What is the primary objective of **ISO 27018**?

**ISO 27018 provides a code of practice for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds acting as PII processors.** It extends **ISO 27001** and **ISO 27002** with ~25–30 privacy-specific controls addressing cloud risks like multi-tenancy, subprocessors, consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, breach notification, and restrictions on secondary PII use (e.g., no marketing without consent). The 2025 edition aligns with **ISO 27002:2022**, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and support for data subject rights in public cloud environments.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 27018**?

**ISO 27018 targets public cloud service providers (CSPs) acting as PII processors, not controllers.** Applicable to hyperscalers, regional CSPs, and any organization processing customer PII in public clouds via multi-tenant infrastructure. Controllers use it for vendor due diligence, but compliance is a professional best practice driven by procurement demands, regulatory alignment (e.g., GDPR Article 28 processor obligations), and market differentiation, not direct legal mandate.

Does **ISO 27018** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**ISO 27018 does not offer standalone certification; it requires assessment as an extension of an ISO 27001 audit by accredited bodies under ISO/IEC 17021 and 27006.** Controls are integrated into the **ISMS** **Statement of Applicability**; auditors validate implementation during **ISO 27001** Stage 1/2 audits, with certificates referencing both standards. CSPs like Microsoft conduct annual surveillance audits.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 27018** be performed?

**ISO 27018 assessments occur via annual surveillance audits and full recertification every three years as part of the ISO 27001 cycle.** Ongoing internal reviews align with **ISMS** continual improvement, including gap analyses for new services, subprocessors, or risks, ensuring controls remain effective amid cloud evolution.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 27018**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 27018 risks loss of market trust, procurement delays, and failure to meet processor obligations under laws like GDPR.** No direct fines from the standard itself, but misalignment exposes CSPs to customer contract breaches, regulatory scrutiny, cyber insurance denials, and competitive disadvantage, as buyers demand audited **Statement of Applicability** for PII processing.

Can **ISO 27018** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 27018 maps directly to frameworks like ISO 27017 (cloud security), ISO 27701 (PIMS), and GDPR Article 28 processor requirements.** Its controls align with **ISO 29100** privacy principles (consent, purpose limitation, transparency) and OECD guidelines, enabling unified **ISMS** integration for security, cloud, and privacy governance without standalone certification.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 27018**?

**Conduct a structured gap analysis against current ISMS practices and ISO 27018 controls.** Engage stakeholders for discovery, review documentation, **Statement of Applicability**, contracts, and cloud architectures; produce a prioritized remediation roadmap integrated into **ISO 27001**, focusing on transparency, subprocessors, and data subject rights support.

What is the primary objective of **ISO 30301**?

**ISO 30301 specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving a Management System for Records (MSR).** It ensures organizations create and control authoritative, reliable evidence of business activities to support mandate, mission, strategy, and goals through High-Level Structure clauses 4–10 and records-specific controls in Clause 8 and **Annex A (normative)**.

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with **ISO 30301**?

**No organization is legally required to comply with ISO 30301, as it is a voluntary international standard applicable to any organization.** It is professionally adopted by entities seeking to demonstrate MSR conformity via self-declaration, external confirmation, or third-party certification, particularly in regulated sectors needing auditable records governance.

Does **ISO 30301** require an external audit or third-party certification?

**No, ISO 30301 does not require external audit or third-party certification.** It offers three conformity pathways: self-assessment and self-declaration, external confirmation of self-declaration, or third-party certification by accredited bodies under ISO/IEC 17065.

How often should an assessment for **ISO 30301** be performed?

**ISO 30301 requires internal audits at planned intervals and management reviews at planned intervals to evaluate MSR performance.** **Clause 9.2** mandates internal audits providing information on conformity and effectiveness, while **Clause 9.3** requires top management reviews of suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness, typically annually or as context changes.

What are the consequences of non-compliance with **ISO 30301**?

**Non-compliance with ISO 30301 carries no direct penalties, as it is voluntary with no legal enforcement.** Indirect consequences include records risks such as loss of evidentiary proof, regulatory sanctions from unmet obligations, litigation disadvantages, operational disruptions, and failure to achieve certification or stakeholder assurance.

Can **ISO 30301** be mapped to other international frameworks?

**Yes, ISO 30301 aligns with the High-Level Structure (HLS) enabling mapping to other management system standards.** Its clauses 4–10 and Annex A support integration with frameworks sharing Annex SL, facilitating unified governance, shared audits, and reduced duplication in records processes.

What is the first step to begin implementing **ISO 30301**?

**The first step is understanding the organization’s context and determining records requirements per Clause 4.** This involves identifying internal/external issues, interested parties, scope, and specific **records requirements (4.1.2)** to anchor MSR design in legal, regulatory, and business needs before leadership commitment and planning.

ISO 27018 vs ISO 30301

Standards Comparison

ISO 27018

Voluntary

2019

Code of practice for PII protection in public clouds

ISO 30301

Voluntary

2019

International standard for management systems for records

Quick Verdict

ISO 27018 provides cloud-specific PII protection controls for processors, extending ISO 27001. ISO 30301 establishes certifiable records management systems for any organization. Companies adopt 27018 for cloud privacy trust; 30301 for governance, compliance, and evidentiary assurance.

