ISO/IEC 27701:2025
Privacy Information Management System (PIMS)
What is ISO/IEC 27701:2025?
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 is an international standard that specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS).
The standard provides a comprehensive framework for managing personally identifiable information (PII). It helps organisations protect privacy and demonstrate compliance with applicable regulations, including the GDPR.
Key features of the new 2025 edition
The new edition introduces significant improvements:
- • Standalone standard: ISO/IEC 27701:2025 no longer depends on ISO/IEC 27001. It can therefore be implemented on its own, without first implementing ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
- • Clearer structure and distinction between roles (controller/processor)
- • Stronger focus on accountability, governance and performance measurement
- • Better alignment with global data protection regulations
- • Improved integration with other ISO standards
Who is the standard intended for?
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 applies to any organisation that:
- • collects, processes or stores personal data
- • acts as a personal data controller or processor
- • provides services involving the processing of information
- • wishes to demonstrate a high level of privacy protection
The standard is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large organisations in both the public and private sectors.
What is the purpose of the standard?
The main purpose of ISO/IEC 27701:2025 is to help organisations:
- • manage personal data effectively
- • reduce the risk of breaches and information leakage
- • protect the rights of data subjects
- • demonstrate compliance with legal and regulatory requirements
- • build trust with customers, partners and regulators
Benefits of implementation
Implementing ISO/IEC 27701:2025 offers a number of benefits:
- • Improved protection of personal data
- • Better risk management
- • Greater transparency and accountability
- • More straightforward GDPR compliance
- • Greater trust among customers and partners
- • A competitive advantage in the market
Core requirements of the standard
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 includes requirements relating to:
- • privacy risk management
- • the definition of roles and responsibilities
- • data lifecycle management
- • the implementation of technical and organisational measures
- • incident and security breach management
- • staff training and awareness
Relationship with other standards
ISO/IEC 27701:2025:
- • can be implemented as a standalone standard
- • can be integrated with ISO/IEC 27001 and other management systems
- • uses a structure compatible with other ISO standards
This enables organisations to build integrated management systems.
Implementation process
Implementation of the standard typically includes the following stages:
- 1. Current-state assessment (gap analysis)
- 2. Risk identification
- 3. Development of policies and procedures
- 4. Implementation of controls
- 5. Staff training
- 6. Internal audit
- 7. Preparation for certification
ISO/IEC 27701:2025 certification
Certification confirms that the organisation operates an effective privacy information management system.
The process includes:
- • an external audit by a certification body
- • an assessment of conformity with the requirements
- • the issue of a certificate following a successful audit
Why choose ISO/IEC 27701:2025?
Against a backdrop of stricter regulatory requirements and growing cyber risks, ISO/IEC 27701:2025 provides:
- • a structured approach to protecting personal data
- • clearly defined processes and responsibilities
- • a means of demonstrating compliance
- • a sound foundation for privacy management
How can we help?
We provide a comprehensive implementation strategy for ISO/IEC 27701:2025, including:
- • conformity assessment
- • development of documentation
- • implementation of policies and procedures
- • preparation for certification
- • ongoing system support and development