A digital footprint, often known as the digital shadow, is the
trail of data a user leaves behind when using the internet. It includes all the
websites you visit, emails you send and information you provide online. Digital
footprints generated by users are mostly permanent and vulnerable.
Companies use these digital footprints to understand customer
behaviour and gather user data. Cybercriminals can easily exploit digital
footprints and misuse information. To avoid these discrepancies and provide a
safe and secure information security ecosystem, the International organization
for Standardization (ISO) has developed ISO 27701 Certification.
What is ISO 27701 Certification?
ISO 27701
Certification is the first international standard related to privacy. ISO 27701Certification is an international standard for Privacy Information Management
System (PIMS). ISO defines PIMS as “The information security management system
which addresses the protection of privacy as potentially affected by the
processing of Personal Identifiable Information (PII).
It lays out a structure for Data processors and Data controllers
to manage information privacy in your IT organization. This standard specifies various requirements for establishing,
controlling, maintaining, and continually improving the Privacy Information
Management System (PIMS).
It provides tools and techniques to organizations to implement
required controls for protecting personal information. It follows a risk-based
approach to identify the potential risks and select suitable controls to
improve the current and future operations of the organization.
When was
ISO 27701 Certification published?
The ISO 27701 Certification is an
international standard published in the month of august 2019. This standard is
the first global standard related to Privacy Information Management System
(PIMS). This ISO standard helps an organization to implement, sustain and
continuously modify PIMS by developing the existing ISMS. This standard can be
used by all industries regardless of size, type, branches, or complexity.
What
is the difference between ISO 27701 Certification and ISO 27001 Certification?
The Privacy
Information Management System enhances Information Security Management System
set by ISO 27001 Certification. It is a dedicated Information Security Management
System for privacy protection.
The primary focus of
the ISO 27701 standard is on data protection and information privacy risks,
whereas an ISO 27001 Certification focuses on risk management and implementing
adequate security controls.
Importance of ISO 27701:2019 Certification?
The ISO 27701 standard applies to
any industry, small and large, regardless of size and location. It provides a
framework for data privacy that aligns with an Information Security Management
System and allows an organization to establish an efficient privacy management
system.
An ISO 27701 standard helps an
organization in avoiding regulatory fines as it demonstrates compliance with
laws and regulations and helps the organization in the following ways:
·
Strengthens user’s
trust and confidence in your Strengthens user’s trust and confidence in your organization and
helps in retaining the existing customers and acquiring new ones.
·
Leverages your organization and provides a competitive edge
·
Builds a resilient privacy management infrastructure and
demonstrates organization agility to respond to changes.
·
Incorporates various laws and regulations relating to privacy and
data security and complies with GDPR and other related standards.
ISO/IEC 27701 Certification requirements
The
High-level Structure (HLS) of ISO/IEC 27701 Certification revolves around the
principle of the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle. This Annex SL document consists of 10
sections, out of which the first three are introductory in nature while the
rest seven are auditable and give the requirements for the implementation of
ISO 27701 PIMS.
The
structure contains some compulsory requirements for effective implementation of
the Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) in an organization. These are:
Section 4: Context of the
organization –
This section includes identifying all the processes, operations, and activities
concerning ISO/IEC 27701 Certification and ensuring an adequate privacy
management system in the organization.
Section 5: Leadership – It emphasizes the importance of top management and
auditors in implementing PIMS in an organization. It clearly defines the roles
and responsibilities of the management in identifying and eliminating risks
related to data security.
Section 6: Planning – This section includes planning the objectives of
the current management system and analysing the risks to eliminate those risks
from the organization.
Section7: Support – It provides the necessary tools, technologies,
and resources significant for implementing PIMS. It requires an organization to
provide guidance and training to the employees to implement security controls
efficiently.
Section 8: Operation – It deals
with the details of your operational processes and checks your progress. It
compares an organization's performance with its objectives and identifies
shortcomings. This section requires performing risk assessments regularly.
Section 9: Performance evaluation – It includes reviewing the
management system regularly to ensure arrangements, processes and controls. It
also requires the management to periodically monitor all the processes,
business activities and operations undertaken to implement an effective privacy
management system.
Section 10: Improvement- It ensures that your privacy
management system is effectively working. It ensures continual improvement in
the management system to mitigate all potential risks.
The ISO 27701 Certification builds the confidence
and trust of your clients and customers in the organization. The process of ISO
27701 Certification is:
- Defining the scope of your organization and designing a Privacy
Information Management System accordingly.
- Conduct a gap analysis to understand the pre-requisite of ISO 27701
standards and analyse your shortcomings.
- Stage-1 Documentation audit- The auditors from the certification
body verify your documentation.
- Stage-2 Certification audit
- Audit report
- Achieving an ISO 27701 Certification
- Privacy Information Management continuous development
- Surveillance audit
ISO 27701
Certification is an internationally accredited standard for data security and
privacy. It sets out the requirements and provides guidance on implementing
security controls within the organization to establish privacy safety
management. It is cost-effective and helps the organization avoid regulatory
fines.
It integrates different ISO
standards and regulations in a single framework and demonstrates the
organization’s compliance with all the laws and regulations. ISO 27701
standards create a better image of your organization and help you win new
businesses and customers. The cost of ISO 27001 Certification varies from
organization to organization and the certification body you choose.