ENHANCING GDPR WITH ISO STANDARDS

Integrating GDPR Compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701

In the complex landscape of data protection and privacy, two key frameworks stand out: the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ISO standards. While GDPR sets legal requirements for protecting personal data of EU citizens, ISO/IEC 27001 and its extension, ISO/IEC 27701, provide international standards for managing information security and privacy. Understanding the distinctions and synergies between these frameworks can help organisations create a robust and complementary approach to data protection.

Legal Requirements vs. International Standards

The GDPR is a regulation enacted by the European Union to enforce strict data protection and privacy measures. Its requirements are legal mandates, not recommendations. Non-compliance can result in severe penalties, including fines up to €20 million or 4% of an organisation's annual global turnover, whichever is higher. Key GDPR requirements include:

• Data Protection Principles: Lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation, data minimization, accuracy, storage limitation, integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.

• Data Subject Rights: Rights to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object.

• Data Protection Officer (DPO): Mandatory for certain organisations to oversee data protection strategies and compliance.

• Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA): Required for high-risk processing activities to identify and mitigate risks.

• Record of Processing Activities (RoPA): Detailed documentation of data processing activities.

ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability. ISO/IEC 27701 is an extension of ISO/IEC 27001, focusing specifically on Privacy Information Management Systems (PIMS). It offers guidelines for managing privacy risks and supports GDPR compliance by incorporating privacy principles into the ISMS framework.

By integrating GDPR compliance with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701, organisations can develop a comprehensive approach to data protection that leverages the strengths of both legal requirements and international standards. Here’s how this combination works:

The Winning Combination: Present You's Expertise

At Present You, we understand the complexities of both GDPR compliance and ISO standards. Our expertise in integrating these frameworks ensures that your organisation not only meets legal requirements but also adopts best practices for data protection and privacy management.

• Gap Analysis: We identify compliance gaps and provide targeted recommendations to align your practices with GDPR, ISO/IEC 27001, and ISO/IEC 27701.

• Policy Development: Our experts help you develop robust data protection and privacy policies that meet the highest standards.

• Risk Assessments and DPIAs: We conduct thorough risk assessments and DPIAs to identify and mitigate risks to personal data.

• Privacy Information Management: We assist in establishing and maintaining a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) in line with ISO/IEC 27701.

• Incident Response Planning: We help you develop and implement effective incident response plans to manage data breaches and privacy incidents.

• Training and Awareness: Our training programs ensure your staff understands their roles in protecting personal data and maintaining compliance with GDPR and ISO standards.

Integrating GDPR compliance with the ISO standards a comprehensive and robust approach to data protection and privacy management. By leveraging the strengths of these frameworks, organisations can ensure legal compliance, enhance data security, and build customer trust.

At Present You, our expertise in both GDPR and ISO positions us uniquely to support your organisation in achieving sustained compliance and operational excellence. Contact us today.