ISO/IEC 27701:2019

Last Updated: December 23, 2024

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Certification

ISO 27701 is an extension to ISO 27001 that provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It helps organizations manage personal data in compliance with privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and other data protection laws worldwide.

The global privacy standard. Demonstrate to customers and regulators that you handle personal data responsibly with ISO 27701 certification—the privacy extension to ISO 27001.

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What is ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management?

ISO 27701 is an extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 for privacy information management. It provides a framework for organizations to implement a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) as an extension of their existing ISMS.

Published in 2019, ISO 27701 addresses the gap between information security and privacy management. It provides specific guidance for both PII controllers (organizations that determine the purposes and means of processing) and PII processors (organizations that process data on behalf of controllers). The standard maps directly to GDPR requirements and other privacy regulations, making it an effective tool for demonstrating compliance. Unlike standalone privacy certifications, ISO 27701 builds upon your existing ISO 27001 foundation, leveraging the ISMS you've already established.

GDPR Compliance Demonstration—ISO 27701 includes mapping to GDPR articles, providing objective evidence of compliance efforts
Builds on ISO 27001 Investment—Leverages your existing ISMS rather than creating a separate privacy program
Global Privacy Framework—One framework applicable to multiple privacy regulations worldwide (GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, etc.)
Competitive Differentiation—Stand out from competitors who only have security certifications without privacy certification

Typical Timeline

4-8 weeks

Pass Rate

100%

Controls

12+

Clients Certified

50+

Deep Dive

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Control Requirements

Click each control to see implementation guidance and required evidence

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management for Your Industry

How ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management applies to different business sectors

Healthcare Technology

Health data is among the most sensitive PII. ISO 27701 demonstrates comprehensive privacy controls beyond HIPAA, especially important for companies operating globally.

Key Requirements

✓Special category data handling (health data)
✓Consent management for research data
✓Patient rights management
✓Cross-border health data transfers
✓Anonymization for secondary use

Example Use Case

A digital health platform achieved ISO 27701 to demonstrate GDPR compliance when expanding from the US to EU markets, winning contracts with NHS trusts and EU hospital networks.

SaaS & Cloud Services

SaaS providers process customer data as processors. ISO 27701 provides clear guidance for processor obligations and helps win privacy-conscious enterprise customers.

Key Requirements

✓Multi-tenant data isolation
✓Sub-processor management
✓Data Processing Agreement templates
✓Customer data return/deletion
✓Privacy controls in product development

Example Use Case

An HR SaaS company achieved ISO 27701 certification to satisfy DPA requirements from enterprise customers processing employee PII across multiple EU countries.

Financial Services

Banks and fintechs handle extensive customer PII. ISO 27701 complements sector regulations and demonstrates privacy maturity to regulators and customers.

Key Requirements

✓Know Your Customer (KYC) data management
✓Financial transaction privacy
✓Regulatory retention requirements
✓Third-party data sharing controls
✓Marketing consent management

Example Use Case

A payment processor achieved ISO 27701 to demonstrate privacy controls over cardholder data beyond PCI DSS, winning partnerships with privacy-focused banks.

Marketing Technology

MarTech companies face intense privacy scrutiny. ISO 27701 helps demonstrate responsible data practices in an industry often criticized for privacy issues.

Key Requirements

✓Consent and preference management
✓Data broker obligations
✓Profiling transparency
✓Right to object implementation
✓Cookie and tracking compliance

Example Use Case

A customer data platform achieved ISO 27701 to differentiate from competitors and win enterprise deals with privacy-first brands avoiding reputational risk.

Global Enterprises

Multinational organizations face complex, overlapping privacy regulations. ISO 27701 provides a unified framework for global privacy compliance.

Key Requirements

✓Multi-jurisdictional compliance mapping
✓Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs)
✓Group-wide privacy governance
✓Subsidiary compliance monitoring
✓Harmonized privacy policies

Example Use Case

A global manufacturing company used ISO 27701 to create a unified privacy program across 40 countries, reducing compliance overhead by 60% compared to jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction approaches.

Transparent Pricing

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Certification Costs

What to budget for your ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management certification journey

📊 Typical Investment Ranges — These are industry-standard ranges based on company size (50-500 employees). Your actual investment depends on scope, existing controls, and compliance maturity.

Cost Component	Starting From	Up To	Notes
ISO 27001 Prerequisite	$30,000	$100,000	Must have ISO 27001 certification first
Gap Analysis (Privacy Extension)	$5,000	$15,000	Assess current privacy practices vs ISO 27701
PIMS Implementation	$15,000	$50,000	Extend ISMS with privacy controls and documentation
Data Mapping & PIA Tools	$10,000/yr	$50,000/yr	OneTrust, TrustArc, or similar platforms
Combined Audit (27001 + 27701)	$15,000	$40,000	Certification audits are typically combined
Annual Surveillance Audits	$8,000	$25,000	Combined with ISO 27001 surveillance

💡 Get your personalized quote: Costs vary significantly based on organization size, infrastructure complexity, and existing security controls. Our ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management readiness assessment provides a tailored cost estimate within 48 hours.

