ISO/IEC 27001 vs PCI DSS
Information security management systems versus Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. What each covers, and when it applies.Both are security standards with different scope. ISO/IEC 27001 is a management-system standard for building and certifying an information security management system (ISMS) across a whole organisation, on a risk basis. PCI DSS is a prescriptive control standard for protecting cardholder data wherever it is stored, processed or transmitted. One certifies your security process; the other mandates specific controls for card data.
Key differences
- ISO 27001 certifies an organisation-wide security management system; PCI DSS protects cardholder data specifically.
- ISO 27001 is risk-based and flexible; PCI DSS is a prescriptive set of required controls.
- ISO 27001 applies to any information; PCI DSS applies only to the cardholder-data environment.
Use ISO 27001 to certify your overall information-security management.
Full ISO/IEC 27001 profile →Common questions
What's the difference between ISO/IEC 27001 and PCI DSS?
Both are security standards with different scope. ISO/IEC 27001 is a management-system standard for building and certifying an information security management system (ISMS) across a whole organisation, on a risk basis. PCI DSS is a prescriptive control standard for protecting cardholder data wherever it is stored, processed or transmitted. One certifies your security process; the other mandates specific controls for card data.
What is ISO/IEC 27001?
The international standard for building and certifying an information security management system to protect sensitive data.
What is PCI DSS?
The card-industry security standard for protecting cardholder data wherever it is stored, processed or transmitted.
More standard comparisons
Sources (5)
Facts from the ISO/IEC 27001 and PCI DSS profiles · verified 2026-08-03
Not legal advice. This is a neutral teaching comparison; confirm the current requirements against each standard’s own publication before relying on it. 18+.