FERPA
U.S. federal regulation protecting student education records privacy
ISO 27017
International code for cloud information security controls.
Quick Verdict
FERPA protects U.S. student records via federal mandates, while ISO 27017 provides voluntary cloud security guidance. Schools adopt FERPA to retain funding; cloud users choose ISO 27017 for global assurance and procurement trust.
FERPA
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
Key Features
- Grants rights to inspect, amend education records within 45 days
- Requires prior consent for PII disclosures with exceptions
- Mandates annual notifications detailing rights and procedures
- Imposes recordkeeping for all PII requests and disclosures
- Applies institution-wide to federal fund recipients
ISO 27017
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 Code of practice for cloud security
Key Features
- Clarifies shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs
- Adds 7 cloud-specific CLD controls for multi-tenancy
- Provides guidance on 37 ISO 27002 cloud adaptations
- Addresses VM hardening and segregation in virtual environments
- Enables customer monitoring of cloud service activities
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
FERPA Details
What It Is
FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and 34 CFR Part 99, is a U.S. federal regulation. It protects privacy of education records containing personally identifiable information (PII) for students at institutions receiving federal funds. Core approach balances individual rights with institutional functions via consent rules and exceptions.
Key Components
- Rights to inspect/review (45 days), amend inaccurate records, consent to disclosures.
- Definitions: broad education records, expansive PII (direct/indirect identifiers), directory information.
- Disclosure exceptions (school officials, emergencies, audits); recordkeeping, annual notices.
- Compliance via policies, logs, vendor controls; enforced by funding leverage.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandated for federal fund recipients; mitigates enforcement risks (fund withholding). Enhances trust, enables safe data use, supports analytics/vendor partnerships. Builds reputation, reduces lawsuits.
Implementation Overview
Phased program: governance, data inventory, policies/training, technical controls (RBAC, logging), vendor DPAs. Applies to K-12/postsecondary; no certification but audits/enforcement. Cross-functional, ongoing monitoring essential.
ISO 27017 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27002 with cloud-specific guidance for information security controls. It targets cloud services across IaaS, PaaS, SaaS in public, private, hybrid models, using a risk-based approach within an ISO 27001 ISMS.
Key Components
- Guidance on 37 ISO 27002 controls adapted for cloud.
- 7 additional CLD controls for shared responsibility, multi-tenancy, VM hardening, admin ops, monitoring, asset removal.
- Built on ISO 27001 ISMS; no standalone certification—assessed via ISO 27001 audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Addresses cloud risks like segregation, shared duties.
- Meets procurement, regulatory demands (GDPR alignment).
- Enhances risk management, trust with CSPs/customers.
- Competitive edge for CSPs, due diligence for CSCs.
Implementation Overview
- Integrate into existing ISO 27001 via risk assessment, control mapping.
- Key steps: define responsibilities, configure monitoring/segregation, audit prep.
- Suits CSPs, CSCs of all sizes; global applicability; joint audits (9-12 months).
Key Differences
| Aspect | FERPA | ISO 27017 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Student education records privacy | Cloud-specific security controls |
| Industry | U.S. education institutions | Cloud providers/customers globally |
| Nature | U.S. federal regulation, funding-based | Voluntary ISO guidance standard |
| Testing | Complaint investigations by DOE | ISO 27001 audits with extensions |
| Penalties | Federal funding withholding | Loss of certification, no fines |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FERPA and ISO 27017
FERPA FAQ
ISO 27017 FAQ
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