Why ISO 27018 Certification in Malaysia is Important?

With the growth of cloud-based services and digital transformation across all industries, safeguarding personal data has become an essential, crucial business issue in Malaysia. The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), combined with growing expectations from customers for privacy, creates ISO 27018 certification, a robust assurance of trust.

Companies in Malaysia that manage sensitive customer information, particularly in cloud computing cloud–can significantly benefit from being ISO 27018 certified:

• Show the compliance of PDPA
• Make improvements to the privacy policies for data
• Reduce the possibility of data security breaches
• Create customer confidence in cloud-based services
• Meet global data protection standards

Who Should Pursue ISO 27018 Certification?

ISO 27018 is especially relevant for companies that provide or use public cloud-based services that include:

• Cloud service providers (CSPs)
• SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS companies
• IT hosting and infrastructure companies
• Digital banking platforms and Fintech
• eCommerce businesses and marketplaces
• Health as well as legal service providers who handle PII

Key Benefits of ISO 27018 Certification

Guards customer information in cloud environments

It supports compliance with the laws of Malaysia’s PDPA as well as GDPR

Increases your business’s image and credibility

Limits the risk of privacy and liability

Facilitates business transactions with international clients

Complements ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems

ISO 27018 Certification Process in Malaysia

To become ISO 27018 certified involves the following steps that are structured:

1. Initial Assessment

Examine the current data protection measures and consider how PII is managed in your cloud-based environment.

2. Gap Analysis

Recognize the differences between your current practice and ISO 27018 controls.

3. System Development

Update or create Privacy policies and cloud security control and consent management procedures.

4. Staff Training

Your team should be trained on privacy-related responsibilities, including incident handling and cloud-specific risk.

5. Internal Audit

Perform an internal audit of your system before going for certification.

6. Certification Audit

A certified certification body can inspect your PIMS and cloud operations two times.

7. Get Certified

Upon successful audit, you receive your ISO 27018 certification–typically valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits.

How ISO 27018 Supports PDPA Compliance in Malaysia

The Malaysian Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) regulates how businesses gather, store, and process personal information. ISO 27018 provides a globally accepted standard that conforms to the fundamental principles of PDPA, such as:

• Legal and transparent processing of personal data
• Consenting individuals and the control of personal data
• Measures to protect your data for cloud-based storage of data and transfer
• Corrective action