Outsourced DPO Service for Organisations Operating Across Borders
A named, experienced Data Protection Officer backed by legal, technical and operational specialists, covering 120+ jurisdictions for a fixed monthly fee.
Formiti provides hands-on outsourced DPO leadership — also known as fractional DPO services — for regulated and data-intensive organisations that need practical oversight, regulator-ready governance, and day-to-day privacy support across multiple jurisdictions. Trusted by SMEs and mid-market companies worldwide.
Need temporary cover while you recruit? Explore our Interim DPO Service for a rapid, fixed-fee appointment and structured handover.
What this service covers
- Statutory DPO support where required
- Independent oversight and regulator liaison
- Incident, breach, and DSAR management
- Ongoing privacy programme leadership
- Optional AI compliance officer extension
- Cross-border coordination through one partner
Formiti provides outsourced Data Protection Officer (DPO) services — also known as fractional DPO services — for organisations that need experienced, independent privacy leadership without building an in-house team. The service covers regulatory liaison, breach management, DSARs, and ongoing governance across 120+ jurisdictions, delivered through a Three-Team Methodology combining legal, privacy, and operational expertise. It is designed for regulated, data-intensive organisations operating across borders that need a senior, responsive DPO function backed by the Privacy360 platform.
Why outsourced DPO support matters now
Data protection is no longer a local or occasional compliance task. Organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions increasingly need independent oversight, stronger governance, and a privacy function that can respond at the speed of business.
Regulatory pressure is increasing
DPO obligations, risk assessments, incident response, and governance expectations are growing across regulated sectors and international operations.
Internal teams need experienced support
Many organisations do not need a full in-house privacy department, but they do need senior guidance that is practical, responsive, and regulator-ready.
Independence is part of the role
A DPO is not simply an advisor. The role requires objective oversight, confidence in escalation, and the authority to challenge risk when it matters.
When do you need a DPO?
You must appoint a DPO under the GDPR and UK GDPR if any of these apply:
- You are a public authority or body.
- Your core activities involve regular and systematic monitoring of individuals on a large scale, such as tracking, profiling or behavioural advertising.
- Your core activities involve large-scale processing of special-category data (such as health data) or criminal-conviction data.
Some countries go further. Germany, for example, requires a DPO once a set number of staff regularly handle personal data. Even where a DPO isn't mandatory, many organisations appoint one to build trust with customers and regulators. The GDPR expressly allows the role to be filled by an external provider under a service contract.
Read our full guide: When Is a DPO Required?What's included
| Area | What you get |
|---|---|
| Statutory role | A named DPO, registration with the supervisory authority, and published DPO contact details |
| Oversight | Ongoing monitoring of compliance, advice on your obligations, and direct reporting to senior management |
| Assessments | DPIA review and sign-off, and vendor and processor risk checks |
| Incidents | Breach triage and regulator notification support, with a response within 24 hours |
| Requests | DSAR handling support and guidance on complex requests |
| Training | Staff awareness training content for your internal training teams, twice a year |
| Reporting | Quarterly board or management reports and an annual programme review |
| Regulator liaison | Acting as the point of contact for supervisory authorities |
Pricing
Our outsourced DPO service is a fixed monthly fee, based on your organisation's size, the number of jurisdictions, and how much data you handle. Plans typically start from £750 per month. You'll get a fully costed proposal after a free consultation, with no hourly billing surprises.
Your first 30 days
- 1
Week 1
Kick-off call, scope confirmation, and access to your existing records and policies.
- 2
Weeks 2-3
Review of your processing activities, risks and gaps, and formal DPO appointment and registration where required.
- 3
Week 4
Your named DPO presents a prioritised action plan, and regular reporting and escalation routes are agreed.
Independence and conflicts of interest
The GDPR requires your DPO to act independently, report to the highest level of management, and avoid conflicts of interest. Formiti's DPO service is kept separate from any other consultancy or implementation work we do for you, and your DPO is not instructed on how to perform their tasks. If a conflict could arise, we tell you and put safeguards in place.
Where we operate
Our outsourced DPO service covers organisations operating in all of these regions.
