PDPA
Southeast Asia's principles-based personal data protection laws
IEC 62443
International standard for IACS cybersecurity frameworks
Quick Verdict
PDPA governs personal data protection across Asia with consent, rights, and fines, while IEC 62443 secures industrial control systems via zones, security levels, and certification. Organizations adopt PDPA for legal compliance, IEC 62443 for OT cyber resilience.
PDPA
Personal Data Protection Act 2012
Key Features
- Balances individual privacy with reasonable business purposes
- Mandatory Data Protection Officer appointment and accountability
- 72-hour data breach notification obligation
- Deemed consent and legitimate interest exceptions
- Cross-border transfer limitation safeguards required
IEC 62443
IEC 62443 IACS Security Standards Series
Key Features
- Risk-based zones and conduits segmentation
- Security Levels SL-T, SL-C, SL-A triad
- Shared responsibility across stakeholders
- Seven Foundational Requirements FR1-7
- ISASecure modular certifications SDLA/CSA/SSA
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
PDPA Details
What It Is
PDPA (Personal Data Protection Act) refers to a family of statutes, prominently Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act 2012, a principles-based regulation governing private sector organizations' collection, use, and disclosure of personal data. It balances individuals' privacy rights with legitimate business needs via a risk-based, operational approach emphasizing reasonable purposes, consent, and safeguards.
Key Components
- Core obligations: consent/notification, access/correction, accuracy, protection, retention limitation, transfer limitation, breach notification, accountability.
- Mandatory Data Protection Officer (DPO) and governance structures.
- Built on principles like transparency, security, and proportionality; no fixed control count but guided by PDPC advisory frameworks.
- Compliance via self-assessed Data Protection Management Programme (DPMP), no formal certification.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory legal compliance to avoid fines up to SGD 1M or 10% revenue.
- Mitigates breach risks, enhances data governance.
- Builds customer trust, enables market access in regulated sectors like finance/healthcare.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: governance/DPO appointment, data mapping/DPIAs, policies/controls, training/audits.
- Applies to organizations handling personal data in jurisdictions like Singapore/Thailand; scalable by size/risk.
- Ongoing monitoring, no external certification required.
IEC 62443 Details
What It Is
IEC 62443 (ISA/IEC 62443 series) is an international consensus-based standard series for securing Industrial Automation and Control Systems (IACS). Its primary purpose is providing a comprehensive, risk-based framework for OT cybersecurity across the lifecycle, addressing unique constraints like availability and safety.
Key Components
- Four groupings: General (-1), Policies/Procedures (-2), System (-3), Components (-4).
- Seven Foundational Requirements (FR1-7); ~140+ system/component requirements.
- Zones/conduits segmentation, Security Levels (SL 0-4).
- ISASecure modular certifications (SDLA, CSA, SSA).
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates OT risks, enables safe IIoT/digital transformation.
- Meets regulatory references (e.g., NIS-2), supply chain demands.
- Builds assurance via certifications, reduces insurance costs.
- Differentiates in procurement, enhances stakeholder trust.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: governance (2-1), risk assessment/segmentation (3-2), controls (3-3/4-2).
- Applies to critical infrastructure globally; scalable by maturity.
- Involves assessments, training; optional third-party audits.
Key Differences
| Aspect | PDPA | IEC 62443 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Personal data protection, consent, rights, transfers | IACS/OT cybersecurity, zones, security levels, components |
| Industry | All sectors in Singapore/Thailand/Taiwan | Industrial automation, critical infrastructure globally |
| Nature | Mandatory privacy statutes/regulations | Voluntary cybersecurity standards framework |
| Testing | Self-assessments, audits, no formal certification | ISASecure certification, SL assessments, audits |
| Penalties | Fines up to SGD1M/THB5M, criminal sanctions | No legal penalties, certification withdrawal |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about PDPA and IEC 62443
PDPA FAQ
IEC 62443 FAQ
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