Service Overview
A Data Privacy Officer (DPO) is responsible for leading an organization’s privacy program and ensuring compliance with relevant privacy regulations. In practice, this means designing privacy frameworks, training employees, reporting to leadership, and serving as a point of contact for regulators, third parties, and data subjects.
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An outsourced DPO does the same work as an internal, full-time DPO—only in a consulting capacity. This gives organizations access to the same expertise and oversight without the cost of a permanent hire. Our outsourced DPOs perform key tasks such as:
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Designing and implementing privacy programs.
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Mapping and inventorying all data processing activities.
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Leading workforce training and awareness programs.
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Overseeing incident management and breach response.
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Addressing data subject rights requests.
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Collaborating with legal, information security, and vendor management teams.
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Communicating with regulators and reporting to senior management or the board.
For many organizations, outsourcing makes sense. Some do not have the financial bandwidth for a full-time DPO, while others don’t process enough personal data to justify the role internally. By outsourcing, you get flexibility, cost savings, and top-level expertise when and how you need it.
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In some cases, a DPO isn’t optional. Laws such as the GDPR in Europe and frameworks in El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, and Ecuador require organizations to appoint a Data Privacy Officer. Even in jurisdictions where it isn’t mandated, having a DPO in place is considered a best practice and often a client expectation.
Benefits of Working with Oso
Organizations choose Oso as their outsourced DPO because we provide certified expertise and flexible support without the cost of a full-time hire. Our officers hold the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) credential from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)—a global standard in privacy management. This ensures that our guidance is consistent with international best practices.
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We also know that every business has a different approach to risk. Some are highly risk-averse, while others are more comfortable taking a practical, middle-of-the-road approach. We adapt our support to match your company’s culture and risk appetite, offering recommendations that make sense for your operations.
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Because we work across multiple industries and jurisdictions, our team has experience managing compliance under GDPR, CPRA, and LATAM regulations. That breadth means we can anticipate regulatory trends and help your organization stay ahead. With Oso, you get ongoing privacy leadership without the overhead of a permanent hire.
What’s Included in the Service
When you partner with Oso for outsourced DPO services, we act as a dedicated privacy leader for your organization. Our services include:
Regulatory Guidance
Interpreting laws and regulations so you know what applies to your business.
Risk Assessment
Identifying gaps in your current privacy practices and designing mitigation plans.
Privacy Program Oversight
Leading the design, implementation, and ongoing management of your privacy framework.
Regulator Communication
Serving as your point of contact for audits, inquiries, or investigations.
Board and Leadership Reporting
Providing updates and reports in formats that align with your leadership’s needs.
Customization & Collaboration Process
When we serve as your outsourced DPO, we don’t just deliver reports—we integrate into your team. At the start of an engagement, we invest time in interviews and assessments to understand your organization’s data practices, existing policies, and business goals. This setup phase often requires more effort as we establish the privacy program and build a compliance roadmap.
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Once the program is running, we usually schedule weekly touchpoints with your designated internal contact to track progress and address new issues. We also provide bi-weekly status updates on the program, and can prepare board-level reporting in your preferred format or our own, depending on what your leadership team needs.
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Flexibility is key. If regulators make inquiries or if special projects arise, we allocate additional time as needed. We are also comfortable working within your existing governance tools and systems, but can provide our own frameworks if you don’t yet have them. The goal is to give you the right level of involvement—scaling up or down depending on your needs—while keeping privacy management consistent and reliable.
Who This Service Is Best For
Outsourced DPO services are best suited for startups and mid-sized companies that need strong privacy leadership but don’t have the resources or volume of processing activities to justify a full-time in-house role.
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This offering is especially valuable for:
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Highly regulated industries such as finance and insurance, where data protection requirements are strict and penalties for mistakes are severe.
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Retailers and e-commerce companies that handle high volumes of consumer personal data but may not have the budget for a permanent DPO.
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Technology and SaaS companies expanding into markets where privacy laws require an appointed officer.
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Organizations operating in jurisdictions like the EU, El Salvador, Colombia, Mexico, or Ecuador, where a DPO is mandatory under law.
By outsourcing, these businesses gain peace of mind knowing their privacy program is being led by a qualified professional, without stretching internal staff or overspending on a role they may not need full-time.