ISO/IEC 27701:2019 is an international standard that provides guidelines and requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It is designed to enhance ISO/IEC 27001 (Information Security Management Systems) and ISO/IEC 27002 by including privacy management controls.

History of ISO/IEC 27701

  • Published: August 2019
  • Developed by: The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)
  • Initially referred to as ISO 27552 during its draft stage, it was finalized and published as ISO/IEC 27701:2019.
  • It was created in response to increasing global concern about data privacy, especially after the enactment of laws like the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and other similar data privacy regulations worldwide.

Requirements of ISO/IEC 27701 for 3rd Party Certification

To achieve third-party certification under ISO/IEC 27701, organizations must:

  1. Implement an ISO/IEC 27001-compliant Information Security Management System (ISMS).
  2. Integrate additional privacy-specific controls defined in ISO/IEC 27701.
  3. Define roles such as:
    • PII Controller (Personal Identifiable Information)
    • PII Processor
  4. Demonstrate compliance with:
    • Data subject rights (consent, access, rectification, erasure, etc.)
    • Data lifecycle management (collection, storage, transfer, disposal)
    • Data breach management procedures
    • Third-party data processing controls
  5. Conduct risk assessments specific to privacy.
  6. Maintain proper documentation, policies, and procedures addressing data privacy.

Note: ISO/IEC 27701 is not a standalone standard; it is an extension to ISO/IEC 27001.

Who Needs ISO/IEC 27701 Certification?

This certification is beneficial for:

  • Organizations that collect or process personal data, including:
    • IT companies
    • Financial institutions
    • Healthcare providers
    • Educational institutions
    • E-commerce platforms
    • Government and public sector entities
  • Organizations seeking GDPR compliance or alignment with global privacy regulations.
  • Any business acting as a data controller or processor.

Benefits of ISO/IEC 27701 Certification

  1. ✅ Enhanced Trust with clients, regulators, and partners regarding data privacy.
  2. ✅ Alignment with GDPR and other global data protection laws.
  3. ✅ Improved risk management regarding personal data breaches.
  4. ✅ Clear roles and responsibilities for managing privacy within the organization.
  5. ✅ Competitive Advantage in privacy-conscious markets.
  6. ✅ Reduced compliance burden through a structured, certifiable framework.
  7. ✅ Integration with ISO 27001 allows for efficient, cohesive management of information and privacy security.

Services DAS Can Provide

As an accredited and experienced certification and training body, DAS Certification (Private) Limited can offer:

  1. Gap Assessments:
    • Identify the readiness level of your current ISMS to integrate PIMS requirements.
  2. ISO/IEC 27701 Implementation Support(via consulting partners):
    • Assistance in developing privacy policies, risk assessments, roles, and data lifecycle processes.
  3. 3rd Party Certification Audits:
    • Accredited certification audits in compliance with ISO/IEC 27701.
  4. Integrated ISO 27001 + 27701 Certification:
    • Streamlined audits for organizations implementing both standards.
  5. Internal Auditor & Awareness Trainings:
    • Capacity building for data protection teams on privacy controls and best practices.
  6. Ongoing Surveillance and Recertification Audits:
    • Ensuring continuous compliance and improvement.
  7. Support for GDPR & Local Regulatory Alignment:
    • Guidance on aligning PIMS with Pakistan’s upcoming personal data protection laws or international laws like GDPR, CCPA, etc.

Conclusion

ISO/IEC 27701:2019 is a vital framework for organizations aiming to manage personal data responsibly. It complements ISO/IEC 27001, and with data privacy becoming a global priority, certification to ISO/IEC 27701 not only helps with compliance but also builds stakeholder trust.

DAS Certification (Private) Limited, with its international recognition, is well-positioned to support clients through training, audits, and certification under ISO/IEC 27701.