Expert ISO 27018 Compliance Audit and Certification Services by Lazarus Alliance. Call +1 (888) 896-7580 today.

Lazarus Alliance is an accredited ISO 27018 certification body specializing in independent, efficient audits for cloud service providers worldwide. Our proactive approach, powered by proprietary tools like the IT Audit Machine, helps you achieve ISO 27018 certification faster and more cost-effectively than traditional auditors—ensuring robust protection of personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments.

ISO 27018 Certification with Lazarus Alliance ISO/IEC 27018 is the international standard for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public clouds, acting as PII processors. Building on ISO/IEC 27001, it provides guidelines and controls for cloud privacy and data protection. As a fully accredited certification body, Lazarus Alliance conducts impartial Stage 1 (documentation and readiness review) and Stage 2 (implementation and effectiveness) audits, issuing your official 3-year certificate upon successful compliance.

Lazarus Alliance is one of the few globally accredited certification bodies authorized to audit and issue ISO/IEC 27018 certificates — the international standard for protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud services.

We also offer optional gap analyses and readiness assessments to uncover deficiencies early, dramatically reducing risk, rework, and cost before the formal certification audit. Due to strict accreditation rules, we maintain complete independence and do not provide consulting services for designing or implementing your PII protection controls.

Why Choose Lazarus Alliance for Your ISO 27018 Certification Audit?

  • Fully accredited expertise with decades of global cloud privacy experience
  • Accelerated audits powered by the industry-leading tools like the IT Audit Machine
  • Transparent, competitive pricing scaled to your organization’s size and cloud scope
  • Annual surveillance audits and re-certification support to maintain continuous compliance
  • Proven success helping cloud service providers (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) of all sizes achieve ISO 27018 certification faster and more cost-effectively

Ready to demonstrate world-class cloud privacy and build customer trust? Call +1 (888) 896-7580 today or visit lazarusalliance.com for a free consultation and customized quote.

For the fastest, most reliable path to ISO 27018 certification using the #1 ranked audit platform in the industry, partner with Lazarus Alliance. Call +1 (888) 896-7580  to get started. — Michael Peters, CEO & Founder

The ISO 27018 Certification Process with Lazarus Alliance

Optional Pre-Certification Steps (Highly Recommended)

  • Gap Analysis – Early identification of missing PII protection controls vs. ISO 27018 requirements
  • Readiness Assessment – Comprehensive pre-assessment of your scope, policies, risk treatment plan, and cloud-specific controls so you enter the formal audit fully prepared

Formal Two-Stage Certification Audit (Required)

  1. Stage 1 Audit – Off-site or remote review of your ISO 27018 documentation, including policies for PII processing, data subject rights, subcontractor management, and Statement of Applicability (SoA).
  2. Stage 2 Audit – On-site or remote evaluation of implementation and operating effectiveness across your cloud environment(s). Includes interviews, control testing, and evidence sampling. Upon success, Lazarus Alliance issues your official ISO/IEC 27018 certificate valid for 3 years.

Post-Certification

  • Certificate valid for 3 years
  • Annual surveillance audits to verify ongoing compliance
  • Full re-certification audit in year 3

Timeline varies from 3–12 months depending on your current maturity, cloud complexity, and number of regions/services in scope.

Take the proactive approach to cloud privacy. Contact Lazarus Alliance today at +1 (888) 896-7580 for expert ISO 27018 audit services that save time, reduce risk, and deliver accredited certification you can trust.

The ISO 27018 Certification Process with Lazarus Alliance. Call +1 (888) 896-7580 today.

Basic ISO 27018 Audit Timeline – What to Expect with Lazarus Alliance

Achieving ISO/IEC 27018 certification with Lazarus Alliance, a globally accredited certification body, follows a structured, impartial two-stage audit process focused on protecting personally identifiable information (PII) in public cloud environments. The overall timeline varies based on your organization’s size, cloud service scope (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), complexity, number of regions/services, and current maturity of PII protection controls—typically ranging from 3–12 months. Lazarus Alliance’s proactive methodology and proprietary IT Audit Machine accelerate assessments, helping cloud providers reach certification faster and more efficiently.

