ISO 37301
International standard for compliance management systems
ISO 27701
International standard for privacy information management systems
Quick Verdict
ISO 37301 establishes certifiable compliance management systems for all obligations and risks, fostering integrity culture. ISO 27701 extends to privacy-specific PIMS for PII handling. Companies adopt them for auditable governance, risk reduction, stakeholder trust, and integrated management system certification.
ISO 37301
ISO 37301:2021 Compliance management systems requirements
Key Features
- Certifiable requirements standard replacing guidance-only ISO 19600
- High-Level Structure enables integration with ISO 9001/14001/27001
- Risk-based planning identifies obligations and compliance risks
- Leadership commitment fosters compliance culture and whistleblower protections
- PDCA cycle drives performance evaluation and continual improvement
ISO 27701
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 Privacy Information Management
Key Features
- Stand-alone PIMS for controllers and processors
- Risk-based PDCA privacy management framework
- Annex A/B privacy-specific controls
- GDPR and regulatory mappings (Annex D)
- Integrates with ISO 27001 ISMS
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 37301 Details
What It Is
ISO 37301:2021 is a certifiable international standard specifying requirements with guidance for Compliance Management Systems (CMS). It provides a systematic, risk-based approach to identify obligations, manage risks, and embed integrity using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle and High-Level Structure (HLS).
Key Components
- Core pillars: context analysis, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, improvement.
- Emphasizes leadership commitment, risk assessment, whistleblowing channels, competence building, and continual improvement.
- Built on HLS for integration; companion standards like ISO 37302/37303 for metrics/competence.
- Supports third-party certification via accredited bodies.
Why Organizations Use It
Drives regulatory compliance, reduces fines/reputation risks, enhances stakeholder trust, and supports ESG/SDGs. Provides competitive edge through certification, investor confidence, and integrated risk management.
Implementation Overview
Phased approach: initiate with context/risk mapping, design policies/controls, train staff, audit, certify. Applicable to all sizes/sectors globally; involves resource allocation, cultural change, and 3-year certification cycles.
ISO 27701 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 is an international standard providing 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) methodology aligned with ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
Key Components
- Clauses 4–10 extend management system requirements for privacy.
- Annex A (controllers) and Annex B (processors) specify privacy controls.
- Mappings to GDPR (Annex D) and other standards.
- Certification via accredited bodies, often integrated with ISO 27001 audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Demonstrates accountability for global privacy laws like GDPR, CCPA.
- Mitigates regulatory fines, breach risks, vendor exclusions.
- Builds trust, competitive edge in B2B, reduces compliance costs via harmonization.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: discover/scope, design/plan, implement/operate, validate/improve.
- Involves PII inventory, DPIAs, DSR processes, training.
- Suits all sizes/industries handling PII; 6-12 months typical with ISMS.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 37301 | ISO 27701 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Compliance obligations, risks, culture across all areas | Privacy Information Management System for PII processing |
| Industry | All sectors, sizes, global applicability | PII-processing organizations, all sectors globally |
| Nature | Certifiable CMS requirements standard, voluntary | Certifiable PIMS standard extending ISO 27001, voluntary |
| Testing | Certification audits, internal audits, 3-year cycle | Integrated audits with ISO 27001, 3-year certification |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no direct legal fines | Loss of certification, supports regulatory compliance |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 37301 and ISO 27701
ISO 37301 FAQ
ISO 27701 FAQ
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