Outsourcing your Data Protection Officer: Is it the best option?

Introduction

Data protection is a crucial aspect of any business, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has made it mandatory for some organisations to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). However, hiring a full-time DPO can be expensive, especially for smaller businesses. 

Outsourcing your DPO can be a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure that your organisation is complying with data protection regulations while allowing you to focus on your core business activities. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the benefits of outsourcing your Data Protection Officer.

Cost Savings

Outsourcing your DPO can result in cost savings for your organisation. Hiring a full-time DPO can be expensive, especially for smaller businesses that may not have the resources to support a full-time staff member. By outsourcing your DPO, you pay only for the services you need, which can result in significant cost savings for your organisation.

Access to Expertise

When you outsource your DPO, you gain access to a team of experts who have specialised knowledge and experience in data protection. This can help ensure that your organisation is complying with all relevant data protection regulations and best practices. This is especially key for those organisations that are subject to varying legislation relating to UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, including the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003 (PECR), Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), Access to Medical Records Act 1998 and Environment Information Regulations 2004 (EIR) amongst others.

Flexibility

Outsourcing your DPO provides you with greater flexibility to scale up or down as needed. You can adjust the level of support you receive based on your organisation’s needs, which can be especially valuable during times of growth or change. This flexibility allows you to tailor your data protection services to your organisation’s specific needs and can help you stay agile in a rapidly changing business environment.

Reduced Risk

Data protection regulations are constantly changing and evolving. When you outsource your DPO, you can rely on the expertise of your service provider to stay up-to-date on the latest regulations and ensure that your organisation is compliant. This can reduce the risk of non-compliance, which can result in significant fines and reputational damage.

Improved Focus

Outsourcing your DPO allows you to focus on your core business activities, whilst leaving the management of data protection to the experts. This can help improve overall efficiency and productivity within your organisation. By outsourcing your DPO, you can be confident that your data protection is being managed by experts, which can help you focus on your core business activities.

No Conflict of Interest

Outsourcing your DPO ensures that there is no internal conflict of interest as dictated in the UK GDPR. The regulator in the UK, the ICO, states that the DPO should be expected to manage competing objectives that could result in data protection issues taking a secondary role to business interests. By outsourcing, you are assured that your DPO will not be subject to internal conflicting decision-making, and will balance the rights of the data subject with the business objectives in an independent manner.

Conclusion

Overall, outsourcing your DPO can be a cost-effective and efficient way to ensure that your organisation is complying with data protection regulations, whilst allowing you to focus on your core business activities. With access to expertise, flexibility, reduced risk, and improved focus, outsourcing your DPO can be a valuable investment for any organisation looking to manage its data protection needs.

You can find out more about what is included in our outsourced Data Protection Officer Service here or get in touch. Give us a call at 0203 3013384 and we can walk you through the various options available to your organisation. Prices start at just £500 per month.

‘Bristol Airport have worked closely with DPAS for several years – they have been instrumental in providing services helping us to deliver transformative projects across our Airport. Legal support, with an ethical and pragmatic twist.’ 

The University of Exeter Students’ Guild were keen to ensure we were delivering our GDPR commitment on time and on track.
We therefore needed a qualified Data Protection Officer to monitor
our progress, provide assurance that we were on the road to compliance and maintain the role going forward. We sourced Data Privacy Advisory as they were local and have 20 years Data Protection experience. We are very happy with the high standards of service received and the training provided was not only delivered professionally but completely tailored to our business type. I highly recommend Data Privacy Advisory if you have GDPR worries or you are considering having a Data Protection Officer look after your organisation.”

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