ISO 41001
International standard for facility management systems
ISO 27018
International code for PII protection in public cloud processors.
Quick Verdict
ISO 41001 establishes facility management systems supporting organizational objectives via PDCA, while ISO 27018 extends ISO 27001 for PII protection in public clouds. Organizations adopt them for structured governance, certification, and demonstrating compliance in FM and cloud privacy.
ISO 41001
ISO 41001:2018 Facility management management systems requirements
Key Features
- Distinguishes FM organization from demand organization for alignment
- High-Level Structure enables integration with other management systems
- Mandates stakeholder requirements lifecycle and mapping
- Requires business continuity in risk-based planning
- Emphasizes integrated service delivery and coordination
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 PII protection public cloud processors
Key Features
- PII protection for public cloud processors
- Consent and purpose limitation controls
- Subprocessor transparency and management
- Secure data deletion on contract termination
- Breach notification and auditability requirements
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 41001 Details
What It Is
ISO 41001:2018 is the international standard titled Facility management — Management systems — Requirements with guidance for use. It establishes a certifiable management system framework for facility management (FM), focusing on effective, efficient FM delivery supporting the demand organization's objectives, stakeholder needs, and sustainability. It uses a risk-based, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach aligned with ISO's High-Level Structure (HLS).
Key Components
- Core clauses: Context (4), Leadership (5), Planning (6), Support (7), Operation (8), Performance evaluation (9), Improvement (10).
- FM-specific elements like demand organization alignment, stakeholder lifecycle, service integration, and climate action (Amendment 1:2024).
- Built on HLS for interoperability; voluntary third-party certification via accredited bodies.
Why Organizations Use It
- Drives strategic FM alignment, cost control, occupant wellbeing, and ESG compliance.
- Mitigates risks in continuity, emergencies, and supply chains.
- Enhances competitive bidding, market access, and reputation through certification.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: gap analysis, policy/objectives, processes, audits, certification.
- Applicable to all organizations (in-house, outsourced, hybrid FM); non-sector-specific.
- Involves internal audits, management reviews; certification via Stage 1/2 audits.
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 is a code of practice extending ISO/IEC 27002 security controls for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments where providers act as PII processors. Its primary purpose is to address cloud-specific privacy risks like multi-tenancy and cross-border transfers through risk-based privacy controls.
Key Components
- Core themes: consent/purpose limitation, transparency, data minimization, subcontractor management, logging/auditability, breach notification, secure deletion.
- Builds on ISO/IEC 29100 privacy principles with ~25-30 additional controls.
- Certification model integrates with ISMS audits, using Statements of Applicability.
Why Organizations Use It
- Demonstrates robust PII safeguards for cloud services, aiding GDPR alignment and customer trust.
- Reduces procurement friction via audited processor obligations.
- Enhances risk management in dynamic cloud ecosystems; competitive edge for SaaS/cloud providers.
Implementation Overview
- Layer onto existing ISMS via gap analysis, control mapping, policy updates.
- Applies to cloud PII processors of all sizes; involves tooling for monitoring/logs.
- Requires external audits as ISMS extension, with annual surveillance.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 41001 | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Facility management systems for service delivery | PII protection in public cloud processors |
| Industry | All sectors, non-sector specific globally | Cloud service providers worldwide |
| Nature | Voluntary certifiable management system standard | Code of practice extending ISO 27001 |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews, certification | Integrated with ISO 27001 audits and surveillance |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | Loss of certification, no direct penalties |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 41001 and ISO 27018
ISO 41001 FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

CMMC Scoping Mastery for Defense Supply Chains: Enclave Mapping, Subcontractor Flow-Down, and CUI Inventory Blueprint
Master CMMC scoping for DIB: delineate FCI/CUI boundaries, segment enclaves, manage subcontractor flow-down. Prevent 80% assessment failures with SSP templates,

Thailand PDPA Enforcement Trends 2025: Analyzing 1,048 Complaints, Breach Volumes, and Hidden Lessons for Proactive Compliance
Decode PDPC Thailand's 1,048 complaints & 610 breaches. Uncover consent/security violations, project 2025 enforcement. Risk heatmap, self-assessment & playbook

The 'Black Box' Risk: Why Human-in-the-Loop is the Ultimate Fail-Safe for 2026 Security Operations
Uncover the black box AI risk in security ops. Learn why human-in-the-loop auditing is crucial for 2026. Upskill analysts to ensure data privacy and robust secu
Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM
Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform
Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.
Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages
ISO 45001 vs ISO 31000
Unlock ISO 45001 vs ISO 31000: OH&S management vs risk guidelines. Compare PDCA clauses, leadership focus, integration benefits—boost safety & resilience now.
DORA vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023
Explore DORA vs ISO/IEC 42001:2023: EU financial resilience act meets world's first AI management std. Uncover differences, overlaps & tips for compliance mastery!
CE Marking vs Basel III
Compare CE Marking vs Basel III: EU product compliance meets global bank capital rules. Uncover key differences, requirements & strategies for manufacturers/banks. Dive in now!