You may discover that you and your staff must possess the necessary knowledge as you work to make your GDPR-compliant compliant. Therefore, if you want to save time and gain essential experience, working with a GDPR consultancy company may be a suitable choice.
It can be difficult for anyone to find the proper expert, which can be a huge relief or a terrible event. Maintaining compliance with regulations is frequently connected to bureaucracy, and it is viewed as a waste of time and resources that diverts managers and employees from the main objective.
In this article, learn how to choose the best business for your GDPR compliance project, including the factors to consider.
Experience
Look for a GDPR consultancy firm with prior expertise in implementing the regulation before employing them. Due to the numerous requests for GDPR implementation from businesses at the time the rule went into effect, GDPR consultants have accumulated much experience over the last two years.
To check on prior positions, you can ask for references. The consultant’s previous experience in your business should also be considered because it will enable them to recommend solutions that will function better with your process.
Qualifications
Due to the multidisciplinary nature of GDPR compliance, you will find experts with various educational backgrounds, including engineers, attorneys, and IT security specialists. Looking through the CVs of consultants might be confusing.
See if they have experience in the privacy space or a related sector. None of these specialities should be taken to suggest complete awareness of GDPR. Still, if this prior knowledge is combined with experience in the GDPR compliance industry, you will likely discover a consultant with an excellent grasp of your requirements.
Reputation
You can see your consultant’s standing as an authority by visiting if he publishes books or papers, hosts webinars, or gives conference presentations. A consultant’s reputation, which has been developed over many years, is vital. Although the GDPR is a new regulation, digital law and data security have existed for some time; therefore, looking into any prior interest in these subjects may be beneficial.
Switching industries can be challenging for a consultant’s profession, and the growth of the digital business attracted consultants from other sectors to concentrate on data protection. In such circumstances, it may be valuable to confirm the consultant’s standing in the client’s prior field, why the consultant became interested in the GDPR, and whether he kept up with this shift in employment by investing in further education or mastering the subject through his explanation.
Cost
When choosing a company, you must weigh the advantages they provide to your business. You must understand whether your consultant will need your business’s assistance or will be able to manage the work on his to determine how much time your personnel will need to devote to the project.
Consulting companies are typically more expensive than competent, independent consultants willing to collaborate with various online specialists.
So How Do You Choose a GDPR Consultancy Company?
As an EU citizen-collecting business operator, you must comply with GDPR. Failure to do so may incur fines that can quickly add up. Working closely with an experienced GDPR consultancy company is recommended over trying to navigate its complex provisions on your own.
GDPR compliance can be an ambitious undertaking that takes multiple professionals to complete. A qualified GDPR consultant will offer expert advice and guidance on implementing GDPR throughout your organization, including your website. They will identify risks that must be managed while creating privacy notices, policies and documents which accurately represent processing activities. Furthermore, they can assist with fulfilling accountability obligations and the implementation of your Data Protection Officer (DPO).
An advantage of hiring a GDPR consultancy firm is taking care of compliance requirements for you, freeing up time and resources to focus on growing your business rather than managing GDPR compliance duties internally. This can produce a higher return on investment than handling them yourself.
When hiring a GDPR consultant, it’s essential to research their reputation and experience carefully. A good GDPR consultancy firm will have worked with numerous clients to comply with new regulations successfully – so take time to read client testimonials and case studies to know their success rate.
Keep a close eye on a GDPR consultant’s education and professional background. While law degrees aren’t essential, having experience in digital law, data privacy or IT security would undoubtedly be helpful. Furthermore, check whether they have written articles, books or spoken at conferences, as this could indicate how competent the individual might be.
As GDPR is a new regulation, it’s vital that any consultants you hire possess in-depth knowledge of its implementation in your client companies and can explain it clearly so everyone understands.
Before selecting a GDPR consultancy company, it’s worth exploring whether they provide additional cybersecurity and compliance auditing services. Cyber Essentials, a government-backed scheme offering basic cyber security for small businesses, or ISO 27001 – an all-encompassing data security standard – demonstrate a more excellent knowledge of regulations. Before working with you, they should also sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) o safeguard the confidential information belonging to your company. At Clarip, we specialize in GDPR consultancy services with DPO as a Service available for companies needing DPO representation per UK ICO requirements – contact us now to support your GDPR compliance journey!