- EU / EEA
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- USA
- South America
- Middle East
- APAC
Why Formiti
A stronger outsourced DPO model
Compare Formiti's team-based DPO service with law-firm-led and single-consultant models.
| Aspect | Formiti Outsourced DPORecommended | Traditional Law Firm DPO | Lone Consultant DPO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Named DPO backed by legal, technical, and operational specialists. | One or two lawyers supporting DPO needs alongside broader legal work. | One individual responsible for all DPO activity. |
| Coverage | Legal, technical, and operational privacy support in one model. | Strong legal advice, but less hands-on operational and technical delivery. | Depth depends on one person's experience and specialism. |
| Availability & continuity | Team-based delivery provides continuity, backup, and cross-time-zone support. | Availability often shaped by billable hours and competing legal priorities. | Continuity can be affected by absence, illness, or capacity constraints. |
| Cost model | Predictable fixed-fee support designed for budget certainty. | Often hourly or matter-based billing, with costs rising as needs expand. | Lower headline fee, but narrower capacity and less resilience. |
| Operational delivery | Hands-on support for assessments, incidents, requests, training, and governance execution. | Advisory-led approach; internal teams usually handle implementation. | Delivery depends heavily on the client's internal bandwidth. |
| Scalability | Built to support growth across jurisdictions, business units, and new technologies. | May require added firms or specialist support as complexity grows. | Scaling is limited by one person's time and delivery capacity. |
Structure
Named DPO backed by legal, technical, and operational specialists.
One or two lawyers supporting DPO needs alongside broader legal work.
One individual responsible for all DPO activity.
Coverage
Legal, technical, and operational privacy support in one model.
Strong legal advice, but less hands-on operational and technical delivery.
Depth depends on one person's experience and specialism.
Availability & continuity
Team-based delivery provides continuity, backup, and cross-time-zone support.
Availability often shaped by billable hours and competing legal priorities.
Continuity can be affected by absence, illness, or capacity constraints.
Cost model
Predictable fixed-fee support designed for budget certainty.
Often hourly or matter-based billing, with costs rising as needs expand.
Lower headline fee, but narrower capacity and less resilience.
Operational delivery
Hands-on support for assessments, incidents, requests, training, and governance execution.
Advisory-led approach; internal teams usually handle implementation.
Delivery depends heavily on the client's internal bandwidth.
Scalability
Built to support growth across jurisdictions, business units, and new technologies.
May require added firms or specialist support as complexity grows.
Scaling is limited by one person's time and delivery capacity.
Outsourced AI Compliance Officer
Extend your outsourced DPO service with practical AI governance support for organisations facing EU AI Act, UK, and other emerging AI compliance obligations. See our AI governance and vendor risk service.
Add integrated AI governance capability to your DPO service. Formiti helps you identify in-scope AI systems, assess risk, strengthen governance, and maintain audit-ready evidence as regulation and stakeholder scrutiny increase.
AI system inventory and classification
Identify in-scope AI systems and categorise them using a risk-based approach aligned to current AI regulation.
AI risk and impact assessments
Assess fundamental rights, data protection, governance, and model risk alongside existing DPIA workflows.
AI governance documentation
Develop policies, accountability records, and evidence packs to support compliance and audit-readiness.
Vendor and supply-chain assurance
Review AI-enabled vendors and platforms for transparency, oversight, contractual safeguards, and data quality risks.
Continuous monitoring and reporting
Define KPIs, escalation routes, and review cycles aligned to your wider DPO reporting structure.
Regulatory and stakeholder engagement
Support responses to supervisory authorities, risk committees, and internal governance forums on AI use.
Powered by Privacy360
This service is operationalised through the Privacy360 platform for structured workflows, live visibility, and audit-ready evidence.
- Real-time compliance dashboards
- Automated DPIA and DSAR workflows
- Audit-ready evidence packs
- Multi-jurisdiction risk mapping
The Power of Three
A multi-disciplinary DPO model built to cover legal, technical, and operational privacy demands in one coordinated service.
Most organisations do not just need legal interpretation. They need a DPO function that can respond to regulatory risk, technical reality, and day-to-day business operations at the same time. Formiti's Power of Three model brings those capabilities together through one coordinated outsourced service.
Robert Healey
CEO, Formiti Data International
"For complex privacy programmes, one perspective is rarely enough. Our Power of Three model brings legal, technical, and operational specialists together so clients get practical, resilient support rather than isolated advice."
Legal & Regulatory
Interpret regulatory obligations, advise on risk, and support engagement with supervisory authorities.
Technical & Cyber
Address security controls, data flows, systems risk, and the practical realities of modern digital operations.
Operational & Change
Embed privacy into workflows, training, internal governance, and day-to-day business practice.
Compare the cost of one hire against an outsourced DPO function
See how Formiti's team-based model can deliver broader capability and more predictable cost than building the function in-house.
Most organisations do not need just one more senior hire. They need legal interpretation, technical oversight, and operational execution working together as one privacy function.
