What is ISO/IEC 27701?
ISO/IEC 27701 is an extension standard designed to enhance an existing Information Security Management System by incorporating privacy-specific requirements.
It focuses on the governance, handling, and protection of personally identifiable information and applies to organisations acting as:
- PII controllers
- PII processors
- Or both, depending on context
ISO/IEC 27701 does not replace ISO/IEC 27001. Instead, it builds on an established ISMS to address privacy obligations and expectations in a structured and auditable manner.
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What is the ISO/IEC 27701 Certification Standard?
ISO/IEC 27701 certification refers to the independent assessment of an organisation’s Privacy Information Management System against the requirements of ISO/IEC 27701 by an accredited certification body.
The standard introduces additional controls and requirements related to:
- Privacy governance and accountability
- Lawful and transparent processing of PII
- Data subject rights management
- Third-party and processor relationships
- Privacy risk assessment and treatment
While ISO/IEC 27701 aligns with privacy regulations such as the GDPR, certification does not guarantee regulatory compliance. Certification outcomes are determined solely by independent certification bodies.



