Privacy is now a board-level obligation. Customers, regulators, and partners expect proof that you know what personal information you collect, why you collect it, how you protect it, and how you honour individuals’ rights.
ISO/IEC 27701 extends ISO/IEC 27001 to establish a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) for both controllers and processors, turning privacy from ad-hoc tasks into a governed, auditable practice.
For Australian organisations, ISO 27701 provides a practical operating model to meet the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) while aligning with global regimes (e.g., GDPR).
Why Choose Us for Your Privacy Governance Needs
CipherShield brings certified privacy expertise, with ISO 27701 Lead Implementers and Lead Auditors who have years of experience delivering solutions across finance, healthcare, energy, SaaS, and government. We translate that expertise into practical outcomes by mapping ISO 27701 controls and records to the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), the GDPR, and sector-specific rules, so that a single PIMS framework meets multiple obligations.
Our artefacts are built for reuse, supporting internal audits, customer assurance, and regulatory reviews to shorten audit cycles and reduce rework. Above all, we right-size scope, design controls that teams can actually run, and embed audit-ready records into BAU, making privacy governance sustainable and aligned with business goals.
CipherShield Service Offering
PIMS Scoping & Readiness Assessment
Our approach begins with precisely defining the Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) boundaries, mapping relevant business units, IT systems, and associated processors.
We identify and classify the categories of personal information handled and their purposes, establishing a clear baseline aligned with ISO/IEC 27701 and ISO/IEC 27001 frameworks. This foundational step delivers critical outputs including detailed data-flow diagrams that visualise data movement, a comprehensive gap assessment highlighting compliance shortfalls, a cross-reference of Australian Privacy Principles (APP) against GDPR to harmonise regulatory requirements, and a prioritised, costed remediation roadmap that guides effective risk mitigation investments.
Privacy Risk, DPIA/PIA & Records of Processing
Addressing privacy risks proactively, we conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) specifically focused on high-risk processing activities. These assessments identify potential harms such as re-identification risks, profiling, and international data transfers. We rigorously document Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) to create transparent accountability and establish lawful bases for processing under applicable legislation.
Our service includes detailed risk treatment plans, nuanced consent and legitimate interest evaluations, and tailored templates to streamline repetitive privacy tasks, ensuring both regulatory compliance and operational efficiency.
Privacy Policy Suite & Operational Playbooks
Crafting a robust privacy framework, we develop comprehensive privacy documentation that covers all organisational obligations and rights management. This includes authoring Privacy Policies and Notices, procedures for Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs), consent management frameworks, data retention and secure disposal policies, breach notification aligned with the Australian Information Commissioner’s Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, and stringent third-party processing agreements.
Each document is supplemented with clear role definitions using RACI matrices, defined evidence paths for audit traceability, and scheduled review cycles to maintain currency and effectiveness in a dynamic regulatory environment.
Supplier & Cross-Border Assurance
We implement a risk-tiering strategy for supplier management, conducting thorough assessments of processors and subcontractors to ensure they meet stringent privacy and security controls. Our approach validates legal mechanisms for international data transfers, embeds clear contractual obligations, and implements ongoing due diligence practices.
Through continuous monitoring and exception management, we ensure scalable privacy assurance that adapts to your evolving supplier ecosystem, mitigating third-party risks comprehensively.
Benefits of Efficient Privacy Governance Program
Meet Regulatory Obligations
Build
Customer Trust
Reduce
Data Breach Risk
Enable Global Operations
Frequently Asked Questions about Privacy Governance
What is ISO 27701 and how does it relate to privacy compliance?
ISO/IEC 27701 extends ISO 27001 with specific requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, and maintaining a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS). It provides comprehensive controls for organisations acting as PII controllers (determining processing purposes) and processors (processing on behalf of others). ISO 27701 maps to GDPR, Australian Privacy Principles, and other privacy regulations—providing a unified framework demonstrating privacy maturity globally.
What are Australian Privacy Principles (APPs)?
The 13 Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 set minimum standards for handling personal information. They cover transparency, collection, use and disclosure, data quality, security, access and correction, and cross-border transfers. APPs apply to Australian Government agencies, businesses with annual turnover exceeding $3 million, health service providers, and some small businesses. Non-compliance can result in civil penalties up to $2.5 million for organisations.
Do we need ISO 27701 if we're already ISO 27001 certified?
ISO 27001 addresses information security broadly; ISO 27701 adds privacy-specific requirements addressing consent, purpose limitation, data subject rights, breach notification, and privacy impact assessments. If you process significant personal information, ISO 27701 demonstrates enhanced privacy maturity and can be added to existing ISO 27001 certification. It's particularly valuable for organisations operating internationally, handling sensitive data, or facing increasing customer privacy expectations.
What is a Privacy Impact Assessment and when is it required?
A Privacy Impact Assessment systematically evaluates privacy risks in projects, systems, or processes handling personal information. PIAs identify privacy impacts, assess necessity and proportionality, determine appropriate safeguards, and document accountability. OAIC recommends PIAs for high-risk processing including new technology implementations, significant system changes, large-scale data collection, sensitive information handling, and cross-border transfers. PIAs are mandatory under GDPR for certain processing and considered best practice under Australian privacy law.
What are our obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme?
Under the Privacy Act, organisations must notify OAIC and affected individuals when a data breach is likely to result in serious harm. Notification must occur as soon as practicable after becoming aware, generally within 30 days. The scheme requires breach assessment procedures, containment and remediation actions, OAIC notification via prescribed form, individual notifications including remedial actions, and documented records. Failure to notify can result in civil penalties. We help establish compliant breach response procedures.
What are data subject rights, and how do we handle requests?
Individuals have rights to access their personal information (APP 12), request corrections (APP 13), and, under certain circumstances, request erasure, restriction, or object to processing. Organisations must respond to access requests under APP 12 within 30 days, free of charge or at a reasonable cost. We establish verification procedures, search and retrieval processes, response formats, and escalation workflows, ensuring compliant, timely responses whilst protecting against fraudulent requests.
How long does ISO 27701 certification take?
Timelines depend on existing ISO 27001 certification status, privacy programme maturity, and scope. Organisations with ISO 27001 and basic privacy controls typically achieve ISO 27701 certification in 12-16 weeks. Building from scratch requires longer. We accelerate timelines through parallel workstreams covering privacy assessments, policy development, control implementation, and evidence collection—supported by clear roadmaps and phased milestones.
Can we integrate privacy governance with existing security programmes?
Yes. Privacy and security programmes share common foundations including governance structures, risk management, policy frameworks, training, and audits. We integrate ISO 27701 with ISO 27001, consolidate policies addressing both security and privacy, unify evidence registers, and align audit schedules. This reduces duplication, improves efficiency, and ensures consistent management system operation. Most organisations find integrated programmes more sustainable and cost-effective.