What is ISO 27018?
ISO 27018 is the international standard for protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in public cloud computing environments. It extends ISO 27001/27002 with cloud-specific privacy controls.
Why ISO 27018 Matters
Cloud computing has transformed how organizations handle data, but it introduces unique privacy challenges:
- Data residency - Where is your data physically stored?
- Multi-tenancy - How is your data isolated from others?
- Subprocessing - Who else has access to your data?
- Transparency - Can you see what happens to your data?
Key Concepts
PII (Personally Identifiable Information)
Any information that can identify an individual:
- Names, addresses, phone numbers
- Email addresses
- Government IDs
- IP addresses
- Biometric data
Cloud Service Provider (CSP)
The organization providing cloud services that processes PII on behalf of customers.
Cloud Customer (PII Principal)
The organization using cloud services whose customers' PII is being processed.
ISO 27018 vs GDPR
| Aspect | ISO 27018 | GDPR |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Voluntary standard | Legal requirement |
| Scope | Cloud-specific | All data processing |
| Geography | International | EU/EEA |
| Enforcement | Certification audit | Data protection authorities |
ISO 27018 certification helps demonstrate GDPR compliance but doesn't guarantee it.
Core Principles
- Consent - Clear purpose for processing
- Transparency - Know what happens to data
- Limitation - Only process what's necessary
- Accountability - CSP responsibilities defined
- Security - Appropriate technical measures
Who Needs ISO 27018?
- Cloud service providers handling customer PII
- SaaS companies with EU customers
- Healthcare cloud providers
- Financial services cloud platforms
- Any cloud service processing personal data
Next Lesson: The relationship between ISO 27018, 27001, and 27002.