ISO 27018
Code of practice for PII protection in public clouds
MAS TRM
Singapore guidelines for technology risk management in finance.
Quick Verdict
ISO 27018 provides voluntary PII privacy controls for global cloud processors, extending ISO 27001. MAS TRM mandates technology risk governance for Singapore FIs, with supervisory enforcement. CSPs adopt 27018 for trust; FIs use TRM to avoid fines and ensure resilience.
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for cloud PII
Key Features
- PII protection code for public cloud processors
- Extends ISO 27001 with 25-30 privacy controls
- Mandates subprocessor transparency and disclosure
- Requires customer breach notification procedures
- Prohibits PII use for marketing without consent
MAS TRM
MAS Technology Risk Management Guidelines (2021)
Key Features
- Board and senior management accountability for oversight
- Proportional implementation based on risk profile
- Third-party services risk assessment and monitoring
- Defence-in-depth cyber resilience controls
- Annual penetration testing for internet-facing systems
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 an international code of practice extending ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds where providers act as PII processors. Its primary scope targets cloud-specific privacy risks like multi-tenancy and cross-border flows, using a risk-based approach integrated into an ISMS.
Key Components
- Core domains: transparency, contractual obligations, data subject rights support, breach management, data minimization.
- ~25-30 additional privacy controls mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A themes.
- Built on principles like consent, purpose limitation, accountability.
- Assessed via ISO 27001 audits; no standalone certification.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives procurement acceleration, regulatory alignment (e.g., GDPR Article 28), risk reduction, customer trust, and competitive differentiation for CSPs. Enhances cyber insurance and reduces questionnaire friction.
Implementation Overview
Conduct gap analysis against existing ISMS, update Statement of Applicability, implement controls like subprocessor disclosure. Suited for CSPs of all sizes; involves annual audits post-ISO 27001 certification.
MAS TRM Details
What It Is
MAS Technology Risk Management (TRM) Guidelines (revised January 2021) are supervisory guidance issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore for financial institutions. They provide a principles-based, risk-proportional framework to govern technology and cyber risks, emphasizing governance, controls, and resilience to protect confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA).
Key Components
- 15 main sections covering governance, risk frameworks, secure development, IT operations, resilience, access controls, cryptography, cyber defense, testing, and audit.
- Synthesized into 12 core principles like board accountability, asset management, third-party oversight, and layered defenses.
- No fixed controls; proportional implementation with independent assurance.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for MAS-supervised FIs to avoid enforcement like fines or license actions.
- Enhances cyber resilience, operational stability, and customer trust.
- Supports digital transformation while managing ecosystem risks.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: governance setup, asset inventory, control design, testing, third-party assurance.
- Targets Singapore FIs of all sizes; proportional to risk/complexity.
- No formal certification; demonstrated via audits, metrics, board reporting.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 27018 | MAS TRM |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | PII protection in public clouds for processors | Technology/cyber risk across financial operations |
| Industry | All sectors, global CSPs and enterprises | Singapore financial institutions only |
| Nature | Voluntary code of practice, ISO 27001 extension | Supervisory guidelines, enforced via supervision |
| Testing | ISO 27001 audits include 27018 controls | Annual PT for internet systems, regular VA/DR |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, market disadvantage | Fines, license revocation, executive prohibitions |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 27018 and MAS TRM
ISO 27018 FAQ
MAS TRM FAQ
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