Australian Privacy Act
Australian federal regulation for personal information handling
ISO 27017
International code for cloud security controls.
Quick Verdict
Australian Privacy Act mandates privacy compliance for Australian entities via APPs and NDB, with OAIC enforcement and heavy fines. ISO 27017 provides voluntary cloud security guidance extending ISO 27001. Organizations adopt Act for legal duty, 27017 for cloud assurance.
Australian Privacy Act
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
Key Features
- 13 principles-based Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)
- Mandatory Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme
- Risk-proportionate reasonable steps requirements
- Cross-border disclosure accountability (APP 8)
- High penalties up to 30% annual turnover
ISO 27017
ISO/IEC 27017:2015
Key Features
- Clarifies shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs
- Adds 7 cloud-specific CLD security controls
- Provides guidance for 37 ISO 27002 cloud adaptations
- Addresses multi-tenancy and virtual machine segregation
- Enables customer monitoring of cloud service activities
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
Australian Privacy Act Details
What It Is
Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) is Australia's principal federal privacy regulation, establishing a principles-based framework for handling personal information by government agencies and private sector organisations. Its primary purpose is balancing individual privacy protection with information flows, using a risk-based 'reasonable steps' approach across the data lifecycle.
Key Components
- 13 Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) covering collection, use, disclosure, security, and rights.
- Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme for mandatory reporting of serious incidents.
- APP 11 security and APP 8 cross-border rules as core pillars.
- Enforced by OAIC via investigations, audits, and civil penalties up to AUD 50M or 30% turnover; no formal certification but compliance assessments.
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal compliance for entities over $3M turnover or handling sensitive data.
- Mitigates breach risks, enhances trust, and supports cross-border operations.
- Builds competitive advantage through robust governance and reputation.
Implementation Overview
Phased risk-based program: data mapping, PIAs, policies, training, vendor controls, and incident readiness. Applies economy-wide with small business exceptions; ongoing OAIC-guided audits required. (178 words)
ISO 27017 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a code of practice providing cloud-specific guidance for information security controls based on ISO/IEC 27002. It focuses on securing cloud services across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, using a risk-based approach within an ISO 27001 ISMS to address shared responsibilities and cloud-unique risks.
Key Components
- 37 controls from ISO 27002 with cloud implementation guidance
- 7 additional CLD cloud-specific controls (e.g., segregation, VM hardening)
- Covers domains like access control, operations, supplier relationships
- Integrated into ISO 27001 certification, no standalone cert
Why Organizations Use It
- Demonstrates cloud security maturity for CSPs and CSCs
- Supports regulatory alignment (e.g., GDPR via risk reduction)
- Mitigates multi-tenancy, misconfiguration risks
- Boosts procurement trust, competitive differentiation
- Enhances stakeholder confidence through auditable controls
Implementation Overview
- Extend existing ISO 27001 ISMS with cloud risk assessments
- Implement controls, document shared responsibilities, train staff
- Applies globally to all sizes, especially cloud-heavy orgs
- Audited jointly in 9-12 month ISO 27001 cycles
Key Differences
| Aspect | Australian Privacy Act | ISO 27017 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal info handling, APPs, NDB scheme | Cloud-specific security controls, multi-tenancy |
| Industry | Australian entities over $3M turnover, health | Global CSPs and customers, all cloud users |
| Nature | Mandatory law, OAIC enforcement | Voluntary guidance, ISO 27001 extension |
| Testing | OAIC audits, investigations, no certification | ISO 27001 audits include cloud controls |
| Penalties | Up to AUD 50M fines, civil penalties | No legal penalties, certification loss |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Australian Privacy Act and ISO 27017
Australian Privacy Act FAQ
ISO 27017 FAQ
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