Why do you need privacy information management?
Privacy information management is the main component of ISO 27701. It refers to an SMB's procedures for handling Personally Identifiable Information (PII) from the time it is gathered until it is deleted.
An SMB's compliance to laws like the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could be ensured by using a PIMS. In the UK and EU, significant fines can be imposed for violations of data privacy laws. For instance, fines can reach up to 4% of an SMB's global revenue or a maximum of €20 million (whichever is higher).
Data protection laws around the world have their own unique regulations that SMBs must comply with. Changing your PIMS to suit these regulations can be difficult, but that is where ISO 27701 comes in.
What is ISO 27701?
The purpose of ISO 27701 is to provide a foundation for information security that allows companies to tailor their InfoSec and compliance practices to local laws and regulations. ISO 27701 is actually an expansion of ISO 27001. Keep in mind that to get ISO 27701, you need to be ISO 27001 certified.
ISO 27701 promotes a risk-based strategy, similar to that of ISO 27001. This helps each complying SMB deal with the unique threats it encounters, including those to sensitive information and individual privacy. Therefore, it is a crucial component for all data controllers and data processors. The standard details a series of operational checklists that may be modified to meet the requirements of different laws and regulations, including the UK GDPR.
ISO 27701's controls recognise that information security is an important part of a good privacy programme. So, specific criteria have been added to these rules about how to protect and handle personally identifiable information.
When an SMB documents its policies, procedures, protocols, and actions according to the operational checklists and has these records reviewed by both internal and external auditors, it can show that it is in compliance with the standard.
Why should you care?
Protecting personal information is no longer ‘nice to have’, but a necessity.
Getting ISO 27701 certified helps you to establish and maintain a reliable information security framework. This can help you reduce the risk of data breaches.
It enables you to:
- Demonstrate that you have procedures in place to keep data safe and to comply with the UK GDPR and other privacy regulations.
- Show your commitment to data security for your customers and let them know that their personal data is safe within your company.
What are the benefits of being ISO 27701 certified?
ISO 27701 allows SMBs to comply with a number of UK and international data protection laws. Here are a few more reasons to comply with ISO 27701:
- Provide transparency to your customers and partners - When it comes to data management, trust is essential, and ISO 27001 provides the standard you need to achieve that. When you adhere to an international standard like ISO 27701, your suppliers, customers, and business partners may have greater confidence in your practices.
- Integrate with leading security standards - This allows consistent policies and procedures to be created for a wide range of standards. Knowing that implementing ISO 27701 standards may not jeopardise your compliance to any other standards could also boost confidence.
- Gain a competitive advantage - It is simpler to reach agreements and collaborate when all parties are committed to the same strict privacy data standards. In regards to system integration and common SMBal processes, ISO 27701 fosters confidence and guarantees that all parties are on the same page.
- Easier to accommodate jurisdictional specifics - With the goal of helping SMBs comply with various privacy regulations, ISO 27701 was created to establish guidelines for handling personally identifiable information. You can incorporate the jurisdictional details of guidelines equivalent to GDPR into ISO 27701 if your SMB operates outside the EU.
Adhering to ISO 27701 also means that you may comply with other standards in the ISO series.
What is the difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 27701?
- ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 are both information technology security management standards.
- ISO 27001 focuses on the gap between risk management and security measures, whereas ISO 27701 is designed to help SMBs comply with privacy laws and regulations including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act. Security threats to private information are the main emphasis of ISO 27701.
- ISO 27701 is an update to ISO 27001. It is a part of risk management that guarantees that the SMB follows the UK GDPR and any other laws that apply to personally identifiable information. However, the security benefits of ISO 27701 cannot be achieved without first implementing ISO 27001.
If you are already certified for ISO 27001, getting started with ISO 27701 is the next step of your compliance journey.
How do you get ISO 27701 certified? Follow these 4 steps
- Review your existing management method.
- Conduct an internal audit to ensure compliance with ISo 27701 standards.
- Make necessary adjustments to the system in places where you find problems.
- When you are finished with these three steps, an on site audit can be performed by a service provider. This could determine how well your SMB’s ISMS and PIMS meet the requirements of ISO 27701.
Final certification to ISO 27701 means that your SMB has demonstrated compliance with the standard's criteria. To prove that your SMB is in line with ISO 27001 and later ISO 27701, you can utilise one of the many cloud-based solutions offered by compliance firms. It provides a foundation for conformity with ISO standards, eliminating uncertainty and guesswork.
Due to the scope and scale of ISO 27701, many roles are involved in the implementation of the standard. Here are a few:
- The Lead Implementer/ Project Manager
- Chief Privacy Officer / Data Protection Officer
- Privacy Manager/Data Protection Manager
- Internal Auditor
- External Auditor
- Privacy Analyst - For taking functional requirements and converting to technical implementation
- Database and Software Professionals
Conclusion
ISO 27701 allows SMBs to prove compliance with multiple information security standards. It aids in establishing strong security frameworks which in turn helps to avoid security breaches.
To implement ISO 27701, an SMB must be certified with ISO 27001. At Dataguard, we offer expert support and guidance for certification on our InfoSec platform.
With InfoSec-as-a-Service, you can:
- Track your SMB’s progress and build, monitor, certify and re-certify your ISMS.
- Use process driven frameworks to successfully build and update your ISMS.
- Train your team on information security to ensure that data is protected throughout your SMB.
We can guide you through each level of compliance starting with ISO 27001 and get you started on additional certifications like ISO 27701.
If you enjoyed reading this, learn how to implement ISO 27001 with our step-by-step ISO 27001 checklist, and get guidance from our ISO 27001 consultancy services.
Get started on your certification by exploring our InfoSec platform today.
