Outsourced Data Protection Officer
Reach and maintain GDPR compliance across your organisation by outsourcing data protection officer duties to our legal experts.
Compliance with data protection law is no longer negotiable for businesses across the UK. If you need to appoint a data protection officer (DPO) relying on one of our data protection solicitors is a cost-effective way to ensure comprehensive compliance with GDPR and related data protection laws.
Ensure a robust data compliance strategy with an external data protection officer
When you engage one of our data protection solicitors to carry out the duties of a data protection officer for your business, you get specialist legal advice and practical guidance when you need it. This provides you with peace of mind around GDPR compliance. Outsourcing doesn’t lessen your legal obligations as a business under GDPR and other data protection legislation. But it does significantly reduce the amount of staff resources you need to devote to data protection issues. For example, we’ll be responsible for:
- Assessing whether you are required to appoint a data protection officer. Remember, the obligation to have a DPO in place depends on the type of data you process not the size of your business.
- Informing and advising your employees on their data protection obligations.
- Ensuring all staff know how to contact us at short notice when they have concerns about data protection within the organisation.
- Monitoring GDPR compliance among your staff.
- Providing bespoke staff training on the key data protection issues that apply to your business. Our training helps foster increased staff awareness of data protection issues and helps staff handle GDPR issues as they arise, including consent queries and subject access requests.
- Carrying out data protection audits to reduce the possibility of sanctions and demonstrate to the ICO that your business is GDPR compliant.
- Assessing the need for data protection impact assessments ahead of large scale projects or when your business processes high risk or sensitive information.
- Ensuring your business follows ICO guidance and best practice recommendations relating to data retention policies.
- Establishing relationships with key ICO personnel and acting as the direct contact for the regulator on all issues relating to data protection.
- Informing the ICO and the involved parties in the event of a data breach and assisting with any subsequent investigation.
- Managing subject access requests on your behalf when relevant.
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Harper James have been incredibly professional and responsive. They immediately understood the challenges we have. Not only those of any small business, but those relating to building a piece of complex tech, and they have been able to help us navigate that from a legal perspective.
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Harper James have become a vital part of our business. We get quality advice from experienced solicitors at prices that other firms do not appear to be able to match.
Over the years Harper James have helped us navigate complex legal issues and red tape, providing distilled options and legal consultancy that far exceeds the service levels we’ve previously experienced from more traditional law firms. The team act like our own in-house counsel so, regardless of which lawyer we work with, we feel supported and that they truly have our best interests at heart.
Benefits of using an outsourced data protection officer
Demonstrates commitment to compliance |
Partnering with an external data protection officer is a clear way of demonstrating that you are accountable to those whose data you process. By demonstrating this kind of commitment to compliance, you’re making a clear statement that you are a trusted and reputable organization.
Get immediate, specialist advice |
The data protection officer’s role is specialist in nature. They are the point of contact for all staff when any data protection issues arise internally and the public face of compliance for your organisation. It’s crucial to appoint a DPO with the right data protection knowledge – someone who can quickly and practically apply the law to your operations. Our lawyers consistently keep up-to-date with the field of data protection and they are used to working with businesses of all kinds across a wide range of industry sectors.
Reduce the risk of data breaches |
Appointing an external data protection officer doesn’t mean your organisation relinquishes responsibility for GDPR compliance. If a data breach occurs your business may still incur sanctions and suffer any consequent reputational damage. But our experts can spot potential problem areas and advise on the appropriate action to prevent breaches from happening.
Keep costs to a minimum |
Many businesses choose to train key staff to carry out the DPO function, but this is expensive and time consuming. There’s no need to train our solicitors. With expert knowledge in their field, they work efficiently, ready to discharge DPO functions and prioritise GDPR compliance.
An objective approach to your data protection issues |
As external experts we can take an objective, high-level view of the data protection issues facing your business, removing any conflicts of interest, and reducing internal bureaucracy. We’ll encourage a culture of data protection by design across your organsation. In practice this means showing your staff how to put data protection at the forefront of their work, considering GDPR for example at the development stage of any new product or service.
Who we help: Start-ups and SMEs seeking to streamline the DPO function
Our data protection team advises start-ups across the UK on all aspects of the GDPR. In the course of our work, we find many organisations are concerned about appointing an appropriate DPO. But with our outsourced data protection officer service, we essentially take over the functions of DPO on behalf of clients to ensure that you have the correct advice on how to maintain compliance with the current legislation.
Examples of our work
Why choose Harper James Solicitors?
You can be confident that we understand the law as it applies to your business. We won’t ask you to do anything you don’t need to or waste valuable resources in complying with rules that don’t apply to you. Your data protection solicitor will act as the go-to data protection person for your business – for your employees and the ICO as well as the public. Our lawyers have the confidence and technical expertise to deal with queries as they occur in a professional and efficient way. Our goal is always to strengthen the image of your company and build up the trust of the regulator and the people who use your services.
Find out more about the team here:
Pricing plans
Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
City
Straightforward access to senior solicitors at a competitive rate.
An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive ‘City’ partner-level expertise at a fraction of ‘City’ prices.
Enterprise
Have legal peace of mind for £189 per month with additional support from £99 per hour.
A monthly subscription legal support package specifically designed for start-ups and smaller businesses.
On-Demand
For businesses requiring 60+ hours of support a year, with prices equivalent to £99 per hour.
Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.
