ISO 9001
International standard for quality management systems
ISO 27018
International code of practice for PII protection in public clouds.
Quick Verdict
ISO 9001 establishes quality management systems for consistent customer satisfaction across industries, while ISO 27018 extends ISO 27001 with cloud-specific PII protections for service providers. Companies adopt ISO 9001 for operational excellence and market access; ISO 27018 for privacy trust in cloud processing.
ISO 9001
ISO 9001:2015 Quality management systems — Requirements
Key Features
- Risk-based thinking integrated throughout QMS
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement
- Seven quality management principles foundation
- High-Level Structure for standards integration
- Process approach with leadership commitment
ISO 27018
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 Code of practice for PII protection
Key Features
- PII protection controls for public cloud processors
- Subprocessor transparency and location disclosure
- Breach notification obligations to customers
- Prohibition of marketing use without consent
- Support for data subject rights fulfillment
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 9001 Details
What It Is
ISO 9001:2015 is the international standard for quality management systems (QMS), providing requirements for organizations to deliver consistent products/services meeting customer and regulatory needs. It uses a process-based, risk-thinking approach with PDCA cycle.
Key Components
- 10 clauses (4-10 auditable): context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement.
- Built on **7 principlescustomer focus, leadership, engagement, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decisions, relationships.
- Annex SL for integration; voluntary third-party certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Enhances efficiency, customer satisfaction, risk management.
- Voluntary but market-driven for tenders, credibility (>1M certified).
- Reduces costs, boosts reputation, ensures compliance.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis, process mapping, training, audits.
- Applicable to all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
- Certification via accredited bodies with surveillance.
ISO 27018 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27018:2025 is a 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 data flows, using a risk-based approach with ~25-30 additional controls.
Key Components
- Core pillars: transparency, accountability, consent, purpose limitation, data minimization, security safeguards.
- Mapped to ISO 27001 Annex A (93 controls across organizational, people, physical, technological themes).
- Built on ISO 29100 privacy principles; not standalone certification but assessed within ISO 27001 audits.
Why Organizations Use It
- Builds customer trust, accelerates procurement via Statement of Applicability.
- Aligns with GDPR Article 28, HIPAA; aids cyber insurance.
- Reduces risk in subprocessor chains, breach handling; competitive edge for CSPs.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis, integrate controls into ISMS, annual audits.
- Suited for CSPs of all sizes; 3-year certification cycle. (178 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 9001 | ISO 27018 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Quality management systems for all organizations | PII protection in public cloud processors |
| Industry | All industries, any size, global | Cloud service providers, global |
| Nature | Voluntary certifiable QMS standard | Code of practice extending ISO 27001 |
| Testing | Third-party certification audits, periodic reviews | Assessed within ISO 27001 audits |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal penalties | Loss of ISO 27001 certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 9001 and ISO 27018
ISO 9001 FAQ
ISO 27018 FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...
Unpacking the True Cost: A Guide to Calculating TCO for Modern Compliance Monitoring Software
Unpack the true Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for compliance monitoring software. Factor in licenses, implementation, training, maintenance, and ROI savings for
CMMC Cost Calculator: Realistic Budgets for Levels 1-3, C3PAO Fees, and ROI for Small DIB Suppliers
Calculate realistic CMMC costs for Levels 1-3: self-assessments, C3PAO fees, tooling, remediation & ROI. Interactive tool for small DIB suppliers. Get benchmark
CMMC Sustainment Mastery: Continuous Monitoring, Annual Affirmations, and Subcontractor Flow-Down Playbook
Master CMMC sustainment beyond certification: continuous monitoring dashboards, SPRS/eMASS affirmations, enforceable subcontractor clauses. Get templates for ve
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
UAE PDPL vs ISO 19600
Compare UAE PDPL vs ISO 19600: Align data protection with compliance systems for UAE governance mastery. Uncover synergies, gaps & strategies to boost risk management now.
UAE PDPL vs IEC 62443
Compare UAE PDPL vs IEC 62443: Bridge privacy law with OT cybersecurity for compliant data protection, risk assessments & secure industrial ops. Expert insights now.
ISO 27018 vs NERC CIP
ISO 27018 vs NERC CIP: Compare cloud PII privacy standards with BES cybersecurity mandates. Discover key differences, compliance strategies, audits & risks for grid ops.