DPO as a Service

What the DPO Does

The DPO's role under the GDPR is advisory, supervisory, and communicative. The DPO advises the controller on data protection obligations, monitors compliance with the GDPR and the organisation's own policies, provides guidance on Data Protection Impact Assessments, acts as the point of contact for the supervisory authority (the Belgian GBA/APD), and handles data subject queries and complaints.

The DPO must be given the resources and independence necessary to perform these functions effectively, and must not receive instructions regarding the exercise of the DPO function. In practice, the DPO's work includes reviewing new processing activities for compliance before they are implemented, maintaining and updating the Records of Processing Activities, advising on data breach response and notification obligations, reviewing and updating privacy notices and consent mechanisms, assessing vendor data processing agreements, and providing training on data protection to staff.

The DPO is also responsible for maintaining the organisation's relationship with the supervisory authority and coordinating any inspections or investigations.

The External DPO Advantage

An external DPO brings several structural advantages over an internal appointment. First, independence: the external DPO has no conflicting responsibilities within the organisation and no hierarchical relationship that could compromise the function. Second, expertise: an external DPO from a specialised data protection practice brings cross-sector experience and current knowledge of regulatory developments, enforcement trends, and best practices. Third, scalability: the external DPO engagement can be scaled to the organisation's needs, providing intensive support during project phases (new system launches, international expansions, breach incidents) and routine oversight during steady-state operations.

Benefits

• Qualified DPO service meeting all GDPR Article 37 requirements
• Ongoing advice on processing activities and risk assessment
• Data breach response and supervisory authority liaison
• Backed by the IPRHQ data protection platform
• Scalable to your organisation's size and risk profile
• Available as standalone DPO or integrated compliance service