ISO 37001
International standard for anti-bribery management systems
ISO 27018
International code of practice for PII protection in public clouds.
Quick Verdict
ISO 37001 provides anti-bribery management systems for all organizations worldwide, while ISO 27018 offers PII protection guidance for cloud processors. Companies adopt 37001 to mitigate bribery risks and gain trust; 27018 to assure privacy in cloud services and accelerate procurement.
ISO 37001
ISO 37001: Anti-bribery management systems
Key Features
- Risk-based anti-bribery management system framework
- Mandatory third-party due diligence and monitoring
- Leadership commitment and anti-bribery culture emphasis
- PDCA cycle for continuous improvement and audits
- Internationally certifiable with proportionate controls
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018: Code of practice for PII protection in public clouds
Key Features
- Privacy controls for PII processors in public clouds
- Subprocessors transparency and location disclosure requirements
- Prohibits unauthorized PII use like marketing without consent
- Breach notification obligations to customers
- Supports data subject rights via technical measures
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 37001 Details
What It Is
ISO 37001: Anti-Bribery Management Systems is an international certifiable standard for establishing, implementing, and improving an ABMS. It focuses on preventing, detecting, and responding to bribery risks across organizations, using a risk-based, proportionate approach aligned with the ISO Harmonized Structure and PDCA cycle.
Key Components
- Core clauses 4-10: context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Eight control areas: policy, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting.
- Built on leadership accountability, third-party management, and continual improvement.
- Optional third-party certification with audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates legal risks (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act) via evidentiary due diligence.
- Builds stakeholder trust, enhances reputation, reduces compliance costs up to 15%.
- Enables market access, ESG alignment, operational efficiencies.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, controls, training, audits.
- Scalable for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Involves PDCA reviews; certification via accredited bodies.
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds where providers act as PII processors. Its risk-based approach adds privacy-specific controls addressing cloud challenges like multi-tenancy and cross-border data flows.
Key Components
- ~25–30 additional privacy controls integrated into ISO 27001 Annex A (Organizational, People, Physical, Technological themes).
- Core principles: consent/choice, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, security safeguards, transparency, accountability.
- Assessed via ISO 27001 audits; no standalone certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances trust, accelerates procurement, supports GDPR/HIPAA processor obligations.
- Manages privacy risks, differentiates CSPs, aids cyber insurance.
- Provides subprocessors transparency and breach notification.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis on existing ISMS; update Statement of Applicability, contracts, training.
- Applies to CSPs globally, all sizes; third-party audits required. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37001 | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Anti-bribery management systems (ABMS) | PII protection in public cloud services |
| Industry | All sectors worldwide, high-risk industries | Cloud service providers, all sectors |
| Nature | Certifiable management system standard | Code of practice extending ISO 27001 |
| Testing | Annual certification audits, surveillance | Assessed in ISO 27001 audits, surveillance |
| Penalties | No legal penalties, loss of certification | No legal penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37001 and ISO 27018
ISO 37001 FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
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