Get a Personalized Quote

Framework Comparison

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management vs Other Frameworks

How ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management compares to related compliance standards

Aspect	ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management	SOC 2 Privacy	GDPR
Standard Type	Extension to ISO 27001 for privacy	TSC Privacy criteria within SOC 2	Regulation (not certification)
Prerequisite	Requires ISO 27001 certification	Part of SOC 2 engagement	Legal requirement, no prerequisites
Focus	Privacy Information Management System	Privacy controls for service organizations	EU personal data protection rights
Controller/Processor	Separate guidance for both roles	Primarily processor-focused	Defines obligations for both
Global Recognition	International ISO standard	Primarily North America	EU regulation, global influence
Certification	Yes, 3-year certificate	Attestation report	No certification scheme
GDPR Alignment	Designed for GDPR mapping	Partial overlap	Is the regulation itself

Avoid These Pitfalls

Common ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Mistakes

Learn from others' mistakes so you don't repeat them

Attempting ISO 27701 without ISO 27001

Consequence

ISO 27701 is an extension—you cannot be certified without an underlying ISO 27001 ISMS.

Prevention

Achieve ISO 27001 certification first, then extend to 27701. Consider a combined implementation project from the start.

Treating privacy as purely a security function

Consequence

Privacy requires legal, business, and customer-facing considerations beyond technical security controls.

Prevention

Involve legal, product, and customer success teams in PIMS implementation. Appoint a DPO or privacy lead with appropriate authority.

Incomplete data mapping

Consequence

Without knowing what PII you have and where it flows, you cannot implement appropriate controls.

Prevention

Conduct comprehensive data discovery and mapping before implementing controls. Maintain living data flow diagrams.

Neglecting processor/controller role clarity

Consequence

Incorrect role identification leads to wrong controls—processors have different obligations than controllers.

Prevention

Clearly document your role (controller, processor, or joint) for each processing activity. Some organizations act as both.

Ignoring data subject rights operationally

Consequence

DSARs require timely responses. Ad-hoc handling leads to missed deadlines and regulatory penalties.

Prevention

Implement documented DSAR procedures with clear ownership, timelines, and escalation paths before the audit.

Forgetting about sub-processors

Consequence

Your vendors may process PII on your behalf. Unmanaged sub-processors create compliance gaps.

Prevention

Maintain a sub-processor register. Ensure DPAs are in place. Flow down privacy requirements contractually.

Multi-Framework Efficiency

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management Control Overlap

Leverage shared controls when pursuing multiple certifications

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management ↔ ISO 27001

100%

Shared control areas:

Risk ManagementAccess ControlIncident ManagementAll ISMS Controls

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management ↔ GDPR

85%

Shared control areas:

Data Subject RightsConsent ManagementBreach NotificationPrivacy by Design

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management ↔ SOC 2 Privacy

65%

Shared control areas:

NoticeChoice & ConsentCollectionUse & RetentionDisclosure

ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management ↔ HIPAA Privacy Rule

55%

Shared control areas:

Privacy NoticesAuthorizationAccess RightsBreach Notification

Your Path to Certification

Our proven process gets you certified faster

ISO 27001 Foundation

Prerequisite

Achieve ISO 27001 certification first (8-16 weeks if not already certified)

Privacy Gap Assessment

Weeks 1-2

Assess current privacy practices against ISO 27701 requirements

Data Mapping & PIAs

Weeks 3-5

Map all PII processing activities and conduct Privacy Impact Assessments

PIMS Implementation

Weeks 6-10

Implement privacy controls, policies, and procedures extending the ISMS

Training & Awareness

Weeks 11-12

Privacy-specific training for all staff handling PII

Internal Audit

Week 13

Audit PIMS implementation against ISO 27701 requirements

Certification Audit

Weeks 14-16

Combined ISO 27001 + 27701 audit (or 27701 extension audit)

Expert Insights

What compliance experts say about ISO 27701: Privacy Information Management

"ISO 27701 is the missing link for organizations struggling to demo GDPR compliance. By extending your existing ISO 27001 ISMS to cover privacy, you build a single, integrated management system that satisfies both security and privacy regulators without doubling your administrative overhead."
H
Heena Sharma
Privacy & Compliance Lead at isauditr

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need ISO 27001 before ISO 27701?

Yes, ISO 27701 is an extension to ISO 27001. You must have a certified ISMS before pursuing 27701 certification. However, you can implement both simultaneously and get certified together.

Does ISO 27701 certify GDPR compliance?

No certification can guarantee GDPR compliance—only regulators can determine that. However, ISO 27701 provides a recognized framework that maps directly to GDPR requirements and demonstrates your privacy management maturity.

What's the difference between controller and processor certification?

ISO 27701 has separate control sets: Annex A for controllers (who determine processing purposes) and Annex B for processors (who process on behalf of controllers). Your certification scope specifies which role(s) you're certified for.

How long does ISO 27701 certification last?

Like ISO 27001, certification is valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits. Audits are typically combined with your ISO 27001 audits for efficiency.

Can ISO 27701 help with CCPA/CPRA compliance?

Yes, while designed primarily for GDPR, ISO 27701's privacy controls align well with other privacy regulations including CCPA, CPRA, LGPD, and POPIA. It provides a solid foundation for multi-jurisdictional privacy compliance.

What privacy roles does ISO 27701 require?

The standard requires clear privacy governance, which typically includes appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) or equivalent role with appropriate authority and resources. Specific requirements depend on your regulatory context.