ISO 27701 Checklist

What ISO 27701 Is and Why It Matters

ISO 27701 is the privacy extension of ISO 27001, designed to help organizations implement a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) integrated with their existing ISMS. Published in 2019, the standard translates privacy-by-design principles into concrete management requirements — specifying how organizations should collect, process, store, and share personal data responsibly. In a regulatory landscape shaped by GDPR, LGPD, and CCPA, ISO 27701 provides a structured framework for demonstrating compliance with multiple data protection laws simultaneously.

Who Needs ISO 27701

ISO 27701 is especially relevant for organizations that process significant volumes of personal data belonging to customers, employees, or users — whether as data controllers or as data processors. Companies that already hold ISO 27001 certification and need to address GDPR, LGPD, or CCPA requirements will find that ISO 27701 offers the most direct path to formalizing their privacy governance. Enterprise customers and regulators are increasingly demanding documented evidence that personal data handling follows internationally recognized standards.

What This Checklist Covers

This checklist covers the core domains of a PIMS as defined by ISO 27701. It includes privacy governance and accountability structure, data mapping and records of processing activities, legal basis for personal data processing, fulfillment of data subject rights (access, rectification, erasure, portability), management of sub-processors and third-party vendors, privacy incident response and data breach notification, and personal data retention and disposal policies. Each element represents a verifiable requirement that auditors and regulatory authorities will examine.

The Complementarity Between ISO 27001 and ISO 27701

ISO 27701 does not replace ISO 27001 — it extends it. While ISO 27001 establishes the foundation for information security, ISO 27701 adds the privacy-specific controls that transform your ISMS into a truly comprehensive data protection system. Organizations that have already invested in ISO 27001 have a significant head start: much of the structure is already in place, and ISO 27701 can be implemented incrementally on top of that foundation.

How Imara Trust Supports Your Privacy Journey

Imara Trust integrates ISO 27701 privacy controls directly into your compliance dashboard, allowing you to manage both your ISMS and PIMS from a single platform. With automated data mapping, consent monitoring, and audit trails ready for regulators, your team can demonstrate privacy compliance without multiplying tools or processes. Fill out the form below to receive the full checklist and build a definitive privacy governance program.