Key Takeaways
| Point |
Summary |
| Extension cost |
€3,000-€15,000 additional to ISO 27001 |
| Combined cost |
€12,000-€55,000 for ISO 27001 + ISO 27701 together |
| Cost factors |
Organization size, processing complexity, audit days |
| Ongoing costs |
Annual surveillance adds €1,500-€5,000 |
| Efficiency |
Combined implementation saves 10-20% vs. sequential |
| ROI drivers |
Enterprise deals, reduced audit time, regulatory confidence |
Quick Answer: ISO 27701 certification typically costs €3,000-€15,000 as an extension to existing ISO 27001 certification, or €12,000-€55,000 when pursuing both certifications together. The main cost drivers are organization size, complexity of PII processing, and whether you're extending an existing certification or building from scratch.
Cost Components
Implementation Costs
| Component |
Range |
What's Included |
| PIMS development |
€2,000-€10,000 |
Privacy-specific policies, procedures, documentation |
| PII inventory |
€1,000-€5,000 |
Processing activity documentation |
| Gap assessment |
€1,500-€4,000 |
Privacy-specific gap analysis |
| Control implementation |
€2,000-€8,000 |
Technical and organizational measures |
| Training |
€500-€2,000 |
Privacy awareness program |
Audit Costs
| Component |
Range |
Calculation Basis |
| Extension audit |
€2,000-€6,000 |
Additional audit days |
| Combined initial audit |
€4,000-€12,000 |
Full audit for both standards |
| Surveillance (annual) |
€1,500-€5,000 |
Partial scope review |
| Recertification |
€3,000-€10,000 |
Full reassessment at 3 years |
Tooling and Platform Costs
| Component |
Range |
Purpose |
| Compliance platform |
€0-€5,000/year |
Evidence collection, documentation |
| Privacy tools |
€0-€3,000/year |
Consent management, DSAR handling |
| PII discovery |
€0-€2,000 |
Data mapping tools |
Cost by Organization Size
Small Organizations (< 50 employees)
| Cost Component |
Estimated Range |
| Implementation |
€3,000-€8,000 |
| Audit (extension) |
€2,000-€4,000 |
| Annual maintenance |
€2,000-€4,000 |
| Total Year 1 |
€7,000-€16,000 |
Medium Organizations (50-250 employees)
| Cost Component |
Estimated Range |
| Implementation |
€6,000-€15,000 |
| Audit (extension) |
€3,000-€6,000 |
| Annual maintenance |
€3,000-€6,000 |
| Total Year 1 |
€12,000-€27,000 |
Large Organizations (> 250 employees)
| Cost Component |
Estimated Range |
| Implementation |
€10,000-€30,000 |
| Audit (extension) |
€5,000-€12,000 |
| Annual maintenance |
€5,000-€10,000 |
| Total Year 1 |
€20,000-€52,000 |
Cost Factors
What Increases Costs
| Factor |
Impact |
Why |
| Processing complexity |
High |
More PII types, more controls needed |
| Multiple jurisdictions |
High |
Cross-border transfer requirements |
| Controller and processor |
Medium |
Both Annex A and B controls apply |
| Sensitive data |
Medium |
Additional safeguards required |
| Multiple locations |
Medium |
More audit time, travel |
| Poor starting point |
High |
More implementation work needed |
What Reduces Costs
| Factor |
Impact |
Why |
| Existing ISO 27001 |
High |
Foundation already in place |
| Modern cloud stack |
Medium |
Easier control implementation |
| Strong privacy culture |
Medium |
Less change management needed |
| Clean PII practices |
Medium |
Less remediation required |
| Single jurisdiction |
Low |
Simpler compliance landscape |
Combined vs. Sequential Costs
Combined ISO 27001 + ISO 27701
| Component |
Cost |
Notes |
| Implementation |
€10,000-€35,000 |
Integrated implementation |
| Initial audit |
€6,000-€15,000 |
Combined audit |
| Annual surveillance |
€3,000-€8,000 |
Combined surveillance |
| Total Year 1 |
€19,000-€58,000 |
|
Sequential (ISO 27001 first, then ISO 27701)
| Component |
Cost |
Notes |
| ISO 27001 implementation |
€8,000-€30,000 |
Security focus |
| ISO 27001 audit |
€4,000-€12,000 |
Initial certification |
| ISO 27701 implementation |
€4,000-€12,000 |
Privacy addition |
| ISO 27701 extension audit |
€2,000-€6,000 |
Extension only |
| Combined surveillance |
€3,000-€8,000 |
Annual |
| Total Year 1 |
€21,000-€68,000 |
Higher due to duplication |
Combined approach typically saves 10-20% through reduced duplication of effort.
