GDPR, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701 help protect data privacy and security, but they serve different roles. This guide explains how they compare, where they overlap, and how ISO certification can support GDPR compliance. Also, get a GDPR-ISO control map.

How do GDPR, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701 compare?

GDPR, ISO 27001, and ISO 27701 all aim to keep personal data safe, but they do it in different ways. GDPR is a data privacy law that applies across the European Union. ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 are global standards that companies choose to follow to help protect people’s information.

GDPR, which stands for General Data Protection Regulation, tells organizations what they must do to protect personal data, using principles such as data minimization, accountability, and lawful processing. ISO 27001, from the International Organization for Standardization, provides a management framework for securing information broadly, while ISO 27701 extends that framework to include privacy-specific requirements. Together, ISO 27001 and 27701 offer a structured, auditable way to implement the technical and organizational measures that GDPR demands.

A 2020 study, “Developing an Integrated ISO 27701 and GDPR-Based Information Privacy Compliance Requirements Model,” reinforces the connection between these frameworks. The authors highlight the complexity that organizations face in complying with multiple data privacy laws and propose ISO 27701 as a practical foundation for building integrated systems. As the paper states, “Designing a system to meet with different compliance requirements poses one of the greatest challenges for individuals and organizations operating in a global multi-national environment.”

“ISO 27701 is one of the best privacy standards we have,” says Micah Spieler, Chief Product Officer at Strike Graph. “Over 160 national data standards now exist, but ISO 27701 surpasses them in its all-encompassing guidance for protecting personal data and supporting data transparency and accountability.”

Differences between GDPR and ISO 27001:2022

GDPR and ISO 27001:2022 differ in several key ways, including their purpose, legal status, and focus. GDPR is a law that protects people’s privacy rights in the EU. ISO 27001:2022 is a global standard that helps organizations protect all types of data through an information security management system (ISMS).

ISO 27001:2022 builds on ISO 27001:2013 by strengthening its focus on organization-wide security. It highlights the role of leadership, promotes a risk-based approach, and includes updated controls to address new cybersecurity threats. These changes make the standard more flexible and better suited to today’s security challenges. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes and maintains the ISO series of standards.

While ISO 27001 is voluntary and relies on third-party certification, GDPR is enforced by government authorities across the EU. Each EU member state has a national Data Protection Authority (DPA) that monitors compliance and investigates complaints. These authorities work together through the European Data Protection Board (EDPB), which ensures consistent enforcement. The European Commission proposes privacy laws, and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) interprets how they apply. Examples of DPAs include the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and France’s CNIL.

Below is a closer look at how GDPR and ISO 27001:2022 differ across key areas: 

• Data privacy vs. data security: GDPR focuses on data privacy, ensuring proper handling of personal data.  ISO 27001:2022 is a framework for information security management and emphasizes risk management processes to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. GDPR is regulatory, while ISO 27001 is a certification standard for security practices.

• Focus on individuals vs. data system: Through GDPR, citizens and residents of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) have extended rights to control their data as they share it with businesses and government entities. On the other hand, ISO 27001 describes how an organization protects its data system. 

• Regulatory vs. voluntary: GDPR is a law; ISO 27001 is voluntary. Businesses within the GDPR jurisdiction, including US businesses operating in the EU, must comply with GDPR or face high fines and severe penalties. There are no penalties for non-compliance with ISO 27001. However, organizations in highly regulated industries or those that process personal data may need to achieve ISO 27001 certification to meet partner or industry requirements. 

• Legal accountability vs. certification: GDPR says organizations must use strong tools and processes to protect personal data. It states that any organization managing personal data is accountable for protecting data with suitable technical and operational controls. ISO 27001, on the other hand, provides voluntary certification that systems and processes are in place to protect personal data.
• Accountability: In GDPR, accountability means companies make sure they handle personal data legally, safely, and openly. They must show they follow the rules by keeping records, doing risk checks, and having clear data protection plans. In ISO 27001, accountability means companies must have a system (called an Information Security Management System, or ISMS) to manage risks. This system helps them apply security measures, do audits, and keep improving to protect data and make sure it stays safe, correct, and available.
• Scope of application: GDPR is a legal requirement that focuses on protecting personal data and the privacy of individuals in the EU and European Economic Area (EEA). ISO 27001:2022 is a global information security standard applicable to all organizations managing sensitive information. ISO 27001 covers broader security concerns beyond personal data and emphasizes risk management and security controls.
  
