Developing international standards such as ISO/IEC 27701 involves more than technical guidelines—it is a collaborative process driven by a diverse set of stakeholders. These stakeholders ensure that standards are credible, practical, and globally applicable, especially in complex domains like data privacy and information security.
This article explores the key entities involved in the certification and creation of ISO/IEC standards, particularly focusing on those relevant to privacy frameworks, such as ISO/IEC 27701.
Why Understanding Stakeholders Matters
Organizations aiming for compliance or certification often focus on applying the standards, but knowing who defines and maintains these standards can help in:
- Trusting the standard’s credibility
- Understanding how changes are made
- Participating in the process, if desired
- Adapting policies to meet national interpretations of global frameworks
The Three Main Stakeholder Groups in Standardization
1. International Standards Bodies
These are the global organizations that develop and publish international standards. The most relevant for cybersecurity and data privacy are:
- ISO/IEC: The International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission collaborate on standards like ISO/IEC 27701, 27001, and 29100.
- ETSI: The European Telecommunications Standards Institute, influential in telecom and digital services privacy.
- ITU: The International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the UN focusing on global ICT standards.
These bodies set the foundation for globally accepted best practices and facilitate harmonization across jurisdictions.
2. National Standards Bodies (NSBs)
Every participating country has a National Standards Body (e.g., BSI in the UK) which acts as the liaison to the international organizations.
National bodies play roles such as:
- Voting on international standards proposals
- Sending delegates to working groups
- Adapting standards to local legal and industrial contexts
Each NSB holds one of three membership levels in ISO:
- Full Members – Vote and contribute to standards development
- Correspondent Members – Observe and attend meetings but do not vote
- Subscriber Members – Stay informed but don’t participate in the development process
Learn More: Managing Personal Information with ISO/IEC 27701
3. Working Groups and Technical Committees
Working groups are the technical engine rooms of standard development. These groups comprise:
- Experts from industry
- Researchers and academics
- Representatives from national bodies
- Independent consultants and legal professionals
Their tasks include:
- Drafting new standards or revising existing ones
- Conducting technical reviews and impact assessments
- Collaborating across borders to address both technical and regulatory differences
Working group members bring real-world use cases to the table, ensuring that standards are not just theoretical but practically implementable.
Certification: From Standards to Compliance
While ISO/IEC does not itself certify organizations, third-party accredited certification bodies—often overseen by national authorities—conduct audits and issue certifications. These include:
- ISO 27001 certifications (often extended with ISO 27701)
- Audits for GDPR readiness aligned with ISO/IEC 27701 controls
- Periodic reassessments and surveillance audits
Certification involves verifying that an organization’s Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) meets the controls defined in the standard.
Related Guide: What is ISO 27001? A Beginner’s Guide
Final Thoughts
Behind every ISO/IEC standard lies a complex ecosystem of stakeholders—from global bodies like ISO and ITU, to national institutions like BSI, to the practitioners shaping working groups. Their collective input ensures that standards are robust, credible, and internationally recognized.
For businesses seeking certification or alignment with standards like ISO/IEC 27701, understanding this framework provides strategic insight and confidence in adopting these global best practices.
Mr. Jahangir Alam is an Electrical and Electronics Engineer with a broad range of experience spanning various engineering sectors. His fascination with engineering literature ignites his enthusiasm for writing and conducting research in the field. Moreover, he possesses substantial expertise in the English language system and its grammar.