ISO 27000 family of standards covers a broad spectrum of business activities from information security to data privacy. However, 27000 family standards apply to all organisations and are mandatory for businesses collecting and complying with huge amounts of users’ data. The entire world is swiftly transforming into a more connected and digital interface to provide users with better facilities and make life more comfortable.

The full name of the ISO 27000 family is the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards, as these standards are jointly formulated and published by the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

1.ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS)

2. ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Certification for Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS)

3. ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Certification- extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701

ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) outlines the requirements for an organisation to adopt and implement appropriate security controls to attain information security. The standard provides the organisation with the best sets of practices and measures to safeguard the vast amount of users’ data. However, the certification not only demonstrates the organisation’s adherence to the information security regulations but also showcases its responsible behaviour towards the users’ data.

An effective information security system within the organisation regularly monitors and ensures the following aspects:

1. It requires an organisation to conduct a risk assessment to identify the potential threats and risks to the valuable data assets.

2. The next step after conducting a risk assessment is to outline appropriate strategies and frameworks to address and eliminate the identified data security risks and threats.

3. An organisation must evaluate, monitor, and analyse the effectiveness of the implemented security controls and tools to ensure information and data security.

4. Lastly, the principle of continuous improvement is the cornerstone of ISO/IEC 27001 to attain the intended outcome.

ISO/IEC 27002 is an extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701 certifications that aims to provide the organisation to establish, implement, and improve security controls to enhance cybersecurity. Additionally, ISO/IEC 27002 forms part of Annex A Controls of ISMS and provides the organisation with better controls and practices to protect and safeguard users’ data.

ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Certification is an internationally known for Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS). The standard guides organisations, including Information Technology (IT) Companies, such as SaaS and Cloud Computing, to comply with privacy and information regulations. Moreover, ISO/IEC 27701 outlines the framework for Personally Identifiable Information (PII) controllers and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) processors to maintain users’ data privacy.

ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification aligns with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to give users the right to access personal information. Moreover, it allows users to manage who can see their confidential data and how and where to use it.

Information Security Management System and Privacy Information Management Systems seem to be the same on the surface; however, they are two different yet significant sides of the same coin: data protection. Privacy is a user’s personal information and how s/he allows the other party to access and view it. However, security means protecting the collected and stored data and information with the various organisations. Cybersecurity encompasses both privacy and information security and helps organisations safeguard data against unauthorised access to eliminate leaks and data breaches.

Organisations can find the data protection concepts and regulations in ISO/IEC 27701. However, ISO/IEC 27701 is also a part of the security requirements of ISO 27001 standards. Organisations need to define baselines for 27001 to build 27701 policies, processes, and implementation technologies. Hence, it becomes necessary for organisations to obtain ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Certification despite having ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Certification due to the following reasons:

1. Information Security Management System (ISMS) ensures the protection of the valuable data assets of clients and customers. Moreover, the certification provides the organisation with essential resources and controls to manage information security. ISO/IEC 27001 also establishes a flexible framework for oversight and establishing accountability within the organisation’s information security procedures.

2. ISO/IEC 27701 outlines the framework for a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). Furthermore, since the PIMS includes many of the ISMS’s key components, it is an extension of the organisation’s existing ISMS. Businesses need to ensure expanding 27001 controls to meet the criteria while drafting policies and procedures for data protection.

ISO/IEC 27701:2019 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications work together to provide organisations with better security controls to ensure information security and data privacy. However, the purpose and objective behind publishing both standards vary, as one works to provide tools and controls to attain information security. Whereas the other ensures the protection of users’ private and confidential information.