  

Differences between GDPR and ISO 27701

GDPR and ISO 27701 differ in purpose, legal status, and scope. GDPR is a law that gives people rights over their personal data. ISO 27701 is a voluntary standard that helps organizations build privacy programs and meet the goals of privacy laws like GDPR, but it does not replace them.

Unlike GDPR, which sets legal rules, ISO 27701 gives organizations a structured way to build privacy programs. It extends ISO 27001 by adding privacy-focused requirements that help companies meet goals set by GDPR and similar laws. It also introduces a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS), which adds privacy controls to an existing ISMS. First released in 2019 and updated in 2022, ISO 27701 also includes guidance from ISO 27002 and covers roles, risk management, and third-party privacy practices.

Below are key differences between GDPR and ISO 27701 across privacy governance and operations:

• Accountability and roles: GDPR Article 24 defines legal responsibilities for two specific roles: the data controller, who decides how personal data is used, and the data processor, who handles data on the controller’s behalf. ISO 27701, as a voluntary standard, allows organizations to define these roles within their Privacy Information Management System (PIMS).
  
  
• Privacy risk management: GDPR requires a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for processing activities that pose high risks to individuals’ privacy. ISO 27701 supports this by providing a framework for identifying privacy risks, reducing threats, and applying privacy-by-design principles to new or updated systems and processes.
  
  
• Third-party management: Under GDPR, contracts with third-party vendors need to outline expectations and responsibilities for protecting personal information. ISO 27701 guides companies in assessing third-party privacy risks, continually monitoring vendors’ security stances, and responding to threats and personal data breaches. 
  
  

How GDPR overlaps with ISO 27001:2022 

GDPR and ISO 27001 both help protect data. They require risk checks, ways to limit who can access information, and clear plans for handling problems. They also ask companies to train employees and check vendor security. 

Here’s an overview of how GDPR overlaps with ISO 27001:2022:

• Data protection and privacy: Both standards strive to protect data confidentiality, availability, and integrity (CIA). GDPR requires rigorous risk assessments for personal data handling. ISO 27001 outlines the structure for ensuring privacy and security. 

• Access control and security (ACS) measures: Both standards emphasize strong access control, including identity and access management (IAM), data loss prevention (DLP), encryption, and pseudonymization. ISO 27001 provides detailed guidance on implementing technical and physical controls.  

• Incident response: Both standards mandate processes for incident response. Actions should include prompt threat identification and mitigation. 

• Awareness training: GDPR and ISO 27001 share common ground in emphasizing employee awareness of data privacy issues and general information security. The focus areas include understanding CIA so that sensitive data is handled properly, data breach reporting practices, and data subject rights. All information security and privacy is grounded in strong password protection and phishing awareness.

How GDPR overlaps with ISO 27701

GDPR and ISO 27701 both focus on protecting personal data. They share core principles such as gaining consent, managing privacy risks, overseeing third parties, and responding to data breaches. GDPR sets binding rules, while ISO gives guidelines for following them.

Here’s a deeper overview of how GDPR overlaps with ISO 27701:

• Privacy information management: Both GDPR and ISO 27701 promote strong privacy practices through shared principles, including privacy rights, data protection by design, and organizational and technical safeguards.
• Data subject rights: GDPR focuses on people's rights over their personal data. Both GDPR and ISO standards support these rights. This includes:
  • Data minimization: Companies should only collect the data they need.
  • Data accuracy: People have the right to correct their data.
  • Data integrity: Companies must make sure the data is accurate and complete.
  • Data transparency: Companies need to be clear about how and why they collect data.
  • Right to erasure (right to be forgotten): In some cases, people can ask to have their data deleted.
    
