Protecting Personal Data in the Cloud: Inside ISO 27018

Why privacy in the cloud needs more than promises.

Organizations trust the cloud with their most sensitive information.

  • Customer records
  • Employee data
  • Financial details
  • Health information

But when personal data moves to the cloud, one question always follows:

Who is responsible for protecting it and how do we know they’re doing it properly?

This is exactly the problem ISO/IEC 27018 was created to solve.

Why Cloud Privacy Deserves Its Own Standard

Cloud computing changed how data is processed. Personal data may be:

  • Stored across regions
  • Managed by third-party providers
  • Handled by automated systems
  • Accessed by support teams

Traditional security standards were not designed to fully address privacy obligations in public cloud environments. ISO 27018 fills that gap.

Key idea: ISO 27018 focuses on protecting Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the cloud where responsibility can easily become unclear.

What Is ISO 27018?

ISO/IEC 27018 is an international standard that defines privacy controls for public cloud service providers acting as PII processors. It builds on:

  • ISO 27001 (information security)
  • ISO 27017 (cloud security controls)

Focus: privacy, transparency, and trust with controls designed for public cloud environments.

Who ISO 27018 Is For

ISO 27018 matters to two groups.

Audience Why It Matters
Cloud Service Providers

SaaS • Hosting • IaaS
 Demonstrates responsible PII handling, improves customer confidence, and supports compliance readiness.
Cloud Customers

Buyers • Procurement • Privacy teams
 Provides independent assurance a provider follows internationally accepted privacy controls for PII processing.

This is increasingly important in vendor risk assessments and procurement reviews.

The Real Issue: Trust Without Visibility

This example is fictional but reflects real-world concerns.

A company moved customer data to a cloud platform.

  • Security controls were strong
  • Encryption was enabled
  • Uptime was excellent

But leadership couldn’t answer basic privacy questions:

  • Who can access customer data?
  • Is data used for analytics or training?
  • How quickly would we be notified of a breach?

ISO 27018 exists to bring clarity and accountability to these questions.

Key Privacy Controls Inside ISO 27018

ISO 27018 introduces practical, enforceable controls that protect personal data in cloud environments. Here are the most important ones.

1) Limits on How PII Can Be Used

Cloud providers must:

  • Process PII only according to customer instructions
  • Avoid using customer data for advertising, analytics, or training without consent

This prevents silent or secondary data use.

2) Transparency and Disclosure

ISO 27018 requires:

  • Clear disclosure of data handling practices
  • Transparency about where data is stored
  • Visibility into subcontractors and data processors

Customers gain insight into how their data is treated.

3) Strong Access Controls

The standard enforces:

  • Restricted access to PII
  • Role-based access controls
  • Logging of administrative access

Only authorized personnel can view or process personal data.

4) Breach Notification Commitments

ISO 27018 requires providers to:

  • Notify customers of data breaches
  • Define timelines and responsibilities
  • Support regulatory and contractual reporting

This aligns well with privacy laws that demand timely notification.

5) Secure Deletion and Data Return

When contracts end, providers must:

  • Securely delete PII
  • Return data as agreed
  • Confirm destruction when required

This prevents lingering data exposure.

ISO 27018 Controls at a Glance

If you need a quick way to explain ISO 27018 to leadership or procurement, use this summary:

Control Theme What It Protects
Purpose limitation Prevents unexpected/secondary use of customer PII
Transparency Clarifies how, where, and by whom PII is processed
Access control & logging Limits and tracks access to personal data
Breach notification Enables timely response to privacy incidents
Secure deletion & return Reduces residual exposure when services end

Want stronger vendor proof for cloud privacy?

We help organizations assess cloud providers, validate ISO evidence, and build governance that holds up in customer reviews and audits.

👉 Explore Our ISO 27017 & ISO 27018 Services

👉 Book a Free Consultation

How ISO 27018 Builds Trust in Cloud Services

For cloud customers, ISO 27018 certification signals that a provider:

  • Takes privacy seriously
  • Follows globally recognized standards
  • Supports compliance across regions
  • Is transparent and accountable

This trust is increasingly required by:

  • Regulators
  • Enterprise customers
  • Privacy officers
  • Legal teams

ISO 27018 and Privacy Laws

ISO 27018 does not replace privacy laws. Instead, it helps operationalize privacy obligations and supports compliance with:

  • PIPEDA
  • Quebec’s Law 25
  • GDPR-aligned expectations
  • Contractual privacy commitments

Practical impact: ISO 27018 helps demonstrate reasonable safeguards and accountability when PII is processed in the cloud.

ISO 27017 and ISO 27018: Stronger Together

These standards work best as a pair:

Standard Primary Purpose
ISO 27017 Secures cloud infrastructure and clarifies shared security responsibilities
ISO 27018 Protects personal data (PII) and strengthens privacy transparency and accountability

Together, they extend ISO 27001 into a complete cloud security and privacy framework.

The Role of a vCISO in Cloud Privacy Governance

Cloud privacy is not just technical it’s strategic. A Virtual CISO (vCISO) helps organizations:

  • Assess cloud provider privacy posture
  • Interpret ISO 27018 requirements
  • Align cloud privacy with risk management
  • Support vendor assessments
  • Guide leadership decisions

This ensures privacy controls support business growth not slow it down.

How Canadian Cyber Supports ISO 27018 Adoption

At Canadian Cyber, cloud privacy is treated as a governance and trust issue, not just a compliance task.

ISO 27017 / ISO 27018 Consulting

  • Apply cloud security and privacy controls in practical ways
  • Support provider or customer assessments
  • Strengthen cloud governance documentation and evidence

Integrated ISO 27001 & Privacy Programs

  • Align ISMS governance with cloud privacy controls
  • Support Canadian privacy obligations and audit readiness
  • Reduce privacy risk across vendors and cloud platforms

vCISO-Led Cloud Oversight

  • Guide cloud privacy strategy
  • Support vendor and customer reviews
  • Reduce regulatory and reputational risk

Privacy in the Cloud Requires Proof, Not Promises

Cloud adoption is built on trust. ISO 27018 provides the structure needed to:

  • Protect personal data
  • Clarify responsibilities
  • Demonstrate accountability
  • Build lasting customer confidence

If your organization stores personal data in the cloud either as a provider or a customer ISO 27018 is a critical part of modern cloud governance.

Ready to Strengthen Cloud Privacy and Trust?

If you want to demonstrate responsible data handling and strengthen privacy governance in the cloud, we can help.

👉 Learn About Our ISO 27001 & vCISO Services

👉 Book a Free Consultation

Stay Connected With Canadian Cyber

Follow Canadian Cyber for insights on cloud privacy, ISO frameworks, and cybersecurity governance: