Last year, I wrote a blog asking for questions from fundraising and charity professionals about Data Protection for a guide that I was writing. Despite something of a lull between asking and delivering the guide, those ‘Actually Asked Questions’ were one of the things I thought worked best. It was great to include real questions from real, lovely people.
I am doing it again. This time, the guide I am writing is shorter and more focussed than the charity one, although it is not for charities, but for any data controller. The subject is choosing a company to provide your Data Protection Officer (AKA DPO as a Service). Most organisations that need a DPO will recruit a staff member, and to be honest, that’s what I consider to be the wisest choice. Nevertheless, the GDPR plainly allows data controllers to hire DPOs under contract, and many so-called GDPR experts and companies are offering themselves as DPOs on Demand. I am writing a short practical guide, containing questions and tips for anyone who is thinking of hiring a company to provide DPO as a Service. What should you look for? What should you avoid? How do you spot the cowboys? What questions should you ask?
FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not going to be a DPO for hire, either by myself or via any organisation. I have turned down several organisations already (two in particular who know they are and that I adore). This is not a way to get you to hire me, although an organisation did have me on the interview panel for their DP officer role recently, and I WOULD SNATCH YOUR HAND OFF TO DO THAT AGAIN.
What I would like to know is this: are there any questions you have about DPOs as a service, or hiring a DPO generally? If possible, I will extend the text to be a general guide to getting a DPO internal or external, but at the moment, I have more material on the external side than the internal side.
Send me a question, send me an issue you’d like to see someone talk about, send me anything you’d like a smart-arse to think about when writing a guide like this. You will not be mentioned in the guide unless you want to be, and the guide will be free to anyone who wants it.
SEND ME YOUR QUESTIONS HERE: tim@2040training.co.uk
DEADLINE: September 30th 2017
If you approve of this endeavour and would like to promote it, please do.