• Consent and lawful processing: GDPR mandates that data subjects must explicitly and freely consent to use their data. ISO 27701 outlines mechanisms for ensuring lawful, transparent processing. 
• Risk management and impact assessment: Risk and impact assessments are key to both ISO 27701 and GDPR. GDPR requires a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) for any activities involving personal data. ISO 27701 provides further guidance for risk management teams in defining the roles and principles of the PIA. 

• Third-party management: Both standards require organizations to confirm that partners and vendors who process personal data have strong data protection protocols. Organizations must exercise ongoing oversight to ensure third parties maintain robust data protection measures. 

• Breach management and notification: Both standards require organizations to identify and report high-risk data breaches within a specified time when individual privacy is threatened. GDPR contains an explicit mandate, while 27701 calls for notification according to organizational policy and local regulations.
• Governance and accountability: Both standards require strong data management and accountability. This includes having a data protection officer (DPO), who is the GDPR compliance officer, data protection impact assessments (DPIA), written rules for notifying data breaches, and strict data classification steps. GDPR makes these rules a must, and ISO 27701 provides a plan to follow. Privacy experts can help with DPIAs and explain why DPOs are needed.
  
  

Control mapping for GDPR vs ISO 27001:2022

Evidence mapping for GDPR vs. ISO 27001:2022

Downloadable map of GDPR vs. ISO 27001 controls and evidence

This chart maps GDPR legal requirements to corresponding security controls from ISO/IEC 27001:2022. While GDPR tells organizations what they must do to protect personal data, ISO 27001 provides a practical framework for how to do it. The chart helps organizations align their security practices with GDPR compliance goals by connecting legal obligations with technical controls.

Download the full Excel mapping of GDPR vs. ISO 27001 control and evidence overlaps.

When should a company do both ISO and GDPR compliance?

A company should follow both GDPR and ISO 27001 if it handles personal data from the EU and wants a clear way to manage security risks. ISO 27001 helps meet GDPR rules by adding structure, showing proof of protection, and lowering the risk of legal problems or lost trust.

Spieler says companies that need to follow GDPR will benefit significantly from pairing it with ISO 27001.

“Everyone who interacts with PII from EU citizens is required to comply with GDPR,” he says. “But, since there is such a strong overlap between GDPR and ISO frameworks, it’s much more efficient to tackle both at the same time. There’s no reason not to consider dual compliance. Any good GRC system will help streamline the overlaps between ISO and GDPR. So, why manage two different sets of controls when there is so much shared between both frameworks?”

Here are common situations where pursuing both GDPR compliance and ISO 27001 certification makes sense:

• Operations in EU countries: If you handle the data of people in the EU, you must follow GDPR rules. This is true even if your business is not based there. ISO 27001 lays the security foundation for GDPR compliance, Spieler says. 
• Handling sensitive personal data: If your company uses sensitive personal data, you should follow both GDPR and ISO rules, no matter where you're based. Sensitive data includes things like fingerprints, health records, race, religion, and political views. This kind of data can cause serious harm if leaked. 
• Operating in highly regulated industries: “It’s a nuance, but you can’t ‘consider’ complying with GDPR: it’s a law. You must comply with GDPR,” says Spieler. Adding ISO shows a strong commitment to data privacy and security. Strict local regulatory controls may also presume compliance with ISO in addition to GDPR.   
• Integrated security and privacy framework: Using both GDPR and ISO 27001 helps your company find and reduce privacy and security risks again and again. It makes it easier to protect sensitive information and follow rules.
• Client or partner requirements: If your clients and partners operate in the EU, they must comply with GDPR requirements. Your data processing agreements with them, which you should have, will specify that you manage data in compliance with GDPR.
• Mitigating legal and financial risks: The solid security framework combined with compliance helps companies to mitigate legal risks and reduce fines for non-compliance or data breaches. 
• Building trust and market reputation: Following these standards builds customer trust and boosts your brand.
  
  
• “Pursuing ISO specifically increases trust because of its focus on security controls,” says Elliott Harnagel, Product & Compliance Experience Strategist at Strike Graph. “The security requirements in GDPR are less impactful than the requirements in ISO since GDPR is designed as a data privacy regulation, not a cybersecurity standard.”
• Supporting long-term compliance: A solid foundation in information security and personal data privacy supports ongoing data breach risk management. ISO 27001 sets expectations for continuous process improvement, which helps an organization meet current GDPR requirements and dynamically adapt to new threats and regulations. 

