The "cloud" is more than just a tech buzzword. It's become a way for service providers to offer versatile, mobile, accessible and scalable products. With all its advantages, the cloud does pose some risks. One of the most impactful and reliable ways to minimize cybersecurity issues is with ISO 27017 compliance.

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This guide walks through what ISO 27017 asks of you, how it differs from ISO 27018, who gains the most from adopting it, and how to bring it into a program you already run. The effort goes into collecting evidence, keeping controls current between audits, and cutting duplicate work across the frameworks it overlaps with.

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What is ISO 27017?

ISO 27017 is a compliance framework specifically designed to protect cloud infrastructure. It's supplemental to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002, intended for organizations that already have an information security management system (ISMS).

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ISO 27017 is written for both cloud service providers and cloud service customers. It offers side-by-side guidance for each control and section within the standard. This allows it to be an agreed-upon way for both customers and service providers to make sure their data is protected.

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The first edition of ISO 27017 was published in 2015. A second edition (ISO/IEC FDIS 27017) is currently in the final approval stage, with an FDIS ballot initiated in April 2026 and publication expected later in 2026.

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What is the objective of ISO 27017?

The goal of ISO 27017 is to give organizations a widely accepted standard for information security in cloud environments. It's meant to help you keep confidential data and end users' personal information safe from unauthorized access, whether that data sits with you or with a provider you rely on.

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Underneath that goal is a specific problem the standard sets out to solve. Cloud computing spreads responsibility across parties, and it's rarely obvious who secures which piece. ISO 27017 gives both cloud service providers and cloud service customers a common reference, so security expectations are written down and agreed on rather than assumed. That shared vocabulary is what lets two organizations trust that the same controls apply on both sides of the relationship.

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Who needs ISO 27017 compliance?

ISO 27017 is not a regulatory framework, so no one is legally compelled to follow it. However, it’s a highly regarded standard for cloud service providers. If you offer any service or product that is stored in the cloud, being ISO 27017 compliant will give your customers peace of mind.

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Can you be certified in ISO 27017?

As noted, ISO 27017 is a supplement to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002; it’s not a standalone standard, and you can’t be ISO 27017 compliant without being ISO 27001 compliant first. As a result, there is no standalone certification for ISO 27017 compliance. Some organizations may offer audits for multiple standards at the same time.

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Highlights of the ISO 27017 control list

What exactly does ISO 27017 include? There are two basic aspects of this standard. First, it provides guidance on how to take 37 of the controls from ISO 27001 and implement them in cloud environments. Second, it introduces seven security controls that are solely meant cloud environments. These controls include:

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• Shared roles and responsibilities within a cloud computing environment
• Removal of cloud service customer assets
• Segregation in virtual computing environments
• Virtual machine hardening
• Administrator’s operational security
• Monitoring of cloud services
• Alignment of security management for virtual and physical networks

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What is the difference between ISO 27017 vs. 27018?

These three standards get mixed up constantly, so here's the clean version. ISO 27001 is the management standard you certify against. ISO 27017 adds cloud security guidance. ISO 27018 adds guidance for protecting personal data (PII) in the public cloud. They're built to work together, with 27001 as the foundation and the other two as cloud-specific extensions.

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ISO 27017 and ISO 27018 sit close together in the ISO 27000 family, but their focus differs. ISO 27017 is the general standard for cloud security. ISO 27018 homes in on protecting PII in the cloud, which can support your privacy work under regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA.

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The way they stack is straightforward. You build and certify an ISO 27001 program, then bring 27017 and 27018 controls into scope where they apply.

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Benefits of ISO 27017 compliance

As with any standard, ISO 27017 compliance is an investment that takes time, funds, and effort. Is it worth it? Consider these key benefits.

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Enhanced cloud security

The clearest advantage to ISO 27017 compliance is a well-protected and secured cloud infrastructure. If you implement the controls and guidance in this standard, you’ll have more confidence that every participant in your data chain is protected; your company’s data, your customers’ data, and your customers’ end users’ data. It’s a win for everyone.

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Improved adherence to legal requirements

Information security laws take consumer privacy very seriously and the penalties for violating those laws are steep. While ISO 27017 compliance doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you are compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and other data privacy laws, it does overlap with those laws significantly. Many organizations use ISO 27017 as part of their guidance for strengthening their cloud security to legally compliant levels.

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Cost and risk reduction

ISO 27017 compliance can save money in multiple ways. It offers a streamlined, wholistic path to cloud security in contrast to a piecemeal approach which can lead to redundant controls and expenses. 

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In addition, you get the ROI benefits that come from risk reduction. ISO 27017 allows you to maintain a lower risk for data breaches, which means a lower likelihood of legal penalties, compensation for damages, reputational harm, and other financial consequences. Perhaps the greatest benefit, more security and compliance oftentimes leads to more trust, especially from business prospects. 

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How to get started with ISO 27017 for cloud security

Getting started with ISO 27017 comes down to the work in this guide. Baseline your ISO 27001 program, map the seven cloud controls to your service model, document who owns what, and bring it all into your next audit. The slow part is rarely understanding the standard. It's collecting evidence, keeping controls current between audits, and avoiding duplicate effort across the frameworks that overlap with it.

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That's where Vanta comes in. Vanta is the agentic trust platform that supports 35+ compliance frameworks, including ISO 27017 and ISO 27001. Thousands of fast-moving companies run their security and compliance on it.

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If you're weighing ISO 27017, the quickest way to gauge the lift is to see Vanta work against your own environment. Schedule a Vanta demo today and find out how fast your ISO 27017 and ISO 27001 programs can come together.

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