GDPR – Data Protection Officer Service (DPO)

“ Need a quick and effective solution to maintain GDPR compliance? ”

Use Our Data Protection Officer Service

Do You Need a Data Protection Officer?

The General Data Protection Regulation came into effect on 25 May 2018, and profoundly modified the way companies manage their personal identifiable information, as well as providing a modernised, accountability-based compliance framework for data protection throughout Europe. Data Protection Officers (DPO’s) are at the heart of this new legal framework for many organisations, facilitating compliance with the provisions of the GDPR, since they are a means to ensure compliance with the regulation without external intervention by the supervisory authority The Information Commissioners Office (ICO).

Under Article 37(1) of the GDPR, it is mandatory for certain controllers and processors to designate a DPO in three specific cases:

  • Where the processing is carried out by a public authority or body;
  • Where the core activities of the controller or the processor consist of processing operations, which require regular and systematic monitoring of data subjects on a large scale; or
  • Where the core activities of the controller or the processor consist of processing on a large scale of special categories of data or personal data relating to criminal convictions and offences.

As a first step, businesses should assess whether their organisation requires such an appointment and, if not, whether a voluntary appointment is worthwhile. Even when the GDPR does not specifically require the appointment of a DPO, it is highly encouraged as a matter of good practice since once the full extent of the regulation is understood by the organisation it quickly becomes apparent that it could be a significant risk not to appoint one.

The second step is to select the right person for the role. The DPO should be designated on the basis of professional qualities and, in particular, expert knowledge of data protection law and practices and the ability to fulfil the tasks.

The GDPR recognises the DPO as a key player in the new data governance system and lays down conditions for their appointment, and many organisations may find that the responsibilities are a challenge to deliver, given the breadth of knowledge required on data processing, information security, and the legal aspects of the regulation. With this in mind, the regulation allows organisations to outsource the DPO role to independent certified external provider such as QualityCERT.

We Can Be Your Data Protection Officer (DPO)

The Benefits of Outsourcing Your DPO

QualityCERT have a dedicated team who have the skills and experience necessary to provide a comprehensive Data Protection Officer service to ensure you can effectively and efficiently monitor and maintain your on-going compliance. Outsourcing the DPO function to an experienced external consultancy will bring you the following advantages:

  • COST EFFECTIVE SERVICE
    Practical, flexible and cost-effective solution to achieve GDPR compliance. No need to pay a fixed salary, pay for the service as and when required.
  • EXPERIENCED SPECIALISTS
    Tap in to the knowledge and experience of qualified, independent DPOs with expertise not available internally.
  • INDEPENDENT ADVICE
    No conflict of interest between the DPO and other business activities or organisation hierarchy.
  • COMPLIANCE BEST PRACTICE
    Application of best practice in achieving and maintaining compliance with the GDPR.

By signing-up to one of our annual subscription services, your organisation will be assigned a dedicated DPO officer who will serve as an independent data protection expert to your organisation as set out in the GDPR.

Whats Included in The Data Protection Officer Service?

QualityCERT has developed a ‘DPO-as- a-Service’ offering in response to increased demand in the market, as more clients understand their obligations to protect personal information and as awareness of GDPR grows. We recognise that the appointment of a Data Protection Officer may require time, money and resources, and finding and recruiting a full-time data protection expert is also beyond the budgets of many organisations. Addressing these challenges, the GDPR makes provisions to fill this post on an outsourced basis, which is why QualityCERT offers the DPO role as a service to organisations on favourable terms.

The DPO role, as mandated by the GDPR, covers a broad range of responsibilities, and includes advising the organisation of its data protection obligations, monitoring the organisation’s compliance with data protection law, consulting on the need for Privacy Impact Assessments where relevant, and acting as the organisation’s point of contact with the Data Protection Authority.

QualityCERT provide a comprehensive and flexible service which includes:

  • GUIDANCE
    Inform and advise the controller or the processor and the employees who carry out processing of their data protection obligations
  • COMPLIANCE MONITORING
    Monitor compliance with the GDPR and other data protection provisions
  • DPIA GUIDANCE
    Provide advice where requested regarding data protection impact assessment
  • COMMUNICATION WINDOW
    Act as the contact point for the business and supervisory authority on issues relating to data privacy processing, including prior consultation and to consult, where appropriate, with regard to any other matter
  • PRIVACY-BY-DESIGN GUIDANCE
    Advice about applying Privacy-by- Design principles to new systems
  • COMPLIANCE HEALTH CHECKING
    Data protection compliance health checks, skills training and awareness
  • DPIA
    Data Protection Impact Assessments for new projects & initiatives
  • KEEP UP TO DATE WITH LEGISLATION
    Maintaining expert knowledge of Data Protection GDPR rules and law
  • MANAGEMENT REVIEWS
    Regular meetings with key stake holders within the organisation on the effectiveness of the data protection programme
  • INTERNAL AUDITS
    Undertake periodic assessment and make changes as necessary to maintain compliance with any applicable laws
  • PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMUNICATION
    Respond to inquiries regarding the company’s privacy policies
  • LEAD AND IMPLEMENT GDPR ACTION PLANS 
    Process requests, complaints and risk management

WHY QualityCERT is 1st Choice for DPO Outsourcing

“Fully qualified professionals with a wealth of practical experience”

QualityCERT’s experienced Data Protection Officers can help and advise on all aspects of the GDPR process. We can provide expert data protection knowledge and the tools, processes and documentation necessary to significantly reduce the resource overhead required to complete the process. This ensures that the findings and recommendations implemented are the most accurate and appropriate as expected by the supervisory authority, the ICO.

We are industry practitioners who specialise in data protection, compliance, risk and governance and we are well versed in helping companies become GDPR and ISO certified.

Our GDPR practitioners cover all the key elements of the regulation to ensure you fully understand the steps and approaches your company needs to become GDPR compliant by focusing on providing practical approaches that can be easily implemented into your organisation.

Additionally our DPO’s have a wealth of ‘hands on’ industrial and commercial experience in the real world. All in all this ensures that you get the best GDPR compliance service available anywhere in the UK.

FULLY QUALIFIED DPO’s

Our DPO’s are fully qualified and experienced in Data Protection Regulation

Professional Service

We can advise, train and implement GDPR best practices within your organisation.

CIPP-E-BADGE

CIPP/E Certified Privacy Professional Europe

We have consultants certified at the highest level to advise and implement the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Extensive commercial experience.

Our Directors have over 20 years experience in implementing business systems in commercial and industrial environments

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