What It Is

Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) is China's comprehensive national regulation enacted in 2021, governing collection, processing, storage, transfer, and deletion of personal information. It applies domestically and extraterritorially to organizations targeting individuals in China. PIPL uses a risk-based approach with strict consent defaults, data minimization, and national security integration alongside Cybersecurity Law and Data Security Law.

Key Components

• Core principles: lawfulness, necessity, minimization, transparency, accountability.
• Seven legal bases, emphasizing consent over legitimate interests.
• Sensitive personal information rules, individual rights (access, deletion, portability), cross-border mechanisms (SCCs, security reviews).
• No formal certification but compliance via audits, impact assessments, and CAC enforcement.

Why Organizations Use It

PIPL compliance mitigates fines up to 5% revenue, operational disruptions, reputational harm. It enables market access, builds consumer trust, enhances resilience, supports cross-border business in China's digital economy.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: gap analysis, data mapping, policy updates, controls, monitoring. Targets multinationals, platforms handling Chinese data; requires China representatives for foreigners. No certification but ongoing CAC audits; 6-12 months typical.

What It Is

Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) is a globally recognized process improvement framework developed by the Software Engineering Institute and now governed by ISACA. It provides a structured approach to enhancing organizational performance through maturity levels and practice areas, focusing on development, services, and acquisition domains. CMMI uses a goal-oriented methodology emphasizing institutionalization of practices for predictable outcomes.

Key Components

• **Maturity Levels (0-5)From incomplete to optimizing processes.
• 25 Practice Areas in v2.0, grouped into Doing, Managing, Enabling, Improving categories.
• **Generic PracticesEnsure institutionalization across areas.
• **SCAMPI AppraisalsClass A/B/C for benchmarking capability.

Why Organizations Use It

• Improves predictability, reduces rework, boosts productivity.
• Meets contractual requirements in defense, regulated sectors.
• Mitigates risks via measurement and controls.
• Enhances competitive bidding and stakeholder confidence.

Implementation Overview

Phased approach: gap analysis, piloting, training, appraisal. Applies to mid-to-large organizations in IT, software, aerospace. Involves process tailoring, Agile integration; formal SCAMPI A certification optional but valued.