GLBA
U.S. federal law for financial privacy and safeguards
ISO 27017
International standard for cloud-specific security controls.
Quick Verdict
GLBA mandates privacy notices and security for U.S. financial firms protecting NPI, while ISO 27017 provides voluntary cloud control guidance globally. Organizations adopt GLBA for legal compliance; ISO 27017 for auditable cloud security in ISO 27001 programs.
GLBA
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)
Key Features
- Mandates privacy notices and opt-out for NPI sharing
- Requires comprehensive risk-based information security program
- Applies to broad non-bank financial institutions
- Designates Qualified Individual for oversight and reporting
- Imposes 30-day FTC breach notification threshold
ISO 27017
ISO/IEC 27017:2015 Cloud Security Controls
Key Features
- Clarifies shared responsibilities between CSPs and CSCs
- Adds 7 cloud-specific CLD controls for multi-tenancy
- Provides guidance on 37 ISO 27002 controls for cloud
- Addresses virtual machine segregation and hardening
- Enables customer monitoring of cloud service activities
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
GLBA Details
What It Is
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) is a U.S. federal regulation enacted in 1999. It establishes privacy and security standards for financial institutions handling nonpublic personal information (NPI). Primary purpose: ensure transparency in data sharing and protect customer data via risk-based safeguards. Implemented through Privacy Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 313) and Safeguards Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 314).
Key Components
- **Privacy RuleInitial/annual notices, opt-out for nonaffiliated sharing.
- **Safeguards RuleWritten security program with administrative, technical, physical controls; Qualified Individual designation; annual board reporting; breach notification for 500+ consumers.
- **Pretexting provisionsAnti-social engineering protections. Built on risk-based approach; enforced by FTC for non-banks.
Why Organizations Use It
Mandatory for broad financial entities (banks, non-banks like tax firms, auto dealers). Mitigates enforcement risks (fines up to $100K/violation), enhances trust, reduces breach costs, supports vendor oversight. Builds resilience, competitive edge in data handling.
Implementation Overview
Phased: scoping, risk assessment, policy development, technical controls (encryption, MFA), training, testing, monitoring. Applies to any handling NPI; FTC audits/enforcement. No certification, but evidence-based compliance via documentation and reporting. (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 services across IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS models, focusing on shared responsibilities between cloud service providers (CSPs) and customers (CSCs). Its risk-based approach integrates into an ISO 27001 ISMS.
Key Components
- Guidance on 37 ISO 27002 controls adapted for cloud environments
- 7 additional CLD controls for shared roles, virtual machine segregation, hardening, admin operations, monitoring, and asset removal
- Built on ISO 27001/27002; not standalone certification but assessed within ISO 27001 audits
- Dual perspectives for CSPs and CSCs
Why Organizations Use It
- Addresses cloud risks like multi-tenancy and data remanence
- Supports regulatory alignment (e.g., GDPR via overlap with ISO 27018)
- Enhances risk management and procurement trust
- Provides competitive differentiation for CSPs
- Builds stakeholder confidence through auditable cloud controls
Implementation Overview
- Integrate into existing ISO 27001 ISMS via risk assessment and control mapping
- Key activities: define shared responsibilities, configure virtualization controls, enable monitoring
- Applicable to CSPs, CSCs across industries and sizes
- Certification via ISO 27001 audits (joint scopes 9-12 months)
Key Differences
| Aspect | GLBA | ISO 27017 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Financial privacy notices and NPI safeguards | Cloud-specific security controls guidance |
| Industry | U.S. financial institutions, non-banks | All industries using cloud services globally |
| Nature | Mandatory U.S. regulation with FTC enforcement | Voluntary ISO code of practice |
| Testing | Risk assessments, penetration testing annually | Integrated into ISO 27001 audits |
| Penalties | Up to $100k per violation, imprisonment | No legal penalties, certification loss only |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GLBA and ISO 27017
GLBA FAQ
ISO 27017 FAQ
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