Here’s a typical timeline breakdown:

Pre-Certification Preparation (Optional but Highly Recommended: 1–6+ Months)

  • Gap Analysis or Readiness Assessment: Ideal starting point for cloud providers building or validating PII protection controls. Lazarus Alliance conducts a thorough yet informal review of your scope, policies, risk treatment plan, subcontractor agreements, data subject rights processes, and cloud-specific controls to pinpoint gaps early.

    • Duration: A few weeks (based on availability and scope).

  • Implementation of Controls: Develop or enhance your PII protection framework independently (or with a separate consultant—Lazarus Alliance cannot offer implementation consulting due to strict accreditation independence requirements).

    • This phase is usually the longest for most organizations.

Initial Certification Audit (2–12 Weeks Once Fully Prepared)

  1. Stage 1 Audit (Documentation and Readiness Review): Lazarus Alliance examines your ISO 27018 documentation, including PII processing policies, risk assessments, Statement of Applicability (SoA), and evidence of cloud privacy controls. Conducted remotely or onsite.

    • Duration: 1–2 weeks.
    • Outcome: Identification of any concerns; you’ll have time (typically 2–8 weeks) to resolve them.

  2. Stage 2 Audit (Implementation and Effectiveness Review): Comprehensive evaluation—remote or onsite—of how effectively your controls are implemented and operating in your cloud environment. Includes staff interviews, process observation, control testing, and evidence sampling.

    • Duration: 1–4 weeks (depending on scope, locations, and cloud complexity).
    • Outcome: Upon success, Lazarus Alliance issues your official ISO/IEC 27018 certificate, valid for 3 years.

Post-Certification Maintenance (Ongoing Over 3 Years)

  • Certification Validity: 3 years from issuance.

  • Annual Surveillance Audits: Focused reviews to verify continued compliance, assess changes, and sample key PII protection controls.

    • Duration: Typically 1–2 days each (Years 1 and 2).

  • Re-Certification Audit: Complete audit prior to expiry to renew for another 3 years.

    • Similar scope to initial certification but emphasizes continual improvement and evolving cloud risks.

Lazarus Alliance stresses that the faster you address gaps upfront through optional assessments, the smoother and quicker the formal audit process becomes. Many cloud service providers achieve certification efficiently with this proactive preparation.

Ready to strengthen cloud privacy and build customer trust with an accredited ISO 27018 certification? Contact Lazarus Alliance today at +1 (888) 896-7580 or visit lazarusalliance.com for a free consultation, customized quote, and personalized timeline estimate from a trusted global partner.

Expert ISO 27018 Compliance Audit Services by Lazarus Alliance. Call +1 (888) 896-7580 today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Lazarus Alliance follows the standard two-stage audit: Stage 1 reviews your ISMS documentation, scope, risk assessment, and Statement of Applicability for readiness. Stage 2 involves in-depth onsite or remote testing of implementation and effectiveness. Optional gap analyses and readiness assessments help identify issues early. If successful, they issue the 3-year certificate with annual surveillance audits required.

The timeline depends on your organization's size, complexity, and ISMS maturity—typically a few months to a year. Once ready, the formal Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits can be completed in weeks. Lazarus Alliance recommends starting with a gap analysis or readiness assessment to shorten preparation time and avoid delays.

Pricing varies by scope, organization size, number of locations, and readiness level. Lazarus Alliance offers competitive, transparent quotes as an accredited body emphasizing efficiency and value. Many clients find their process more cost-effective than larger firms. Contact them at 1-888-896-7580 or lazarusalliance.com for a personalized estimate.

