ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) –
Extension to ISO/IEC 27001 Certification in India
ISO/IEC 27701:2019 is an international privacy standard that extends
ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 by adding specific requirements and controls
for managing personally identifiable information (PII).
ISO 27701 certification helps organizations demonstrate strong privacy
governance and compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR
and India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. It is applicable
only to organizations that have implemented ISO/IEC 27001.
Important Prerequisite for ISO 27701 Certification
ISO/IEC 27701 is not a standalone certification.
Organizations must first implement and maintain
ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System
before applying for ISO/IEC 27701 certification.
What is ISO/IEC 27701:2019?
ISO/IEC 27701:2019 is a privacy extension standard published jointly by
the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
It provides additional guidance and requirements for organizations acting
as PII Controllers and PII Processors to manage personal data responsibly
throughout its lifecycle.
Why is ISO 27701 Certification Important for Businesses?
- Strengthens privacy management and personal data protection
- Supports compliance with GDPR, DPDP Act, and global privacy laws
- Builds trust with customers, regulators, and business partners
- Reduces privacy risks and impact of data breaches
- Enhances governance over personal data processing
Who Should Get ISO 27701 Certification?
- Organizations already certified to ISO/IEC 27001
- IT and software development companies
- SaaS, cloud service providers, and data centers
- Healthcare, fintech, and HR technology companies
- Any organization processing personal or sensitive data
ISO 27701 Certification Requirements
- Privacy information management policy
- Identification of PII controllers and processors
- Privacy risk assessment and risk treatment
- Data subject rights and consent management procedures
- Third-party and supplier privacy controls
- Incident and breach response procedures
- Internal audits and management review
ISO 27701 Certification Process
- Gap analysis based on ISO 27001 and privacy requirements
- Preparation of PIMS documentation
- Implementation of privacy controls
- Internal audit and corrective actions
- Certification audit as an extension to ISO/IEC 27001
Documents Required for ISO 27701 Certification
- Privacy information management policy
- PII inventory and data flow mapping
- Privacy risk assessment records
- Consent and data subject rights procedures
- Third-party privacy agreements
- Incident and breach response records
Validity of ISO 27701 Certificate
ISO/IEC 27701 certification follows the same certification cycle as
ISO/IEC 27001 and is valid for three years, subject to annual
surveillance audits.
Difference Between IAF and Non-IAF ISO 27701 Certification
-
IAF Certification: Globally recognized and suitable
for international privacy compliance and regulatory acceptance.
-
Non-IAF Certification: Generally used for internal
privacy management or limited assurance purposes.
ISO 27701 Standard Clauses (Overview)
ISO/IEC 27701 extends the Annex SL clauses (4–10) of ISO/IEC 27001
and adds privacy-specific controls for PII Controllers and
PII Processors.
History of ISO 27701 Standard
ISO/IEC 27701 was published in 2019 to address increasing global
privacy and data protection requirements. It complements ISO 27001
by integrating privacy management into information security systems.
ISO 27701 Certification FAQs
Can ISO 27701 be certified without ISO 27001?
No. ISO 27701 is an extension standard and requires ISO/IEC 27001
to be implemented and maintained.
Does ISO 27701 help with GDPR and DPDP Act compliance?
Yes, ISO 27701 supports alignment with GDPR, India’s DPDP Act,
and other global privacy regulations.
Who conducts the ISO 27701 certification audit?
The certification audit is conducted as an extension audit to
ISO/IEC 27001 by an accredited certification body.
Need guidance on ISO 27701 certification or privacy management documentation?
Explore our ISO Certification Consultant services.