Why pursue ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance at the same time?

Working simultaneously on ISO 27001 certification and GDPR compliance can save time and effort. Many of the same tools, checks, and documents apply to both. Doing them together helps reduce extra work, makes risk reviews easier, and improves how your company protects personal data.

An information security consultant can help guide your team through both standards by conducting risk assessments, drafting policies, training employees, and implementing strong data privacy and security protocols.

Time savings by doing ISO 27001 and GDPR 2 at the same time 

By doing ISO 27001 and GDPR simultaneously, cybersecurity teams can optimize the overlap between controls for data encryption, access and incident management, and reduce work on risk assessments. Auditors can use common assessments, reducing the time needed to review and verify compliance. Down the line, a unified framework streamlines processes and lessens operational duties.

Cost savings by doing ISO and GDPR at the same time

Conducting compliance for both ISO and GDPR in a single audit can realize savings. Tackling data privacy and security concerns together eliminates redundancies and streamlines practices. Combined compliance also reduces the need for duplicate processes and documentation. Ultimately, a unified approach to ISO and GDPR certification builds a stronger overall security framework.

How Strike Graph streamlines ISO and GDPR compliance

Strike Graph’s multi-framework mapping automatically maps the controls you've already implemented to satisfy the requirements of GDPR to ISO 27701, or vice versa. That means you won’t have to worry about mapping each individual control to each framework manually. 

For example, let’s say you’ve already implemented an ISO 27701 control for breach notification. Strike Graph will automatically map that control to GDPR when the framework is activated in the platform.

Our automated evidence collection feature also links your existing evidence to the new correlating controls. So, let’s say you’ve recently made your GDPR compliance more robust by appointing a data protection officer. When ISO 27701 is added to your account, that evidence automatically attaches to the corresponding GDPR requirement. No work is needed on your part.

And, these automatic multi-framework mapping features don’t just apply to ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and GDPR. Any future framework your company adds will automatically be linked to your existing controls, saving you significant time as you grow your security program.

Ready to get started? Open a free launch account or schedule a demo with one of our privacy experts.

GDPR and ISO 27001 FAQs

Here are answers to frequently asked questions about GDPR and ISO 27001.

Is GDPR an ISO standard?

GDPR is not an ISO standard. It is a law that protects the personal data of people in the European Union. ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 are voluntary frameworks that can help organizations meet GDPR requirements, but they do not replace the law.

Is ISO 27001 compliant with GDPR?

ISO 27001 doesn’t create GDPR compliance on its own, but it supports key parts of the regulation. It aligns with GDPR in areas like access control, risk management, and incident response. However, ISO 27001 focuses on information security and does not fully address GDPR’s privacy and data rights requirements.

Does achieving ISO 27001 mean I am GDPR compliant?

Achieving ISO 27001 certification does not mean you are GDPR compliant. ISO 27001 supports data security, but GDPR supports data privacy. ISO 27001 compliance may still leave data privacy gaps in a security system.

Do I need both ISO 27001 and GDPR compliance for my business?

Businesses that handle personal data of EU citizens must follow GDPR rules. ISO 27001 certification is not required, but it helps improve data security and supports GDPR compliance.

What are the penalties for non-compliance with GDPR vs. ISO certifications?

The legal penalties for non-compliance with GDPR range up to 20 million euros or 4% of a company’s yearly revenue. No direct penalties exist for non-compliance with ISO requirements, but not complying may affect a firm’s standing.

Which should be implemented first, GDPR or ISO 27001?

The order in which you implement ISO 27001 and GDPR depends on your company’s situation.  You may benefit from implementing ISO 27001 first to create a solid, broad security framework for GDPR efforts. Or you can significantly benefit from working on them at the same time.

What types of organizations benefit most from both ISO and GDPR compliance?

Organizations that handle personal data and work with EU customers benefit most from both ISO and GDPR compliance. This includes companies in tech, healthcare, finance, and other regulated industries. Following both helps meet legal rules, protect sensitive data, and win contracts with partners who require strong security and privacy practices.