What is the primary objective of **BREEAM**?

**BREEAM's primary objective is to provide a science-led sustainability assessment and third-party certification framework for the built environment.** Developed by BRE in 1990, it measures performance across categories like **Management**, **Health & Wellbeing**, **Energy**, **Transport**, **Water**, **Materials**, **Waste**, **Land Use & Ecology**, **Pollution**, and **Innovation**. Credits are weighted and scored to yield ratings from **Pass (≥30%)** to **Outstanding (≥85%)**, promoting integrated design for environmental, social, and resilience outcomes.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **BREEAM**?

**No organizations are legally required to comply with BREEAM, as it is a voluntary certification scheme.** Professionally, it applies to developers, owners, and operators of buildings, infrastructure, communities, and fit-outs seeking market differentiation, ESG credibility, or alignment with planning incentives. Licensed **BREEAM Assessors** and **Advisory Professionals (APs)** are mandatory for certification, with BRE Global conducting quality audits.

Does **BREEAM** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**Yes, BREEAM mandates third-party certification via licensed Assessors and BRE Global quality audits.** Assessors compile evidence against scheme manuals and submit for BRE review, including potential site visits. Certification under UKAS-accredited **ISO/IEC 17065** ensures impartiality, producing verifiable ratings.

How often should an assessment for **BREEAM** be performed?

**BREEAM New Construction assessments occur once per project at design, construction, and post-occupancy stages.** **BREEAM In-Use** certifications are valid for **3 years**, requiring reassessment for renewal to verify ongoing performance via **Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE)**.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **BREEAM**?

**Non-compliance with BREEAM results in denied credits, lower ratings, or failed certification, with no direct legal penalties as it is voluntary.** Consequences include lost market premiums, higher operational costs, planning delays, and reduced ESG/investor appeal; uncertified assets risk valuation discounts.

An **BREEAM** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**BREEAM does not officially map to other frameworks within its standalone schemes.** However, Version 7 aligns with **EU Taxonomy** via whole-life carbon, net-zero strategies, biodiversity, and resilience emphases, supporting ESG disclosures independently.

What is the first step to begin implementing **BREEAM**?

**The first step is to select the appropriate scheme (e.g., New Construction, In-Use) and appoint a licensed BREEAM Assessor early at project inception.** Conduct a pre-assessment using the technical manual to target ratings and integrate credits into design and procurement.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 27017**?

**ISO 27017 provides cloud-specific implementation guidance for 37 ISO 27002 controls plus 7 additional cloud-specific controls (CLD series) to address shared responsibilities in cloud environments.** Published in 2015, it targets **CSPs** and **CSCs** for risks like multi-tenancy, virtual machine configuration, asset return/termination, segregation (CLD.9.5.1), VM hardening (CLD.9.5.2), admin operations (CLD.12.1.5), customer monitoring (CLD.12.4.5), and network alignment (CLD.13.1.4).

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 27017**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 27017, as it is a voluntary code of practice, not a law.** Professionally, **CSPs** and **CSCs** with significant cloud footprints adopt it for procurement demands, regulatory alignment (e.g., GDPR support), and ISMS enhancement, especially those pursuing ISO 27001 certification including cloud services.

Oes **ISO 27017** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 27017 does not require standalone external audit or certification, as it is guidance integrated into an ISO 27001 ISMS.** Auditors assess its 7 CLD controls and 37 extended controls during ISO 27001 Stage 1/2 audits; certification bodies may reference ISO 27017 conformity as an extension on the ISO 27001 certificate.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 27017** be performed?

**ISO 27017 assessments occur annually via ISO 27001 surveillance audits, with full re-certification every 3 years.** Continuous monitoring of cloud controls (e.g., logging, configurations) is required within the ISMS, triggered by changes like new services or incidents.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 27017**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 27017 carries no direct legal penalties, as it is voluntary guidance.** Indirect consequences include failed ISO 27001 audits, lost procurement opportunities, heightened cloud breach risks (e.g., misconfigurations in 61% of incidents), and regulatory scrutiny for inadequate cloud security in data protection laws.

An **ISO 27017** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 27017 maps directly to ISO 27001/27002 controls and aligns with frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, CSA STAR, and PCI-DSS.** Its 7 CLD controls and 37 extended controls support cross-framework evidence collection, with 70% of CSPs mapping to NIST for multi-jurisdictional compliance.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 27017**?

**Conduct a cloud-specific risk assessment within your ISO 27001 ISMS to identify applicable controls.** Define ISMS scope including cloud services, map 37 ISO 27002 controls plus 7 CLD controls to risks, and update the Statement of Applicability with shared responsibility delineations (e.g., CLD.6.3.1).

BREEAM vs ISO 27017

Standards Comparison

BREEAM

Voluntary

1990

Global sustainability certification for built environment assets

ISO 27017

Voluntary

2015

International code of practice for cloud security controls

Quick Verdict

BREEAM certifies sustainable buildings via category ratings for developers worldwide, while ISO 27017 guides cloud security controls within ISO 27001 ISMS for providers and users. Organizations adopt BREEAM for ESG value uplift; ISO 27017 for shared cloud risk management.

