that’s suitable for any organization. ISO/IEC 27018 provides specific guidance for cloud service providers to protect data in the cloud.
| Choose ISO/IEC 27701 if: | Choose ISO/IEC 27018 if: |
|---|---|
| You want a comprehensive approach to privacy management. | You’re a cloud service provider focusing on data protection in the cloud. |
| Your organization processes personal data in multiple contexts. | You want to assure customers about the security of their data in your cloud services. |
| You aim to integrate privacy practices into your overall security management. | Building trust and transparency with clients is a priority. |
Understanding your organization’s needs, along with customer and regulatory expectations, will help you choose the right standard to enhance your data protection efforts.
Contact us to learn more about ISO/IEC 27701 and 27018.
