ISO 27701 compliance software: What to look for

RD Symms headshot

RD Symms

Feb 27th, 2025

4 min read

"ISO 27701 is an international standard that provides guidelines for implementing a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) within an organization. It builds upon the existing framework of ISO 27001, which focuses on information security management systems, by specifically addressing privacy concerns. The standard outlines requirements for identifying and assessing privacy risks, implementing controls to mitigate these risks, and ensuring ongoing compliance with privacy regulations.

ISO 27701 is designed to help organizations demonstrate their commitment to protecting the privacy of personal information they collect, process, and store. By achieving certification to this standard, organizations can enhance their reputation, build trust with customers and stakeholders, and improve their overall data protection practices. Compliance with ISO 27701 can also help organizations meet the requirements of various privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States."

A company that collects and processes personal data, such as a healthcare provider or an e-commerce platform, could use ISO 27701 to establish a privacy information management system (PIMS) to protect the privacy of their customers' data. They would implement the requirements of ISO 27701 to ensure that they are compliant with privacy regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union, and demonstrate to their customers and stakeholders that they take data privacy seriously. This could involve conducting a privacy impact assessment, implementing privacy controls, and regularly reviewing and updating their PIMS to ensure ongoing compliance.

What’s involved with ISO 27701 compliance?

"1. Questionnaire Generation: Automating the generation of tailored questionnaires based on industry, compliance requirements, and organization-specific needs can help ensure that the necessary information is collected efficiently and accurately.

2. Distribution: Automatically distributing questionnaires to relevant stakeholders, such as employees, vendors, and partners, can streamline the process and ensure that all necessary parties are included in the compliance assessment.

3. Reminder and Follow-up: Sending automated reminders to participants who have not completed or submitted their security questionnaires within a specified timeframe can help ensure that all necessary information is collected in a timely manner.

4. Response Collection: Automatically collecting and consolidating responses from participants into a centralized database or platform can simplify the analysis process and make it easier to identify potential risks or gaps.

5. Scoring and Analysis: Utilizing AI algorithms to analyze responses, score questionnaire submissions, and generate reports highlighting areas that need attention can help organizations identify and address compliance issues more effectively."

What to look for in a ISO 27701 compliance tool

"Look for software that automates repetitive tasks, such as generating questionnaires, distributing them, collecting responses, and sending reminders. This reduces manual effort and speeds up the process.
Software with AI capabilities can recommend answers from a well-maintained content library, validate responses, and analyze risks or gaps. This ensures accuracy and streamlines the review process.

Acquire tools that empower field teams to proactively share up-to-date security and compliance information via profiles or trust centers.
Integration with your existing tech stack, including CRMs, cloud storage, Microsoft Office, and collaboration tools like Slack or Teams.

A centralized content library or knowledge base that stores accurate, reusable answers helps streamline responses and ensures consistency in addressing compliance requirements.

Opt for software that supports team collaboration with features like task assignments, workload visibility, in-app comments, and e-signature collection. This ensures everyone stays aligned and projects move smoothly.

Detailed reports highlighting key findings, compliance status, and areas for improvement. An audit trail is also essential for regulatory compliance and internal tracking."

Case studies

A lot of the tasks above can be automated with the right software. See how Responsive brings your teams and content together to produce standout responses that seal deals with speed.