ISO/IEC 27701 addresses privacy information management. The 2025 edition is an independent management system standard. Describing it only as an extension to ISO 27001, as the 2019 edition was, is no longer accurate.
What does it add?
A privacy information management system, or PIMS, addresses why personal information is processed, the responsibilities involved, and the controls that support responsible handling. It can align with an existing information security management system.
When is it useful?
It can help when customers repeatedly ask about processing records, supplier agreements, information transfers, retention, and individual rights, but the answers are scattered across legal and IT teams. SaaS, HR, finance, and health technology businesses may encounter these questions frequently.
Start with the actual obligations
Map the information and the organization’s role, then determine the applicable legal and contractual requirements. A standard can help organize the work, but does not itself establish compliance with every privacy law.