ISO/IEC 27018: Protecting Personal Data in Cloud Environments
- OUS Academy in Switzerland
- Oct 3
- 3 min read
In today’s digital world, more and more organizations are moving their information to the cloud. While this creates efficiency and flexibility, it also raises a critical question: how safe is the personal information we share and store? This week, the spotlight has returned to ISO/IEC 27018, the international standard designed to protect personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments.
For inspection bodies such as PINO Switzerland, which is dedicated to empowering excellence in auditing and certification, the relevance of ISO/IEC 27018 has never been stronger. As cloud adoption accelerates, customers expect transparency, trust, and clear accountability in how their data is handled.
What the Standard Covers
ISO/IEC 27018 is the first international standard that focuses on cloud privacy. It is designed for cloud service providers who act as data processors, meaning they process personal information on behalf of their clients. The standard gives a framework of controls and guidelines that help protect individuals’ privacy in line with legal and contractual expectations.
Some of its most important principles include:
Purpose limitation: Cloud providers must process data only for the purposes agreed with the customer.
Transparency: Customers must be informed about how their data is handled, where it is stored, and for how long.
Data subject rights: Providers should support customer organizations in enabling rights such as access, correction, and deletion of data.
Security and confidentiality: Adequate safeguards, including encryption, access control, and logging, must be in place.
Deletion and return: At the end of a contract, the provider must either delete or return the customer’s personal data securely.
Breach notification: If personal information is compromised, the provider must inform the customer without undue delay.
Why It Matters Now
Recent developments in cloud technologies, such as multi-tenant infrastructures, AI-powered platforms, and global data transfer models, have introduced new risks. Even a single misconfiguration can lead to the exposure of thousands of personal records.
The updated version of ISO/IEC 27018 in 2025 reflects these realities. It brings stronger guidance on subcontractors, clearer rules for breach notifications, and better alignment with modern information security practices. For organizations seeking trust in their cloud operations, this standard now represents a key benchmark.
Benefits of Adopting ISO/IEC 27018
For cloud service providers, being aligned with ISO/IEC 27018 demonstrates a serious commitment to privacy and accountability. For customers, it provides confidence that their personal information is handled with care and according to clear rules.
The main benefits include:
Building customer trust through transparency.
Reducing risks of data breaches and legal penalties.
Improving compliance with data protection requirements.
Offering a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Ensuring clear roles and responsibilities between provider and client.
The Role of Inspection Bodies
Independent inspection bodies, such as PINO Switzerland, play a vital role in evaluating whether organizations truly implement these requirements. Since PINO operates as a private and impartial entity, assessments are based on professional standards rather than external authority mandates. This voluntary approach ensures that certifications are earned through genuine compliance and commitment to improvement.
Our audits help organizations identify gaps, strengthen privacy controls, and demonstrate to their stakeholders that data protection is more than just a promise—it is a verified practice.
Looking Ahead
As digital transformation expands across every sector, protecting personal data in the cloud is no longer optional. ISO/IEC 27018 provides organizations with a clear, structured path to ensure that privacy remains a cornerstone of cloud adoption.
For individuals, this means greater assurance that their personal information is treated with respect. For businesses, it means staying ahead in a market where trust is as important as technology.
At PINO Switzerland, we continue to promote high standards in inspection and certification, helping organizations to adopt frameworks like ISO/IEC 27018 with confidence and responsibility.
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