Hidden Costs to Consider
Often Underestimated
| Cost Area |
Consideration |
| Internal time |
Staff time for implementation, audits |
| Process changes |
Operational adjustments for privacy |
| Technical changes |
System modifications for privacy controls |
| Vendor updates |
DPA negotiations, sub-processor oversight |
| Remediation |
Fixing gaps discovered during implementation |
Potential Additional Costs
| Scenario |
Potential Cost |
| Major gaps discovered |
€5,000-€20,000 remediation |
| Failed audit |
€3,000-€8,000 re-audit |
| Legal counsel needed |
€2,000-€10,000 for complex issues |
| DPO appointment |
€5,000-€15,000/year if required |
Return on Investment
Quantifiable Benefits
| Benefit |
Potential Value |
| Enterprise deal access |
€50,000-€500,000+ per deal enabled |
| Faster sales cycles |
Value of accelerated revenue |
| Reduced audit requests |
20-40 hours saved per customer audit |
| Penalty avoidance |
Up to €20M or 4% revenue avoided |
| Incident preparedness |
Reduced breach response costs |
ROI Calculation Example
| Factor |
Value |
| Certification cost |
€25,000 |
| Annual maintenance |
€8,000 |
| 3-year total cost |
€41,000 |
| Enterprise deals enabled |
2 deals at €100,000 each |
| Revenue enabled |
€200,000 |
| ROI |
388% over 3 years |
Break-Even Analysis
| Monthly Value of Deals Enabled |
Break-Even Period |
| €5,000 |
5-6 months |
| €10,000 |
2-3 months |
| €20,000 |
1-2 months |
Cost Optimization Strategies
Reduce Implementation Costs
| Strategy |
Savings |
| Leverage existing ISMS |
30-50% of implementation |
| Use policy templates |
20-30% of documentation time |
| Automated evidence collection |
Ongoing time savings |
| Train internal audit capability |
Reduced external audit costs |
Optimize Audit Costs
| Strategy |
Savings |
| Combined audits |
20-30% vs. separate |
| Good preparation |
Avoid failed audits |
| Minimize travel |
Single location, remote options |
| Multi-year contracts |
Better rates from CB |
Manage Ongoing Costs
| Strategy |
Approach |
| Integrated compliance platform |
Single platform for multiple frameworks |
| Continuous evidence collection |
Reduces surveillance preparation |
| Process automation |
Reduce manual compliance work |
| Internal expertise |
Less external consultant dependency |
Budgeting Guidance
Year 1 Budget Template
| Category |
Small Org |
Medium Org |
Large Org |
| Implementation support |
€4,000 |
€10,000 |
€20,000 |
| Audit fees |
€3,000 |
€5,000 |
€10,000 |
| Platform/tools |
€1,000 |
€3,000 |
€5,000 |
| Training |
€500 |
€1,500 |
€3,000 |
| Contingency (15%) |
€1,300 |
€3,000 |
€5,700 |
| Total |
€9,800 |
€22,500 |
€43,700 |
Ongoing Annual Budget
| Category |
Small Org |
Medium Org |
Large Org |
| Surveillance audit |
€2,000 |
€4,000 |
€7,000 |
| Platform renewal |
€1,000 |
€3,000 |
€5,000 |
| Internal effort |
€500 |
€1,500 |
€3,000 |
| Improvements |
€500 |
€1,500 |
€3,000 |
| Total |
€4,000 |
€10,000 |
€18,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ISO 27701 worth the investment?
For organizations with significant PII processing, European customers, or privacy as a market differentiator, the ROI is typically strong. A single enterprise deal enabled by certification often exceeds the total cost. See who needs ISO 27701 for guidance on whether it applies to your organization.
Can we start with just ISO 27001 and add 27701 later?
Yes, this is a valid approach. However, if you're certain you'll need both, combined implementation is more efficient and cost-effective. See the certification process for details on both pathways.
What if we fail the audit?
Most organizations pass with minor findings. If major nonconformities are found, you'll need to remediate and schedule a follow-up audit, adding €3,000-€8,000 and 4-8 weeks.
How does pricing compare to SOC 2 + Privacy?
Total investment is similar. ISO 27701 may be slightly more documentation-intensive but has lower ongoing costs due to the 3-year certificate cycle vs. annual SOC 2 reports. See our ISO 27701 vs SOC 2 Privacy comparison for a detailed breakdown.
How Bastion Helps
We offer transparent, all-inclusive pricing for ISO 27701 certification that helps you budget accurately.
| Included |
Details |
| Gap assessment |
Comprehensive privacy gap analysis |
| Implementation support |
Policies, procedures, controls |
| Internal audit |
PIMS-focused internal audit |
| Audit coordination |
Certification body management |
| Finding resolution |
Support for addressing findings |
| Ongoing maintenance |
Surveillance preparation support |
Ready to understand your ISO 27701 certification investment? Talk to our team
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