ISO/IEC 27701 is the international standard that extends ISO/IEC 27001 with a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). Put simply : what ISO 27001 does for information security, ISO 27701 does for privacy. And here is the opportunity : with the GDPR now consolidated, the AI Act coming into play and NIS2 requiring data protection, the convergence between security and privacy is the clear direction of the market. In this article, I explain what ISO 27701 is, how it connects to the GDPR and why Lead Implementer is one of the most promising privacy certifications for 2026.

What ISO/IEC 27701 is and what a PIMS is

ISO/IEC 27701, published in 2019, is an international standard that defines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It is an extension of ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002, not a standalone standard.

A PIMS is to privacy what an ISMS is to security : a formal, auditable and certifiable framework that demonstrates that your organisation manages personal data systematically, not on an ad hoc basis. It covers both the role of data controller and that of data processor, with specific requirements for each.

Why it matters today more than ever : with NIS2 requiring information security management, the AI Act demanding data governance for AI systems and the GDPR now consolidated, serious organisations are bringing it all together into a single system. ISO 27701 is the piece that unites security and privacy under one management framework.

Its relationship with ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27701 does not work on its own : it requires an ISMS compliant with ISO/IEC 27001 as its foundation. The standard extends the requirements of 27001 with privacy-specific clauses and adds two new annexes :

  • Annex A : controls specific to data controllers.
  • Annex B : controls specific to data processors.

In practice, if your organisation already has ISO 27001, getting certified in 27701 is an add-on, not a rebuild. Certification bodies understand it as an "extension" of the existing 27001 certificate. This significantly reduces the cost and duration of the project.

How it connects to the GDPR

This is the most important reading for the European market. ISO 27701 is not certifiable as proof of GDPR compliance (there is no official GDPR certification), but implementing a PIMS compliant with 27701 covers the vast majority of the GDPR's requirements.

In fact, Annex D of the standard includes a detailed mapping between the articles of the GDPR and the clauses of 27701. Implementing 27701 rigorously means, in practice :

  • Having a complete and up-to-date record of processing activities.
  • Documenting the lawful bases for each processing operation.
  • Managing data subjects' rights through formal processes.
  • Having an auditable data protection impact assessment (DPIA) process.
  • Managing breaches with defined timescales and templates.
  • Documenting international transfers along with their safeguards.

This is why many organisations that have already done the work of becoming GDPR compliant move on to 27701 : it allows them to consolidate everything they already have within a certifiable framework.

What the Lead Implementer course covers

The PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27701 Lead Implementer course is an intensive five-day training. The programme covers :

  1. Fundamentals and context. Privacy concepts, relationship with the GDPR, principles of a PIMS.
  2. Planning and implementing the PIMS. Building on an ISMS compliant with ISO 27001, extending it to privacy.
  3. Privacy risk analysis. DPIA, identifying high-risk processing, methodology.
  4. Implementing the controls in Annexes A and B. Controls specific to data controllers and data processors.
  5. Measurement, continual improvement and audit preparation. Metrics, management review and preparation for certification.

Which profiles it is relevant for

ISO 27701 Lead Implementer is particularly suited to these profiles :

  • An already-certified DPO who wants to open up to the international framework and to certification.
  • A privacy consultant who wants to offer PIMS implementation services beyond basic GDPR compliance.
  • A security manager (CISO) with ISO 27001 who wants to extend the ISMS to privacy.
  • A compliance manager in heavily regulated sectors (banking, healthcare, insurance) where privacy is critical.
  • A data processor who wants to get certified to demonstrate its trustworthiness to its data-controller clients.

Why it is a certification for the future

Three reasons to bet on ISO 27701 now :

First: regulatory convergence. The AI Act introduces specific data governance requirements for AI systems. NIS2 strengthens information security. The GDPR is still there. The convergence is a PIMS that unifies it all. ISO 27701 is the answer.

Second: certifiable and demonstrable. Unlike the GDPR (which is not formally certified), 27701 is certifiable. More and more B2B clients (particularly in regulated sectors) require their suppliers to hold 27001 + 27701 as proof of privacy trustworthiness.

Third: a low barrier to entry for those who already have 27001. If your organisation (or your clients) already have ISO 27001, adding 27701 is a manageable project. This creates growing and, above all, stable demand.

ISO 27701 is the piece that unites security and privacy under one management framework. In 2026, it will be the certification that sets serious privacy professionals apart from those who only know the GDPR on the surface.

Training and getting certified

If you want to take the step towards official PECB certification, the ISO/IEC 27701 Lead Implementer course is the direct route : official PECB Self-Study to progress at your own pace and prepare for the certification exam.