ISO/IEC 27555: The New Global Standard for Data Deletion Governance

 


Introduction

Managing personal data responsibly has become a core requirement for modern organisations. As businesses collect, store and process large volumes of personal information, having a structured way to delete this data when it is no longer needed is essential. ISO/IEC 27555 provides a clear framework for data-deletion governance, helping organisations define when and how personal information should be removed in a safe, transparent and accountable way.

What ISO/IEC 27555 Covers?

  • Establishes consistent terminology and definitions for personal-data deletion so teams share the same understanding.

  • Provides a structured method for designing deletion rules that define what data must be deleted, under what conditions and after which retention periods.

  • Outlines roles and responsibilities for those managing, approving and executing deletion activities.

  • Covers documentation, record-keeping and verification requirements to ensure deletion is traceable and auditable.

  • Guides organisations on handling deletion for backups, archives and long-term stored data, ensuring that deletion policies apply across all systems.

Why Data-Deletion Governance Matters?

  • Strong deletion practices reduce unnecessary data retention, storage costs and operational risks.

  • It supports legal and regulatory expectations by ensuring personal information is not kept longer than required.

  • Clear deletion procedures improve customer trust and organisational transparency.

  • A formal deletion framework simplifies audits, internal reviews and privacy assessments by providing documented evidence of all deletion actions.

  • Helps prevent data breaches and accidental disclosures by ensuring outdated or unnecessary data does not remain accessible.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Treating data deletion as a one-time cleanup rather than an ongoing part of the data-lifecycle process.

  • Undefined responsibilities that lead to confusion about who initiates or verifies deletion.

  • Missing or incomplete documentation of deletion events, leaving compliance gaps.

  • Ignoring data stored in backups, archived systems or external environments.

  • Failing to align deletion rules with business, legal or operational retention requirements.

How Pacific Certifications Can Help?

Pacific Certifications supports organisations in building data-deletion frameworks aligned with ISO/IEC 27555. We help define deletion policies, map personal-data categories, establish retention periods, document responsibilities and prepare systems for audit readiness. Our assessments focus on practical governance, clarity and operational feasibility, ensuring your deletion processes are reliable and compliant.

Read the full blog here:
https://blog.pacificcert.com/iso-iec-27555-global-standard-for-data-deletion-governance/

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