Cloud Privacy

ISO 27018

ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for PII protection

Cost

€€€

Complexity

Medium

Implementation Time

6-12 months

Key Features

Tailored privacy controls for public cloud PII processors
Mandates subprocessor transparency and location disclosures
Prohibits PII use for marketing without consent
Requires customer breach notifications and response
Supports data minimization and subject rights handling

Records Management

ISO 30301

ISO 30301:2019 Management systems for records requirements

Cost

€€€

Complexity

High

Implementation Time

12-18 months

Key Features

High-Level Structure alignment for MSS integration
Normative Annex A operational records controls
Explicit records requirements and risk-based planning
Flexible conformity pathways self-declaration to certification
Full records lifecycle management Clause 8

Detailed Analysis

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

ISO 27018 Details

What It Is

ISO/IEC 27018:2025 is a code of practice extending ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 specifically for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud services where providers act as PII processors. It addresses cloud challenges like multi-tenancy and cross-border flows using a risk-based approach with privacy-specific guidance.

Key Components

~25–30 additional privacy controls integrated into ISO 27001 ISMS
Principles: consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, transparency, accountability
Mapped to Annex A themes: organizational, technological, people controls
Assessed via ISO 27001 audits; no standalone certification

Why Organizations Use It

Enhances customer trust, speeds procurement via Statement of Applicability
Aligns with GDPR Article 28, HIPAA processor duties
Mitigates privacy risks, improves cyber insurance terms
Differentiates CSPs in competitive markets

Implementation Overview

Conduct gap analysis, update ISMS and contracts
Key steps: subprocessor disclosure, breach notification setup, PII lifecycle controls
Suits CSPs all sizes, global; builds on existing ISO 27001
Annual surveillance audits by accredited bodies

ISO 30301 Details

What It Is

ISO 30301:2019 (Information and documentation — Management systems for records — Requirements) is an international, certifiable standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving a Management System for Records (MSR). It ensures organizations create and control reliable evidence of business activities, supporting mandate, strategy, and goals. Using the High-Level Structure (HLS) and PDCA cycle, it applies a risk-based approach scalable to any organization.

Key Components

Clauses 4–10: context, leadership, planning, support, operation (Clause 8 + Annex A normative for records lifecycle controls), performance evaluation, improvement.
Core principles: authenticity, reliability, integrity, usability.
~50 operational requirements in Annex A.
Flexible conformity: self-declaration, external confirmation, third-party certification.

Why Organizations Use It

Meets legal/regulatory records obligations.
Mitigates risks like evidence loss, noncompliance.
Boosts efficiency, auditability, transparency.
Integrates with ISO 9001, 27001.
Builds governance assurance and stakeholder trust.

Implementation Overview

Phased: gap analysis, policy design, operational controls, training, audits.
Suits any size/sector; 9–18 months typical.
Requires leadership commitment, system integration, certification audits if pursued.

Key Differences

Aspect	ISO 27018	ISO 30301
Scope	PII protection in public clouds for processors	Records management systems across all organizations
Industry	Cloud service providers, global applicability	All sectors worldwide, any organization size
Nature	Code of practice, extends ISO 27001	Certifiable management system requirements
Testing	Assessed in ISO 27001 audits, annual surveillance	Self-declaration, external confirmation or certification
Penalties	Loss of alignment, no standalone penalties	No legal penalties, loss of certification

Scope

ISO 27018

PII protection in public clouds for processors

ISO 30301

Records management systems across all organizations

Industry

ISO 27018

Cloud service providers, global applicability

ISO 30301

All sectors worldwide, any organization size

Nature

ISO 27018

Code of practice, extends ISO 27001

ISO 30301

Certifiable management system requirements

Testing

ISO 27018

Assessed in ISO 27001 audits, annual surveillance

ISO 30301

Self-declaration, external confirmation or certification

Penalties

ISO 27018

Loss of alignment, no standalone penalties

ISO 30301

No legal penalties, loss of certification

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about ISO 27018 and ISO 30301

ISO 27018 FAQ

ISO 30301 FAQ

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ISO 27018

ISO 30301

Quick Verdict

ISO 27018

Key Features

ISO 30301

Key Features

Detailed Analysis

ISO 27018 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

ISO 30301 Details

What It Is

Key Components

Why Organizations Use It

Implementation Overview

Key Differences

Scope

Industry

Nature

Testing

Penalties

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO 27018 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 27018?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 27018?

Does ISO 27018 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 27018 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 27018?

Can ISO 27018 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 27018?

ISO 30301 FAQ

What is the primary objective of ISO 30301?

Who is legally or professionally required to comply with ISO 30301?

Does ISO 30301 require an external audit or third-party certification?

How often should an assessment for ISO 30301 be performed?

What are the consequences of non-compliance with ISO 30301?

Can ISO 30301 be mapped to other international frameworks?

What is the first step to begin implementing ISO 30301?

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