Building Sustainability

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method

Cost

€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

18-24 months

Cloud Security

ISO 27017

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 Code of practice for cloud controls

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Clarifies shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs
Adds 7 cloud-specific controls like VM segregation
Provides guidance for 37 ISO 27002 cloud adaptations
Addresses multi-tenancy and virtualization risks
Integrates seamlessly with ISO 27001 certification

Detailed Analysis

A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

BREEAM Details

What It Is

BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) is a science-led, third-party certification framework for assessing sustainability in the built environment. Originating in 1990, it applies to buildings, infrastructure, and communities across lifecycles from design to operation. Its credit-based, weighted scoring methodology converts performance into ratings: Pass to Outstanding.

Key Components

10 core categories: Management, Health & Wellbeing, Energy, Transport, Water, Materials, Waste, Land Use & Ecology, Pollution, Innovation.
Credits earned via evidence against scheme-specific manuals.
Licensed assessors submit for BRE Global quality audits (ISO/IEC 17065 accredited).
Continuous updates through Knowledge Base Compliance Notes (KBCNs).

Why Organizations Use It

Drives ESG compliance, net-zero alignment (e.g., EU Taxonomy), and resilience. Yields energy savings (22-33%), asset value uplift (up to 30%), and market differentiation. Mitigates regulatory/planning risks; builds investor/tenant trust via verified performance.

Implementation Overview

Staged process: early assessor appointment, pre-assessment, design integration, evidence collection, post-construction submission. Applies globally (with NSOs in 6 countries) to all sizes/sectors; requires APs, training, and In-Use recertification every 3 years. (178 words)

ISO 27017 Details

What It Is

ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27002 with cloud-specific information security controls. It provides guidance for implementing security in cloud environments, focusing on shared responsibilities between cloud service providers (CSPs) and customers (CSCs). Its risk-based approach adapts general controls to address multi-tenancy, virtualization, and dynamic assets.

Key Components

Guidance on 37 ISO/IEC 27002 controls tailored for cloud.
7 additional cloud-specific CLD controls (e.g., segregation, VM hardening, asset removal).
Built on ISO 27001 ISMS framework; not standalone certification.
Domains mirror ISO 27002: access control, operations, supplier relationships.

Why Organizations Use It

Meets procurement demands for cloud assurance.
Supports GDPR/CCPA via risk reduction in shared models.
Enhances trust, differentiates CSPs, aids regulatory compliance.
Builds stakeholder confidence through auditable cloud practices.

Implementation Overview

Integrate into existing ISO 27001 ISMS via risk assessment and SoA updates.
Key activities: map controls, configure monitoring, define responsibilities.
Applies to CSPs/CSCs of all sizes in cloud-heavy industries globally.
Audited as extension of ISO 27001; joint audits in 9-12 months.

Key Differences

Aspect	BREEAM	ISO 27017
Scope	Sustainability in built environment, categories like energy, health	Cloud-specific security controls, shared responsibility, virtualization
Industry	Construction, real estate, infrastructure worldwide	Cloud service providers, customers across all industries globally
Nature	Voluntary certification framework with ratings	Guidance code of practice extending ISO 27001
Testing	Assessor-led audits, BRE quality assurance, staged certification	Integrated into ISO 27001 audits, no standalone certification
Penalties	Loss of certification, no legal penalties	No direct penalties, impacts ISO 27001 certification

Scope

BREEAM

Sustainability in built environment, categories like energy, health

ISO 27017

Cloud-specific security controls, shared responsibility, virtualization

Industry

BREEAM

Construction, real estate, infrastructure worldwide

ISO 27017

Cloud service providers, customers across all industries globally

Nature

BREEAM

Voluntary certification framework with ratings

ISO 27017

Guidance code of practice extending ISO 27001

Testing

BREEAM

Assessor-led audits, BRE quality assurance, staged certification

ISO 27017

Integrated into ISO 27001 audits, no standalone certification

Penalties

BREEAM

Loss of certification, no legal penalties

ISO 27017

No direct penalties, impacts ISO 27001 certification

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about BREEAM and ISO 27017

BREEAM FAQ

ISO 27017 FAQ

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BREEAM

ISO 27017

Quick Verdict

BREEAM

ISO 27017

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

BREEAM Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 27017 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

BREEAM FAQ

What is the primary objective of BREEAM?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with BREEAM?

Does BREEAM require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for BREEAM be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with BREEAM?

An BREEAM be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing BREEAM?

ISO 27017 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 27017?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 27017?

Oes ISO 27017 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 27017 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 27017?

An ISO 27017 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 27017?

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CIS Controls v8.1 for Cloud & SaaS: A Practical Safeguard Playbook for AWS/Azure/GCP and Microsoft 365

ISO 27701 Implementation Roadmap: Step-by-Step Guide for Extending Your ISO 27001 ISMS to PIMS

Your Guide to Implementing PCI DSS in Your Organization

Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

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PIPL vs ISO 20000

FDA 21 CFR Part 11 vs ISO 27017

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