DPO as a Service 

Organisations today face growing legal obligations under GDPR, the Data Protection Act, and the incoming NIS2 Directive. Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) is no longer optional for many. But hiring and retaining a full-time expert is costly, time-consuming, and often unrealistic.

That is where our DPO as a Service comes in.

CommSec provides qualified, experienced DPOs who work as an extension of your team. We help you stay compliant, reduce risk, and build trust with customers and regulators. Protecting personal data, supporting compliance, and guiding your organisation with clarity and confidence

Data Protection – The Challenge

Organisations face growing pressure to manage personal data responsibly, comply with GDPR, and demonstrate good governance. Many do not have the specialist expertise, internal resources, or time to manage this effectively. Our DPO as a Service offering provides access to experienced data protection professionals who support your team, advise your leadership, and ensure you maintain strong privacy standards throughout the year.

We work as part of your organisation, not outside it. Your dedicated consultant understands your business, your systems, and your culture. They help you make the right decisions by providing practical guidance, regulatory insight, and hands-on support, backed by proven expertise in data privacy and governance. Also see our CISO as a Service.

 

Benefits of DPO as a Service


Protect personal data

We help you safeguard personal information and reduce exposure to breaches.


Structured GDPR compliance

We build and manage a clear, repeatable, and accountable GDPR framework.


Expert guidance on demand

You have direct access to privacy specialists for advice and decisions.


Faster, confident decision-making

We provide clarity, assurance, and context so you can act with confidence.


Stronger privacy culture

We train and support staff so privacy becomes part of everyday practice.


Support during incidents and investigations

We guide you through breaches and regulatory engagement to reduce risk.

Why you may need a DPO?

Scenario 1 – Maturing Data Protection Strategy

You may already have achieved some compliance or quality standards and you need to build on that to meet new obligations or meet more sophisticated threats to your business.

Scenario 2 – Little or No Data Protection Strategy

On the other hand, you may have very little in-house knowledge around security and compliance. In that case we can provide you with a fully managed program of building the systems and processes in your business to become compliant with GDPR and other regulations that may affect you, such as NIS2.

What you can expect

Area Support Provided
Governance and planning Annual GDPR plan, privacy roadmap, executive and board reporting
Policy and documentation Policy suite, ROPA, retention schedules, DPIAs, LIAs, contracts, privacy notices
Privacy by design DPIA support, risk assessment and privacy controls integrated into projects and systems
Compliance monitoring Audits, reviews, risk registers, third-party assessments and ongoing oversight
Incident management Breach assessment, logging, escalation, notification support and regulator liaison
Data subject rights DSAR validation, search coordination, redaction and response tracking
Training and awareness Annual staff training, leadership sessions and awareness programmes
Advisory and support On-demand privacy advice, mailbox monitoring and escalation guidance

Why choose Commsec as your dpo provider?

Why Choose CommSec?

  • Expertise You Can Trust – Over 13 years industry experience and our team includes certified GDPR practitioners and cyber security professionals.

  • Pragmatic & Scalable – Suitable for SMEs, multinationals, and everything in between.

  • Aligned to ISO27001 & NIS2 – We help clients meet the latest regulatory expectations.

  • Part of a Broader Security Stack – We understand how data protection fits within your wider cyber security and governance programme.

FAQ's

A DPO (Data Protection Officer) is a person appointed by an organisation to oversee data protection compliance and ensure that personal data is handled in accordance with laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union (EU).

DPOs are responsible for monitoring the organisation’s compliance with data protection laws and regulations, providing advice and guidance on data protection matters, and ensuring that individuals’ rights are protected. They also act as a contact point for data subjects, supervisory authorities, and other stakeholders on data protection matters.

The role of DPO is independent; DPOs must report to the highest management level of the organisation and must not receive any instructions regarding the exercise of their tasks.

Our DPO as a Service provides your organisation with access to an experienced Data Protection Officer who acts as an extension of your team. This tailored solution bridges the gap between your compliance obligations and your internal resources, offering expertise and flexibility.

We serve clients across Ireland and beyond, helping them navigate GDPR, respond to compliance challenges, and strengthen their data protection policies and processes.

Principles of Data Processing

GDPR outlines several principles for processing personal data:

  • Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: Data must be processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner.
  • Purpose Limitation: Data should be collected for specified, explicit, and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner incompatible with those purposes.
  • Data Minimization: Only data that is necessary for the intended purpose should be collected.
  • Accuracy: Personal data must be accurate and kept up to date.
  • Storage Limitation: Data should be kept in a form that permits identification of data subjects for no longer than necessary.
  • Integrity and Confidentiality: Data must be processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security. Source

Rights of Data Subjects

GDPR grants several rights to individuals, including:

  • Right to Access: Individuals can request access to their personal data.
  • Right to Rectification: Individuals can request correction of inaccurate data.
  • Right to Erasure: Also known as the “right to be forgotten,” individuals can request deletion of their data under certain conditions.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: Individuals can request the restriction of processing their data.
  • Right to Data Portability: Individuals can request to receive their data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
  • Right to Object: Individuals can object to the processing of their data in certain circumstances.

Data Controller and Processor Responsibilities

  • Data Controllers: Organisations that determine the purposes and means of processing personal data must ensure compliance with GDPR principles.
  • Data Processors: Organisations that process data on behalf of data controllers must also comply with GDPR and ensure data protection.

Organisations may be required to appoint a DPO to oversee GDPR compliance, especially if they process large amounts of personal data or sensitive data.

Data Breach Notification

  • Organisations must report certain types of data breaches to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.
  • If the breach poses a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms, the affected individuals must also be informed.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

  • GDPR imposes significant fines for non-compliance, with penalties of up to €20 million or 4% of the annual global turnover, whichever is higher.

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