Virtual DPO

Data protection legislation sets out clear criteria defining which organisations need to have a data protection officer (DPO).  However, an organisation does not have to employ a part-time or full-time DPO in-house, and is able to outsource that service to subject matter experts to gain access to instant expertise and to have a scalable service as the need arises.  Even where a DPO is not mandatory, many organisations find it best practice to engage the services of a DPO to ensure they achieve and maintain demonstrable data protection compliance.

Using the URM virtual DPO (vDPO) service enables you to access not just one, but a team of experienced and qualified data protection practitioners, each with their area of specialism.  This experience will help you with key aspects of compliance you might not come across regularly, such as dealing with the regulator - the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) - advising on challenging subject access requests (SARs), conducting data protection impact assessments (DPIAs), developing records of processing activities (ROPAs), managing personal data breaches, improving information security, developing awareness presentations, and transferring data to third countries.

With our service, you can gain expert practical advice, guidance and support, as and when needed.  You can also ensure there is no ‘conflict of interest’ between the DPO and other business activities.  You can also be confident of complying with the latest regulatory and legal developments, as URM’s Team closely monitors any clarifications or interpretations on data protection legislation from sources such as the ICO.

• Totally flexible arrangement with site (in person or remote) days delivered at a frequency set by you
• Practical ad hoc guidance and advice on all aspects of data protection
• Hands-on support for emerging issues and queries from business teams
• Urgent response services for those time critical matters and issues such as reactions to breaches
• Annual GDPR auditing to provide assurance to key stakeholders
• Getting your organisation to a position of compliance with the tools you need to stay compliant.

For more detailed information on the contents of URM's virtual DPO service, please refer to our data sheet.

Why URM?

Track record

URM’s DP and GDPR consultants have extensive ‘real world’ experience as both practitioners and subject matter experts working at a senior level within business and in their data protection consulting roles advising organisations on best practice.  With a 19-year track record assisting organisations to comply with legislation such as the Data Protection Act, the GDPR and local country-specific legislation, URM has earned a reputation for adopting a pragmatic and business appropriate approach.

Flexible service offerings

A key differentiator between URM and other data protection service providers is our flexible service offerings.  Our virtual DPO service can be customised to your precise requirements, in terms of the type of support you require and the frequency of site days (remote or on site) etc. Equally, with our remediation support, URM can assist you address any gaps identified and achieve full GDPR compliance. We can also help you maintain that compliance with ongoing GDPR auditing services and assist with processes such as data subject access requests as a regular service or to help you reduce your backlogs.

Knowledge transfer

URM prides itself on its knowledge transfer philosophy and training expertise which helps to ensure that you not only understand what the principles and requirements of the GDPR are but how to best meet them.