No—due to strict accreditation rules requiring independence, Lazarus Alliance cannot offer implementation consulting as your certification body. They can perform non-certification services like gap analyses or readiness assessments to highlight deficiencies, but ISMS design and build must come from your team or a separate consultant.

A gap analysis (ideal for early-stage organizations) identifies what's in place versus missing in your ISMS. A readiness assessment is a high-level, informal pre-audit reviewing scope, policies, procedures, and controls. Both save time and money by fixing issues before the formal certification audit—highly recommended by Lazarus Alliance clients.

Certification is valid for 3 years. Lazarus Alliance conducts annual surveillance audits to confirm ongoing compliance and check for changes. Before expiry, a full re-certification audit is required to renew. This ensures your ISMS remains effective and continually improved.

As an accredited, independent auditor with decades of experience, Lazarus Alliance delivers efficient audits using innovative tools like the IT Audit Machine and a proactive methodology. They support organizations of all sizes globally, often faster and more affordably than competitors, while maintaining strict impartiality for credible certification. Call 1-888-896-7580 to get started.

 

Credentials You Can Count On

American Accreditation Association (AAA), ISO/IEC 17021-accredited certification number SC21202.

American Accreditation Association (AAA) ISO/IEC 17021 accredited certification number SC21202.

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Expert ISO 27018 Compliance Audit Services by Lazarus Alliance. Call +1 (888) 896-7580 today!

Benefits of ISO 27018 Certification

Achieving ISO/IEC 27018 certification demonstrates that your public cloud services meet the internationally recognized standard for protecting personally identifiable information (PII). Here are the key benefits for cloud service providers acting as PII processors:

  1. Robust Cloud Privacy and PII Protection: Provides a comprehensive, risk-based framework specifically designed to safeguard personally identifiable information in public cloud environments, reducing the risk of privacy breaches and unauthorized data disclosure.
  2. Reduced Risk of Privacy Incidents and Costly Fines: Proactive controls help prevent PII leaks or misuse, avoiding significant regulatory penalties (e.g., under GDPR, CCPA, or other data protection laws), legal costs, reputational damage, and remediation expenses.
  3. Strong Competitive Advantage in Cloud Services: Certification acts as a powerful market differentiator, enabling cloud providers (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) to win contracts with privacy-conscious enterprises, government agencies, and regulated industries where ISO 27018 compliance is increasingly required or preferred.
  4. Builds Greater Trust with Customers and Data Subjects: Publicly verifies your commitment to transparent PII processing, data subject rights, and privacy-by-design principles, enhancing customer confidence and loyalty—especially critical when handling sensitive personal data on behalf of clients.
  5. Simplified Regulatory and Compliance Alignment: Directly supports compliance with major privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, LGPD, HIPAA) and complements frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and NIST, streamlining audits and demonstrating accountability to regulators and clients.
  6. Enhanced Operational Transparency and Efficiency: Establishes clear policies for PII handling, subcontractor management, and breach notification, streamlining processes, reducing redundancies, and embedding continual privacy improvement into cloud operations.
  7. Improved Incident Response and Breach Management: Mandates structured processes for detecting, reporting, and responding to PII incidents, minimizing impact and ensuring timely notification to data subjects and controllers.
  8. Stronger Market Reputation and Talent Attraction: Signals leadership in cloud privacy, making your organization more appealing to privacy-aware customers, partners, and top talent who value ethical data handling and robust security cultures.

Overall, ISO 27018 certification transforms cloud privacy from a compliance obligation into a strategic business advantage, helping providers stand out in a crowded market while meeting growing global demands for data protection. The certificate is valid for 3 years, with annual surveillance audits required to maintain ongoing compliance.

Ready to elevate your cloud privacy program? Contact Lazarus Alliance at +1 (888) 896-7580 or visit lazarusalliance.com for accredited ISO 27018 audit services and expert guidance.

We want to be your partner and ISO 27018 compliance audit assessor of choice! For additional information, please call 1-888-896-7580.