LGPD
Brazil's comprehensive regulation for personal data protection
COBIT
Global framework for enterprise IT governance and management
Quick Verdict
LGPD mandates personal data protection for Brazilian residents with fines up to 2% revenue, while COBIT provides voluntary IT governance framework for enterprise alignment. Companies adopt LGPD for legal compliance, COBIT for strategic IT value and risk management.
LGPD
Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (Law No. 13.709/2018)
Key Features
- Extraterritorial scope targeting Brazilian residents worldwide
- 10 core principles including prevention and non-discrimination
- Fines up to 2% Brazilian revenue capped at R$50M
- Mandatory DPO appointment for controllers with public disclosure
- 3 business-day breach notifications to ANPD and subjects
COBIT
COBIT 2019 Governance and Management Objectives
Key Features
- 40 objectives across 5 domains (EDM, APO, BAI, DSS, MEA)
- 11 design factors for tailoring governance systems
- CMMI-based capability levels 0-5 for performance management
- Goals cascade linking stakeholders to IT metrics
- 7 components covering processes, culture, and skills
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
LGPD Details
What It Is
Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais (LGPD), Law No. 13.709/2018, is Brazil's comprehensive data protection regulation. Enacted in 2018 and fully enforced since 2021, it safeguards personal data of natural persons with extraterritorial scope, applying to any processing targeting Brazilian residents. It follows a risk-based approach with 10 core principles like purpose limitation, necessity, and accountability.
Key Components
- 10 principles (e.g., transparency, security, non-discrimination)
- Data subject rights (access, deletion, portability, objection to automated decisions)
- Legal bases for processing (consent, contracts, legitimate interests)
- Governance via mandatory DPO for controllers, records of processing, DPIAs for high-risk activities
- ANPD enforcement with graduated sanctions up to 2% Brazilian revenue (R$50M cap)
Why Organizations Use It
LGPD compliance avoids multimillion fines, operational halts, and reputational damage while building trust in Brazil's digital economy. It enables market access, efficient data use, and competitive edges via privacy-by-design, especially for multinationals in e-commerce, finance, healthcare.
Implementation Overview
Phased risk-based methodology: governance setup, data mapping, policies, technical controls, DSR automation, vendor management, ongoing audits. Applies to all sizes/industries processing Brazilian data; no certification but ANPD audits/sanctions enforce.
COBIT Details
What It Is
COBIT 2019 (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies), developed by ISACA, is a flexible governance framework for enterprise IT (EGIT). It translates stakeholder needs into actionable objectives to create IT value, manage risk, and optimize resources via a tailored, design-factor-driven approach.
Key Components
- 40 objectives across **5 domainsEDM (governance), APO (plan/organize), BAI (build/implement), DSS (deliver/support), MEA (monitor/assess)
- 6 governance principles and 7 components (processes, structures, culture, skills, etc.)
- CMMI-based performance management (capability levels 0-5)
- Goals cascade; no certification, but assessments and ISACA credentials
Why Organizations Use It
- Aligns IT strategy with business goals
- Enhances compliance (SOX, GDPR), audit readiness, risk management
- Drives digital transformation, efficiency, stakeholder trust
Implementation Overview
- Phased: assess maturity, design via 11 factors, pilot objectives, monitor/improve
- Cross-industry, all sizes; requires training, RACI, metrics; voluntary audits
Key Differences
| Aspect | LGPD | COBIT |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data protection/processing | Enterprise IT governance/management |
| Industry | All sectors, Brazil-focused | All industries, global applicability |
| Nature | Mandatory regulation, ANPD enforcement | Voluntary governance framework |
| Testing | DPIAs for high-risk, ANPD audits | Capability assessments, internal audits |
| Penalties | 2% revenue fines (R$50M cap) | No legal penalties, certification loss |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about LGPD and COBIT
LGPD FAQ
COBIT FAQ
You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

The CIS Controls v8.1 Evidence Pack: What Auditors Ask For (and How to Produce Proof Fast)
Fail CIS Controls v8.1 audits due to missing evidence? Get the blueprint: exact artifacts auditors want, repository structure, and automation from security tool

How to Implement CIS Controls v8.1 as a ‘Control Backbone’ for NIS2 & DORA (Step-by-Step Implementation Guide)
Deploy CIS Controls v8.1 as a control backbone for NIS2 & DORA compliance. Step-by-step roadmap (IG1→IG2), deliverables, metrics & evidence model for hybrid/clo

From Reactive Gatekeeper to Proactive Strategist: How Compliance Software Reshapes the Compliance Professional's Day
Discover how compliance software automates monitoring, delivers real-time insights, and transforms compliance pros from reactive gatekeepers to proactive strate
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
LGPD vs ISO 50001
Discover LGPD vs ISO 50001: Brazil's data law meets energy mgmt std. Compare principles, compliance, breaches & strategies for global firms. Expert guide to align & thrive!
HITRUST CSF vs CSA
Compare HITRUST CSF vs CSA: HITRUST's certifiable, risk-tailored framework harmonizes 60+ standards like HIPAA & NIST for threat-adaptive assurance. Boost compliance—read now!
Australian Privacy Act vs AS9120B
Unlock key differences: Australian Privacy Act vs AS9120B. Master compliance for aerospace distributors handling personal data securely. Expert insights await!