ISO/IEC 27701 is the international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It provides specific guidance for PII controllers and PII processors on securely handling, storing, and processing personal data — and helps organisations demonstrate compliance with global privacy regulations including the GDPR.
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ISO 27701 is the international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving a Privacy Information Management System.
It provides a structured framework for organisations to manage personal data responsibly, ensuring compliance with privacy laws, maintaining public trust, and demonstrating accountability in the processing of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
The standard is applicable to organisations of all types and sizes, including PII controllers (organisations that determine the purposes and means of processing personal data) and PII processors (organisations that process personal data on behalf of controllers).
The 2025 edition of ISO/IEC 27701, published on 14 October 2025, is a revised standalone standard that no longer requires ISO/IEC 27001 certification as a prerequisite. It replaces the 2019 version and introduces more comprehensive privacy controls and better alignment with global privacy regulations including the GDPR.
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ISO 27700 and ISO 27701 are related but distinct standards. Here is how they differ:
| Aspect | ISO 27700 | ISO 27701 |
| Focus | Privacy engineering and privacy by design at system and product level | Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) at organisational level |
| Standard Type | Technical guideline — not certifiable | Certifiable management system standard |
| Primary Audience | Developers, engineers, system architects | Organisations of all types and sizes handling PII |
| Certification | No formal certification available | Formal certification available via accredited bodies |
| GDPR Relevance | Supports GDPR Article 25 — data protection by design and by default | Supports GDPR compliance broadly — PIMS framework aligns with GDPR principles |
| Safeguard Your Reputation Demonstrates your commitment to protecting consumers' personal information, building trust with customers, partners, and regulators. |
Target Regulatory Compliance The controls and principles of ISO 27701 align with global data protection regulations including GDPR (EU), LGPD (Brazil), and CCPA (California). |
| Identify and Mitigate Risk A rigorous, risk-based approach to privacy controls minimises the risk of breaches and the associated regulatory, financial, and reputational consequences. |
Inspire Stakeholder Trust Puts data protection at the heart of your business, assuring consumers, investors, clients, and governments that you take privacy seriously. |
| Competitive Edge ISO 27701 certification demonstrates strong IT governance and increases stakeholder trust in your privacy and data protection practices. |
Improved Transparency Requires regular documentation about how your organisation handles personal data and protects against breaches, assuring all stakeholders of your data governance standards. |
| Aspect | ISO 27001 | ISO 27701 |
| Focus | Information Security Management System (ISMS) | Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) |
| Scope | Protection of all information assets from security threats | Protection and management of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) |
| Prerequisite (2025) | Independent standard | Now standalone — ISO 27001 no longer required |
| Regulatory Alignment | General information security regulations | GDPR, LGPD (Brazil), CCPA (California), and other privacy laws |
| 1 | Readiness Review — Understanding the standard's objectives and informational requirements; assessing your organisation's current privacy practices against ISO 27701 requirements |
| 2 | Audit on-site — Experts conduct audits of your PII protection activities, assessing how you store and process customer information in line with PIMS requirements |
| 3 | Non-conformance Resolution — Your organisation implements measures to correct any non-conformances identified during the audit |
| 4 | Issuance of Audit Report and Certificate — A certificate is issued which you can use to demonstrate your compliance with ISO 27701 to customers, partners, and regulators |
| 5 | Annual Surveillance — Annual surveillance is conducted to ensure ISO data management standards continue to be met and your PIMS remains compliant |
| Private companies handling customer or employee personal data | Government entities processing citizens' personal information |
| Not-for-profit organisations managing member or donor data | Technology companies processing PII on behalf of clients (PII processors) |
| Organisations subject to GDPR, LGPD, CCPA, or similar privacy laws | Any organisation seeking a structured approach to data protection |
| Track | Description |
| Transition | For professionals and organisations transitioning from the 2019 to the 2025 version of the standard |
| Foundation | Provides a foundational understanding of the ISO 27701 standard and PIMS principles |
| Lead Implementer | Equips professionals to lead the implementation of a PIMS compliant with ISO 27701 within an organisation |
| Lead Auditor | Trains professionals to plan, conduct, report, and follow up on ISO 27701 PIMS audits |
The revised ISO/IEC 27701 was published on 14 October 2025. Key changes include:
| Now a stand-alone standard — ISO/IEC 27001 certification is no longer a prerequisite |
| Requirements drawn from ISO/IEC 27701:2019, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27002:2022 |
| Integrates with other management systems including ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, and ISO 42001 |
| More comprehensive privacy controls for both PII controllers and PII processors |
| Enhanced alignment with global privacy regulations including the GDPR |