The solo DPO trap
A single in-house hire rarely covers every dimension of modern privacy management. When you hire one person, you often gain strength in one area but leave legal, technical, or operational gaps elsewhere.
The Power of Three advantage
With Formiti, your investment gives you access to coordinated legal, technical, and operational specialists through one outsourced DPO service.
- Legal capability for regulation, liability, and cross-border obligations
- Technical capability for data flows, systems risk, and AI
- Operational capability for SARs, training, incidents, and implementation
Use the calculator to compare likely costs — then consider the difference in resilience, breadth, and execution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about outsourced DPO costs, appointments, responsibilities and legal requirements.
How much does it cost to hire an outsourced DPO?
Our outsourced DPO service is a fixed monthly fee. Plans typically start from £750 per month. The price depends on three things: your organisation's size, the number of jurisdictions, and how much personal data you handle. You receive a fully costed proposal after a free consultation. There is no hourly billing. By contrast, a senior in-house hire adds salary, benefits, training and absence cover. Use the cost comparison calculator to compare both routes, or book a free discovery call.
Can I hire a DPO part-time or on a monthly retainer?
Yes. You do not need a full-time DPO. The GDPR requires a DPO with the right expertise and independence, not a full-time employee. Many organisations therefore use a fractional DPO. This is an outsourced DPO on a retained basis. You pay a fixed monthly fee instead of a full salary. For short-term cover while you recruit, our Interim DPO Service provides a named DPO within days. Learn more in our guide on how to outsource a Data Protection Officer.
Outsourced DPO vs in-house: which is right for my business?
It depends on scale, complexity and budget. An in-house DPO suits large organisations with constant privacy workloads. However, one hire rarely covers legal, technical and operational demands. An outsourced DPO gives you a team behind a named DPO. It also provides continuity when someone is absent. Costs are predictable too. Read our comparison: Outsourced DPO versus internal DPO.
Can an outsourced DPO access my company data?
Only to the extent the role requires. A DPO needs access to personal data and processing records to do their job. In return, the GDPR binds the DPO to confidentiality. Access is also scoped in the contract. Typically, the DPO reviews records, policies and assessments rather than operating your systems. Agree who sees what at kick-off. Our Privacy360 platform also keeps work and evidence in one controlled workspace.
What's the difference between a DPO consultant and a full DPO?
A consultant advises. A DPO holds a statutory role. The DPO is a named person with a defined legal position. They must act independently and report to senior management. They also act as the contact point for regulators and individuals. A consultant carries none of those duties. Many organisations need the statutory role, not just advice. See Privacy consultant vs outsourced DPO.
How long does it take to set up an outsourced DPO?
Most appointments settle within your first 30 days. In week one, we hold a kick-off call and confirm scope. In weeks two and three, we review your processing and risks. We also complete the formal DPO appointment and registration where required. By week four, your DPO presents a prioritised action plan. If you need cover faster, our Interim DPO Service offers a rapid, fixed-fee appointment.
What does an outsourced DPO actually do for my company?
Your DPO monitors compliance and advises on your obligations. They also review DPIAs and check vendor and processor risk. In addition, they support breach triage and regulator notification, with a response within 24 hours. They guide you on complex DSARs. They also provide staff training content twice a year. Finally, they report to management quarterly and act as the regulator contact. Read more in DPO duties, qualifications and operating models.
Is my small business required to have a DPO?
Not necessarily. Size alone does not decide it. Under the GDPR and UK GDPR, you need a DPO if you are a public authority. You also need one if your core activities involve large-scale, regular and systematic monitoring. The same applies to large-scale special-category or criminal-conviction data. A small company can therefore need a DPO, while a larger one may not. Some countries add their own rules. For example, Germany sets a headcount threshold. See When is a DPO required?
Ready to move from compliant to resilient?
Don't leave your privacy programme dependent on a single hire. Get coordinated legal, technical, and operational support built for modern cross-border compliance.
What happens next
We review your requirements and current DPO model.
We schedule a free consultation to discuss scope, risk, and fit.
If aligned, we provide a rapid, fully costed proposal.
Extend your privacy coverage across key jurisdictions
Explore complementary representation and local support services for international operations.
EU GDPR Representative
Article 27 support for organisations active in the European Union.
UK GDPR Representative
UK point of contact for overseas organisations subject to UK GDPR.
Swiss FADP Representative
Local representative support under Swiss data protection law.
Thailand PDPA Local Support
Local privacy support for overseas brands operating in Thailand.
AI Governance & Vendor Risk
Assess AI tools and suppliers, build your AI register and align with the EU AI Act.