ISO 19600
International guidelines for compliance management systems
ISO 27701
International standard for privacy information management systems
Quick Verdict
ISO 19600 provides guidelines for compliance management systems across all organizations, while ISO 27701 establishes certifiable PIMS for privacy governance. Companies adopt ISO 19600 for benchmarking and ISO 27701 for auditable privacy accountability.
ISO 19600
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance management systems — Guidelines
Key Features
- Explicit governance principles for compliance independence
- Risk-based PDCA management system cycle
- Scalable proportionality to organization size
- High-level structure for system integration
- Broad compliance obligations identification
ISO 27701
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 Privacy Information Management
Key Features
- Establishes Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
- Controller and processor-specific privacy controls
- Risk-based assessments and DPIAs required
- Integrates with ISO 27001 ISMS structures
- Mappings to GDPR and other regulations
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 19600 Details
What It Is
ISO 19600:2014, Compliance management systems — Guidelines, is a non-certifiable international standard providing principles-based guidance for establishing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving a Compliance Management System (CMS). It uses a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach, applicable to all organization types via high-level structure.
Key Components
- Core clauses: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- **Governance principlescompliance function independence, direct board access, adequate resources.
- Broad compliance obligations (legal, voluntary, contractual); risk assessment; controls; culture monitoring.
- Built on ISO management system framework; no fixed controls, emphasizes proportionality.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates compliance risks, reduces penalties, enhances governance.
- Builds culture, stakeholder trust; integrates with other ISO standards.
- Strategic enabler for efficiency, market access; benchmark for regulators.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, controls/training, monitoring/audits.
- Scalable for SMEs to multinationals; voluntary, no certification but aligns to ISO 37301 successor. (178 words)
ISO 27701 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 is the international standard defining requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It focuses on managing personally identifiable information (PII) lifecycle for controllers and processors, using a risk-based PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach aligned with ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
Key Components
- Clauses 4–10 extend management system structure for privacy.
- Annex A (controllers) and Annex B (processors) provide specific controls on consent, data subject rights, transfers, and vendor management.
- Built on ISO 27001/27002; includes GDPR mappings.
- Certification via accredited bodies with 3-year cycle.
Why Organizations Use It
- Meets accountability in GDPR, CCPA; reduces fines, breach risks.
- Enhances trust, procurement edge, insurance terms.
- Harmonizes multi-jurisdiction compliance.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: discover/scope, design/plan, implement/operate, validate/improve.
- Involves PII inventory, DPIAs, training, audits.
- Suits all sizes/industries handling PII; voluntary certification.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 19600 | ISO 27701 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Compliance management systems guidelines | Privacy information management systems |
| Industry | All organizations worldwide | PII processing organizations globally |
| Nature | Non-certifiable guidelines (withdrawn) | Certifiable management system standard |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews | Certification audits, surveillance audits |
| Penalties | No legal penalties | No legal penalties (certification loss) |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 19600 and ISO 27701
ISO 19600 FAQ
ISO 27701 FAQ
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