Data Protection Impact Assessments Explained. We aim to provide high-level instruction for business on how to comply post-transition period. For more thorough business advice contact us directly to arrange a free consultation.
The long-awaited time is upon us. The Brexit transition period ended on 31 December 2020. It’s official that GDPR has been retained in UK law as the UK GDPR. This means it will continue to be legally binding alongside the Data Protection Act 2018. As a response, many UK Businesses are now engaging a data protection compliance partner to help ensure compliance. Thus reviewing the internal business processes and upholding data protection compliance in a lawful manner. This therefore means implementing a DPIA or data protection impact assessment.
What is a Data Protection Impact Assessment?
Firstly a DPIA is a trusted method in which you can legitimately analyse your data processing. This is to help you identify and minimise data protection risks. To establish the level of risk a DPIA should consider both the likelihood and severity of any impact on individuals. A DPIA does not have to indicate that all the risks have been eradicated. But it should help you document them and assess whether or not any remaining risks are justified. This also helps you identify what risks need addressing first and prioritising them becomes much easier, This overall provides you with a demonstrable audit trail of not only your data processing activities but your commitment to a legal compliance framework. DPIAs are a legal requirement that when implemented regularly and accurately brings broader compliance, financial and repetitional benefits, helping you demonstrate accountability improving consumer confidence and building trust and engagement with your customers.
When do we need to conduct and impartial DPIA?
As a UK business, you must conduct a DPIA before you begin any type of data processing that could be high risk.
The UK GDPR says you must do a DPIA if you plan to:
- Collect personal data
- Use profiling with significant effects
- Process special category or criminal offence data.
- Monitor publicly accessible places.
- Use innovative technology
As a business the nominated data protection officer should consider doing a DPIA regularly. Even if there is no specific indication of likely high risk, it is good practice to do a DPIA for any major new project involving the use of personal data. By engaging our services we can help eliminate the risk of a data breach and noncompliance for your business. In most cases our expert DPO’S help by ensuring that the right processes have been considered, discussed, outlined, documented and them implemented to help you create a demonstrable audit trail outlining your progression and increased understanding around data protection compliance. This approach will help improve customer confidence in your business and increase brand awareness through clear and responsible data processing. Not mentioning the significant reduction in the chances of a data breach occurring.
How CDS carry out a DPIA?
A DPIA should begin at the infancy stage, early in the life of a project. Well before you start your systematic data subject processing activities. Although this can be implemented at any time so if in doubt speak to one of our data protection experts to assist you further.
We have 9 steps to a perfect DPIA : https://compliancedirectsolutions.com/data-protection/support-desk/
To learn more contact us for a formal discussion round how CDS can help you with data protection compliance.
Or to read the official ICO guidance please visit: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/employers/sars-qa-for-employers/