What is ISO/IEC 27018:2019?
ISO/IEC 27018:2019 is a specialized international standard developed to establish commonly accepted control objectives, controls, and guidelines for implementing measures to protect personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud computing environments. It specifically addresses cloud service providers (CSPs) acting as PII processors under contractual agreements with data controllers. 
This standard is a privacy-specific extension of ISO/IEC 27002 and supports alignment with global privacy regulations like the GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA. It enhances trust between cloud customers and providers by ensuring transparent, accountable, and secure handling of PII.
To begin implementation or compliance assessment for ISO/IEC 27018, contact support@pacificcert.com.
Scope and Applicability
ISO/IEC 27018:2019 applies to cloud service providers that process PII on behalf of clients (PII controllers). It is suitable for:
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) providers
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendors
- Public cloud data processors operating globally
This standard is relevant for organizations providing services that involve storing, managing, or transmitting personal data across shared cloud infrastructures. It bridges the gap between cloud-specific operations and general data protection laws.
Certification Process and Procedure
ISO/IEC 27018 it can be integrated into an existing ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System (ISMS) and evaluated during a certification audit. The typical steps include:
- Conducting a cloud-specific privacy gap analysis
- Identifying applicable PII data categories and client agreements
- Mapping ISO/IEC 27018 controls into the organization’s ISO/IEC 27001 ISMS
- Implementing contractual, technical, and organizational measures for PII protection
- Training staff and third parties on privacy-specific cloud handling procedures
- Documenting transparency policies, access requests, and breach notification protocols
- Undergoing an ISO/IEC 27001 audit with ISO/IEC 27018 mapped into the Statement of Applicability (SoA)
Documentation Required
Key documentation elements to demonstrate alignment with ISO/IEC 27018 include:
- Data processing and sub-processing agreements
- PII processing records and consent tracking mechanisms
- Breach response and incident handling procedures
- Data localization and cross-border transfer policies
- Third-party vendor agreements and compliance assessments
- User access logs and audit trails
- Privacy notice templates for cloud consumers
- Risk assessments tailored to multi-tenant cloud environments
Pacific Certifications provides guidance and templates to streamline documentation, support@pacificcert.com.
Eligibility Criteria
Any public cloud service provider acting as a data processor can adopt ISO/IEC 27018 controls, particularly those:
- Already compliant with or certified to ISO/IEC 27001
- Operating in heavily regulated sectors such as finance, health, or e-commerce
- Handling multi-national data subject records subject to varying privacy laws
- Seeking to differentiate themselves through strong privacy assurance to clients
ISO/IEC 27018 is often requested during procurement, especially by enterprises and government clients concerned about vendor data practices.
Certification Costs
Because ISO/IEC 27018 is an add-on to ISO/IEC 27001, costs depend on whether the organization has an existing ISMS. Typical ranges include:
- For CSPs already ISO/IEC 27001 certified: $3,000 – $6,000 for ISO/IEC 27018 integration
- For new ISMS + ISO/IEC 27018 adoption: $10,000 – $20,000+ including training, risk assessments, and audit readiness
Request a tailored quotation for your organization at support@pacificcert.com.
Certification Timeline
- Gap Analysis and Mapping to ISO/IEC 27001: 2–3 weeks
- Control Implementation and Documentation: 3–5 weeks
- Staff Training and Internal Review: 2–3 weeks
- External Audit Integration (if under ISO/IEC 27001): 1–2 weeks
Average implementation timeline: 8–12 weeks, depending on cloud complexity and client-specific contract obligations.
Requirements of ISO/IEC 27018:2019
ISO/IEC 27018 introduces cloud-specific privacy enhancements on top of ISO/IEC 27002, including:
- Consent and Purpose Limitation: Ensure data processing is limited to the purposes agreed with the customer, with appropriate data subject consent mechanisms
- Transparency to Cloud Customers: Provide accessible privacy policies, audit reports, and breach disclosures
- Data Subject Access and Correction: Enable controllers to fulfill obligations to provide access, correction, and deletion of PII
- Data Minimization and Retention: Limit retention of PII to what is necessary for service delivery, with clear deletion timelines
- Cross-Border Transfers: Implement safeguards for PII transferred to jurisdictions with differing privacy protections
- Sub-Processor Accountability: Control and disclose all subcontracted processors, ensuring they uphold equivalent privacy practices
- Incident Management: Maintain robust logging, breach detection, and notification procedures
- Security Controls: Use encryption, pseudonymization, access control, and monitoring tailored for cloud architectures
These requirements provide a practical checklist for cloud providers to mitigate reputational, operational, and regulatory risks.
Contact us at support@pacificcert.com to know more!
Benefits of ISO/IEC 27018 Implementation
- Demonstrates commitment to privacy and regulatory compliance
- Increases client confidence and contractual competitiveness
- Enhances readiness for audits by customers or regulators
- Supports GDPR, HIPAA, and cross-border data transfer accountability
- Strengthens vendor governance across the cloud ecosystem
- Enables seamless integration with ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701
- Improves transparency and service trust in multi-tenant environments
Cloud computing adoption continues to surge, with increasing emphasis on privacy and jurisdictional data compliance. Customers are demanding more transparency and accountability from service providers. ISO/IEC 27018 has emerged as a benchmark for cloud privacy assurance and is often included in vendor RFPs.
The standard is gaining traction among hyperscalers, managed service providers, and industry-specific platforms offering SaaS, PaaS, and cloud-based APIs. With regulatory enforcement increasing globally, ISO/IEC 27018 enables organizations to meet multi-jurisdictional expectations for data governance in a consistent, internationally recognized way.
Stay ahead of evolving cloud privacy risks with ISO/IEC 27018, contact support@pacificcert.com.
How Pacific Certifications Can Help
Pacific Certifications provides end-to-end support for:
- ISO/IEC 27001 + ISO/IEC 27018 implementation
- Cloud risk assessments and privacy mapping
- Contractual review and third-party audit alignment
- Documentation and evidence readiness
- Mock audits and ISO/IEC 27001 Statement of Applicability updates
Ensure your cloud privacy assurance is audit-ready, contact support@pacificcert.com.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can ISO/IEC 27018 be certified independently?
No, it is implemented in conjunction with ISO/IEC 27001 and evaluated as part of the ISMS.
Who should adopt ISO/IEC 27018?
Cloud providers acting as data processors handling PII under contractual obligations.
Is ISO/IEC 27018 suitable for hybrid or private clouds?
While the standard is designed for public clouds, its controls can be adapted to other deployment models with appropriate tailoring.
How does it relate to ISO/IEC 27701?
ISO/IEC 27018 focuses specifically on cloud processor privacy practices, whereas ISO/IEC 27701 provides a broader privacy management framework for both controllers and processors.
Is ISO/IEC 27018 recognized globally?
Yes, it is referenced in procurement and compliance frameworks across the EU, US, APAC, and other regulatory jurisdictions.
Ready to get ISO 27018 certified?
Contact Pacific Certifications to begin your certification journey today!
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