Achieving ISO/IEC 27701 Certification: Strengthening Privacy Governance Through Independent Assurance

This case study examines the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification journey of a multinational IT services and consulting organization. With an established ISO/IEC 27001-certified ISMS, the organization sought independent assurance of its privacy governance across personal data processing activities. QRC acted as an independent certification body, evaluating conformity and control effectiveness without designing or implementing the client’s management system. Key assessment areas included:

• Privacy Information Management System scope and documentation
• PII Controller and PII Processor responsibilities
• Privacy risk assessments and data protection impact assessments
• Data subject rights, consent, and incident management
• Integration of privacy controls with the existing ISMS
• Corrective-action evidence and an independent certification decision

Following the audit and successful closure of findings, the organization achieved ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification. The outcome provided third-party validation of its privacy management practices and supported customer due diligence, clearer accountability, and a consistent approach to privacy governance across regions.