Fractional DPO Services
Fractional DPO Services: Senior Privacy Leadership Without a Full-Time Hire
Get an experienced Data Protection Officer for a fixed monthly fee. Your named DPO is backed by three specialist teams. As a result, you get senior expertise at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
- 120+ jurisdictions
- 24-hour breach triage
- Fixed monthly fee
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What Is a Fractional DPO?
A fractional DPO is an experienced Data Protection Officer you share with other organisations. You retain them for part of their time, on a fixed monthly basis. However, they carry the same legal role as an in-house DPO.
The GDPR allows this directly. Article 37(6) says a DPO can be a staff member or work under a service contract. Therefore, a fractional DPO is a fully compliant appointment.
In practice, "fractional DPO", "outsourced data protection officer" and "DPO as a service" describe the same model. The difference is mainly emphasis. "Fractional" stresses that you pay only for the time and expertise you need.
Need a broader multi-country programme? See our outsourced DPO service.
Who Needs a Fractional DPO?
Under Article 37 GDPR, you must appoint a DPO in three cases:
- You are a public authority or body
- Your core activities involve regular and systematic monitoring of people on a large scale
- Your core activities involve large-scale processing of special category or criminal offence data
Many other organisations appoint one voluntarily. For example, clients and investors increasingly expect a named DPO in due diligence.
Scale-ups and Series A–C companies
You need a credible DPO for enterprise sales, but not a senior full-time salary.
Healthtech and life sciences
You process health data and need a DPO who understands clinical and research contexts.
SaaS and AI companies
Your customers ask for DPIAs, DPAs and AI governance answers every week.
International groups
You operate in several countries and need one DPO who can cover them all.
Not sure you need one? Read When is a DPO required?
What's Included in Our Fractional DPO Service
A named, accountable DPO
Robert Healey (CRCMP, CISCRP, IARCP) is registered as your DPO. He is backed by a Director of Privacy.
Three specialist teams
Privacy Regulations, Legal and Privacy Operations teams handle the detail. Consequently, you never depend on one person.
Breach triage within 24 hours
We respond to suspected breaches within 24 hours. Then we guide you through regulator notification.
DPIAs and DSARs
We review DPIAs and support data subject requests. As a result, high-risk work never stalls.
Regulator liaison
We act as your contact point with supervisory authorities, including the ICO.
Policies and records
We maintain your privacy notices, policies and records of processing.
Board reporting
You receive quarterly board reports and an annual programme review.
Staff training
We deliver privacy training content twice a year.
We work with the tools you already use, including OneTrust, TrustArc, Securiti and Vanta. Alternatively, you can use our own Privacy360 platform.
Fractional DPO Cost: Fixed Monthly Pricing
Every organisation is different. Therefore, we price on three factors: your size, the number of jurisdictions, and how much personal data you handle.
From £750 per month
Most of our clients invest between £1,150 and £2,880 per month.
Fixed monthly fee. No hourly billing. Your exact fee is confirmed in a written proposal.
Organisation size
Headcount and number of entities.
Jurisdictions
Each additional country adds regulator, language and local-law work.
Data risk
Special category data, children's data, AI and large-scale monitoring need more oversight.
Estimate your fractional DPO fee
Want a deeper breakdown? Read Outsourced DPO costs in 2026.
Fractional DPO vs In-House DPO vs DPO Contractor
| Comparison | Fractional DPO (Formiti) | In-house DPO | Day-rate contractor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | Fixed monthly fee, most clients £1,150–£2,880 | Full salary plus on-costs and recruitment | Day rate plus expenses |
| Time to start | Days | Months to recruit | Weeks |
| Expertise | Named DPO plus legal, privacy and operations teams | One person | One person |
| Cover for holidays and sickness | Built in | Gap | Gap |
| Multi-country coverage | 120+ jurisdictions | Limited | Limited |
| Independence (Art. 38) | Independent by design | Risk of conflicts | Usually independent |
Illustrative comparison. Your costs will vary.
Need cover while you recruit? See our Interim DPO service.
How Your Fractional DPO Engagement Works
Discovery call
We learn your business, data and markets. Then we confirm scope and a fixed fee.
Week 1: Kick-off
We register your DPO and set up communication channels.
Weeks 2–3: Review
We review your processing, records, policies and contracts.
Week 4: Action plan
You receive a prioritised plan. After that, we run your programme month by month.
Fractional DPO for Your Sector
Best fractional DPO for healthtech companies
Health data is special category data under Article 9. Therefore, you need a DPO who can run DPIAs on clinical and research processing. Formiti advises medical trial clients on biometric and special category data.
Best fractional DPO for e-commerce companies
E-commerce brings high DSAR volumes, marketing consent and international transfers. Our Privacy Operations team handles that volume for you.
Best fractional DPO for a Series A startup
Investors and enterprise buyers expect a named DPO. A fractional DPO gives you that credibility without a senior salary.
Fractional DPO for AI companies
AI products raise DPIA, transparency and EU AI Act questions. Our AI governance add-on extends your DPO into an AI Compliance Officer.
Why Choose Formiti as Your Fractional DPO
A team, not a single consultant
Three specialist teams stand behind your named DPO.
Truly global
We cover 120+ jurisdictions, with offices in Birmingham, Dublin, Zug and Thailand.
Independent by design
No conflicting internal roles, as Article 38(6) requires.
Frequently asked questions
Fractional DPO FAQs
What is a fractional DPO?
A fractional DPO is an experienced Data Protection Officer you retain part-time for a fixed monthly fee. They carry the full legal role of a DPO under the GDPR.
How much does a fractional DPO cost?
Formiti's plans start from £750 per month. Most clients invest between £1,150 and £2,880 per month, depending on size, jurisdictions and data risk.
Is a fractional DPO compliant with the GDPR?
Yes. Article 37(6) GDPR allows a DPO to work under a service contract. The same applies under the UK GDPR.
What is the difference between a fractional DPO and an outsourced DPO?
In practice, they are the same model. "Fractional" emphasises that you pay only for the share of time and expertise you need.
Which providers specialise in fractional data protection officers?
Specialist privacy consultancies, such as Formiti, provide fractional DPOs. Look for a named DPO, a supporting team, clear fixed pricing and multi-country coverage.
Can a fractional DPO cover several countries?
Yes. Formiti covers 120+ jurisdictions. Therefore, one DPO can support your whole group.
How quickly can you start?
Once we agree scope, we hold kick-off in week one. You receive a prioritised action plan by week four.
Is there a minimum term?
Your term is set out in your proposal. For short-term cover while you recruit, see our Interim DPO service.
Get a Senior DPO Without the Full-Time Cost
Book a free call. We will confirm your scope and a fixed monthly fee.