DPO as a Service — Outsourced Data Protection Officer
DPO as a Service gives your organization a qualified, independent Data Protection Officer at a fraction of in-house cost. Our outsourced DPO handles all GDPR Art. 37-39 obligations — regulator liaison, DPIA oversight, breach response, and ongoing compliance monitoring.
What Our Outsourced DPO Service Includes
Ongoing Compliance Monitoring
Quarterly ROPA reviews, data flow audits, and monthly compliance dashboards for management.
Regulator Liaison & Authority Communication
Your outsourced DPO serves as the designated contact for supervisory authorities under Art. 39.
DPIA Oversight & Impact Assessment Management
Comprehensive DPIA register, proactive risk identification, and Art. 35 assessments before launch.
Staff Training & Privacy Awareness
Role-based training programs from board-level governance to department-specific data handling.
Breach Response & Authority Notification
Expert-led breach response within the 72-hour Art. 33 deadline, including data subject communications.
Annual Compliance Reviews & Board Reporting
Yearly compliance audits with risk assessment and prioritized action plans reported to management.
What Happens Without a Data Protection Officer?
Organizations required to appoint a DPO under GDPR Art. 37 that fail to do so — or appoint an unqualified person — face compounding consequences:
Regulatory Fines Up to €10M
Failure to designate a DPO when required carries fines up to €10 million or 2% of annual global turnover under GDPR Art. 83(4). Multiple EU authorities have issued fines specifically for DPO appointment and independence violations.
No Designated Regulator Contact
Without a DPO, you have no formal contact point for supervisory authorities as required by Art. 39. This delays breach notifications, complaint responses, and compounds potential penalties.
Unidentified Compliance Gaps
Without DPO oversight, processing activities go unreviewed and mandatory DPIAs are missed. Policy drift and outdated vendor agreements accumulate unchecked over time.
Breach Response Failures
Organizations without a DPO take an average of 287 days to identify a breach. Missing the 72-hour Art. 33 notification deadline results in additional fines.
Understanding the DPO Role Under GDPR
GDPR Articles 37-39 establish the DPO as an independent, expert role with specific legal protections and obligations.
DPO Responsibilities (Art. 37-39)
- Advise the organization and employees on GDPR obligations (Art. 39(1)(a))
- Monitor compliance with GDPR and internal data protection policies (Art. 39(1)(b))
- Provide expert advice on DPIAs and monitor their performance (Art. 39(1)(c))
- Serve as designated contact for supervisory authorities (Art. 39(1)(d-e))
When Is a DPO Mandatory?
- Public authorities and bodies processing personal data — Art. 37(1)(a)
- Core activities requiring large-scale systematic monitoring — Art. 37(1)(b)
- Large-scale processing of special category data (health, biometric, genetic) — Art. 37(1)(c)
- Member States may extend requirements — e.g. Germany mandates DPO for 20+ employees
Outsourced DPO vs. In-House DPO
- Cost: €15K-€40K/year outsourced vs. €80K-€130K+ in-house salary and benefits
- Cross-industry expertise from serving multiple organizations simultaneously
- Structural independence free from internal politics (Art. 38(3))
- Operational within 1-2 weeks vs. 3-6 month recruitment cycle
How Our DPO as a Service Works
Onboarding & Assessment
We map all processing activities, review existing policies, and audit vendor agreements. Structured onboarding takes 2-3 weeks.
Gap Analysis & Remediation
Your outsourced DPO identifies compliance gaps ranked by risk severity. Critical issues are addressed within the first 30 days.
Implementation & Documentation
We build all required documentation: privacy policies, ROPA, DPIAs, breach workflows, and data subject rights procedures.
Ongoing DPO Service
Continuous compliance monitoring, quarterly reviews, annual audits, regulator liaison, and breach response coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions About DPO as a Service
DPO as a Service is a managed outsourcing arrangement where a qualified external Data Protection Officer fulfills all GDPR Art. 37-39 obligations for your organization. The outsourced DPO is formally designated with the supervisory authority and provides continuous compliance monitoring, breach response, and regulator liaison.
Outsourced DPO services cost €15,000-€40,000 per year depending on organization size and complexity. An in-house DPO salary in Western Europe is €80,000-€130,000 plus benefits. For most organizations, data protection officer outsourcing delivers equivalent compliance at 50-80% lower cost.
A DPO is mandatory for public authorities, organizations whose core activities require large-scale systematic monitoring of individuals, and those processing special category data (health, biometric, genetic) at scale. Some Member States extend requirements further — Germany mandates a DPO for companies with 20+ employees processing personal data.
Yes. GDPR Art. 37(6) explicitly states the DPO 'may fulfil the tasks on the basis of a service contract.' The EDPB has confirmed outsourced DPOs are fully compliant provided they meet the qualification requirements under Art. 37(5).
An outsourced DPO can be formally designated and operational within 1-2 weeks. By contrast, recruiting an in-house DPO typically takes 3-6 months, and 75% of organizations report difficulty finding qualified candidates.
GDPR Art. 37(5) requires 'expert knowledge of data protection law and practices.' Recognized qualifications include CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor. Our outsourced DPOs hold multiple certifications with hands-on experience across diverse industries.
Outsourced DPOs are often more effective because they serve multiple organizations, gaining cross-industry regulatory expertise that a single-company hire cannot replicate. They also have structural independence free from internal politics, which the EDPB identifies as a key factor in DPO effectiveness.
Industries We Serve
Get Your Outsourced DPO — Start Within 2 Weeks
Free consultation to assess your DPO requirements and provide a clear proposal. Your outsourced DPO can be appointed and operational within 14 days.