In today’s world of internet and social media, security of information and data privacy has emerged as one of the biggest issues of concern for organizations all over the world. Two crucial standards that help to solve these problems are ISO 27001 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). While ISO 27001 is an international standard that outlines guidelines for implementing an information security management system, GDPR is a regulatory regime that governs the handling of personal information in the European Union.
The article provides an overview of the main principles and requirements of both standards, the scope of their application and their similarities, as well as the advantages of their application. Therefore, by following these standards, organizations can strengthen their information security and meet the requirements of data protection legislation.
Understanding ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is the international standard that provides the specification for an ISMS which is an Information Security Management System. This standard lays down a step-by-step process for the protection of sensitive information from unauthorized access while also guaranteeing its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The main goal of ISO 27001 is to provide an effective framework to safeguard an organization’s information from any form of threat such as access, disclosure, modification, or destruction. ISMS when aligned with the ISO 27001 framework would ensure that an organization has embraced information security and can assure its stakeholders.
Key Principles of ISO 27001
Confidentiality is one of the fundamental concepts of the ISO 27001. This principle makes sure that the information is disclosed only to authorized individuals or organizations. To ensure the security of information in the organizations, they must adopt effective means of access control, encryption, etc. This not only helps in protecting the organization’s ideas and information but also helps in protecting customer details and other sensitive information.
Another very important principle of ISO 27001 is the integrity of information. This principle deals with the preservation of the integrity of the content and its consistency during its life cycle. To ensure data integrity, organizations have to put in place measures that would discourage change to the data by persons not permitted to do so. This is most relevant when data integrity is relevant in production, something seen in healthcare or financial sectors.
The third important concept of the ISO 27001 is availability. In this principle, information is made available to the users who have the right to access the information in question at the time of need. The contingency plan entails that measures be put in place to ensure that the systems are up and running at all times, data is not lost, and can be easily restored if it is lost. This principle is very vital in ensuring the continuity of business and the satisfaction of the customers.
Understanding GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive data protection law enacted in 2018. It concerns all the companies that collect personal data of individuals, irrespective of the company’s location, but if the data belongs to an EU citizen. GDPR’s main objective is to empower individuals with rights over their data and to provide unity in the protection of these rights across EU countries.
Key Requirements of GDPR
GDPR brings the following major principles that organizations must ensure while processing personal data. Among the key principles, is the principle of lawful, fair, and transparent data processing. This means that for personal data to be processed there has to be a legal reason to do so for instance consent from the data subject or in the interest of the organization. They also need to disclose how they gather, process, and retain individuals’ personal information.
Another regulation that is also mandatory under GDPR is purpose limitation. Personal data must be collected for the purpose for which it is required and the purpose must be reasonable, stated, and legitimate. They cannot apply the data for other purposes that are not in line with the intended use without the further permission of the users. This principle lets people know how data collected on them will be used, which also protects people from organizations that misuse the information collected on them.
Data minimization is another concept in GDPR that entails organizations to obtain and process only the personal data that is relevant for that purpose. Its purpose is to minimize the probability of data leakage and unauthorized usage of personal information by minimizing the amount of such information in the organization’s possession.
GDPR also lays great emphasis on the accuracy of data. It is required by law that organizations must do all that is reasonably possible to keep the personal data they hold accurate and up to date. They also must give individuals the right to erase their data which is inaccurate. The principle is fundamental to the quality of data held and the fairness of decisions made based on personal data.
The storage limitation principle also holds that personal data ought to be stored for only the specified time needed for the data to be used for its collected purpose. Personal data must be retained and processed based on a set retention policy that outlines the duration for which each type of data will be stored and when they should be erased or made anonymous.
The intersection of ISO 27001 and GDPR
Although ISO 27001 and GDPR are not the same and have different goals, there are many similarities between them. ISO 27001 companies will realize that the majority of the GDPR requirements are already covered by ISO 27001 in matters of information security and data security.
1. Risk Management
ISO 27001 and GDPR are similar in that they both mandate that risks concerning information security and data protection be identified, evaluated, and addressed. Risk management is part of the ISO 27001 framework through risk assessment and treatment, which can be applied to GDPR-specific risks in processing personal data.
2. Access Control
Another area that is rather similar to ISO 27001 and GDPR is access control. Both standards state the need to apply necessary controls on access to data that needs special protection. ISO 27001 offers recommendations on how access control can be done and what measures should be in place in an organization while GDPR states that the technical and organizational measures should be put in place so that the personal data processed should only be accessed by permitted persons.
3. Data Protection
Privacy is a major concern in both standards. In the case of ISO 27001, offers a complete guide on how to manage information assets, which include personal data. GDPR has been particularly clear on the need for organizations to have relevant technical and organizational measures that will protect the data from the following; unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. When following ISO 27001 controls, many of the data protection obligations of GDPR are covered by an organization.
4. Incident Management
Business disruption and operational risk management is another category where both ISO 27001 and GDPR overlap. All the two standards demand that organizations develop a plan to deal with security incidences and data breaches. ISO 27001 offers recommendations for implementing the incident management procedure, and GDPR adds new regulations for notifying the supervisory authorities and the affected people about data breaches within certain time limits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is possible to note that ISO 27001 and GDPR are two important standards that are crucial in today’s world with their focus on information management. Although ISO 27001 is a good road map to adopt measures to control information assets, the GDPR contains specific provisions for the protection of the personal data of EU citizens. Such standards, if understood and implemented, help organizations improve their security status, meet legal requirements concerning data protection, and gain the trust of their counterparts. These standards are only going to become more important as the digital environment continues to change.
ISO R US collaborates closely with businesses in various industries to attain and sustain ISO standards. We are the number one ISO 2700 Consultant offering 27001 Certification in Australia. We play a crucial role in helping companies navigate the complex requirements of ISO 27001 and GDPR, ensuring they remain at the forefront of information security and data protection practices.
