Global Outsourced DPO Service
A named DPO, backed by a legal and operations team, for one fixed monthly fee.
By Robert Healey — CEO & Global Data Privacy Expert · Your named DPO
Our outsourced DPO service is also known as fractional DPO services.
Statutory DPO cover across 120+ jurisdictions. No hourly billing. Your DPO is appointed and registered within 7 days, with your full action plan by day 30.
Small tier: from £750 per month. Fixed fee.
Need temporary cover while you recruit? Explore our Interim DPO Service.
Compare DPO costsWhat 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
Key Takeaways
- Under Article 37 of the UK GDPR and EU GDPR, certain organisations are legally required to appoint a qualified Data Protection Officer — outsourcing this role to an external provider is explicitly permitted under Article 37(6)
- Formiti's outsourced DPO service assigns a named, credentialled data protection officer accountable to your organisation across all applicable jurisdictions, including UK GDPR, EU GDPR, and 120+ national frameworks
- Engagements are overseen by Robert Healey (CRCMP, CISCRP, IARCP, CSOE), recognised in the Forbes Top 10 GDPR Leaders list, with operational support delivered through the Privacy360 compliance platform
- Outsourced DPO arrangements typically reduce the cost of maintaining a qualified DPO function compared to a full-time internal hire, whilst retaining the same legal accountability and regulatory standing
- All engagements produce audit-ready documentation — including DPIAs, DSAR logs, and processing records — accessible through the Privacy360 platform
Trusted by
Global Cross Border Clients
Engaging Formiti is paramount for safeguarding your privacy. Their expertise ensures data protection compliance and risk mitigation, a wise investment for any organization. Formiti has consistently proven to be our trusted global privacy experts covering three continents for over four years. Their reliability and precision in providing guidance are unmatched
R Tella
Legal Counsel, Planet Smart City
What your DPO delivers
- Statutory role
- Named DPO, supervisory authority registration and published contact details.
- Incidents
- Breach triage and notification support. Response within 24 hours.
- Requests
- DSAR support and guidance on complex requests.
- Assessments
- DPIA review and sign-off, plus vendor and processor risk checks.
- Oversight
- Compliance monitoring, advice and reporting to senior management.
- Training
- Staff awareness content twice yearly.
- Reporting
- Quarterly board reports and an annual programme review.
- Regulator liaison
- One point of contact for supervisory authorities.
Who your DPO is, and who covers them
Experienced privacy leadership backed by three dedicated teams: Privacy Regulations, Legal and Privacy Operations.
Each client gets a named DPO and a named backup. Cover continues during absence or leave.
In addition, three specialist teams support your DPO through the Privacy360 platform.
Your named DPO
Robert Healey
Global Data Privacy Expert & Forbes Top 10 GDPR Leader
CEO of Formiti & Owner of the Privacy360 Platform
CRCMP, CISCRP, IARCP, CSOE
Your named backup
Khwanchira Khan
Operations Director Formiti Data International & Privacy360
CRCMP, CISCRP
Privacy Regulations
Track global privacy regulatory changes and identify the requirements relevant to your organisation.
Legal
Advise on legal privacy agreements and communications with regulators.
Privacy Operations
Keep all client policies and documentation updated in line with applicable privacy requirements.
Independence and conflicts of interest
- DPO work is separate from consultancy or implementation work we do for you.
- Your DPO is not instructed on how to perform their tasks.
- We disclose potential conflicts and put safeguards in place.
Your DPO reports to the highest level of management. Under Article 38(6) GDPR, other tasks must cause no conflict of interest.
Fixed-fee outsourced DPO pricing
Small tier: from £750 per month. No hourly billing.
Most of our clients invest between £1,150 and £2,880 per month.
What drives the fee
Organisation size, number of jurisdictions and data volume determine your fixed fee.
Contract terms
Ongoing service: minimum term 12 months. Notice period 60 days.
Temporary appointments use our separate Interim DPO Service.
What is outside scope
- Major projects
- Large-scale audits, data mapping programmes, M&A due diligence and international transfer programmes.
- Bespoke training
- Standard awareness content twice yearly is included. Tailored or in-person sessions are extra.
- Security and technical testing
- Penetration testing, security audits and certifications such as ISO 27001 are outside scope.
- Decisions that belong to you
- The DPO advises. Your organisation decides the purposes and means of processing, and accepts business risk.
- Representative services
- EU and UK Article 27 representation, and Swiss FADP representation, are separate services.EU / EEAUnited KingdomSwitzerland
Unsure whether something is covered? Ask us. We confirm scope before you sign and tell you before any extra work starts.
Get a fixed-fee proposalYour first 30 days
- 1
Days 1–7
Kick-off, scope confirmation and access to records. Your DPO is appointed and registered within 7 days.
- 2
Weeks 2–3
Review your processing activities, risks and gaps. Agree priorities with your internal contact.
- 3
By day 30
Receive your full action plan by day 30. Confirm regular reporting and escalation routes.
Do you need a DPO?
Under GDPR and UK GDPR, these core triggers require an appointment:
- Public authority.
- Large-scale systematic monitoring.
- Large-scale special-category or criminal-conviction data.
Voluntary appointments are common and build customer trust.
Read the full guide on DPO requirementsWhat to ask before you appoint an outsourced DPO
- Who is my named DPO, and who covers them?
- Named DPO plus a named backup, supported by three specialist teams.
- How fast do you respond to a breach?
- Response within 24 hours.
- Is the DPO independent of your other services?
- Yes. DPO work is kept separate from consultancy work.
- Is the fee fixed?
- Yes. A fixed monthly fee with no hourly billing.
- What if my DPO is unavailable?
- Your backup DPO and the wider team step in.
- What happens if I outgrow the service?
- The AI Compliance Officer add-on and extra jurisdictions are added to the same contract.
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.
An in-house hire brings salary, benefits, training and absence-cover costs. However, outsourced DPO cover brings specialist teams together.
The solo DPO trap
One hire may not cover every privacy specialism. As a result, wider team support can improve continuity.
Use the calculator to compare likely costs — then consider the difference in resilience, breadth, and execution.
What our clients say
Formiti delivered our GDPR assessment and implementation project to a very high standard. Their expertise in this area allowed them to work with all business units without any interruption of operations. They also provided expert legal services in relation to contracts and privacy policies. We have now engaged with Formiti for their ongoing outsourced GDPR advisory service.
Jonny Summers
CCO, Scede
Where we operate
Statutory DPO cover across 120 jurisdictions, coordinated through one partner.
- EU / EEA
- United Kingdom
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- USA
- South America
- Middle East
- APAC
Optional add-on
AI Compliance Officer add-on
Extend your DPO cover with AI governance support for the EU AI Act and emerging global requirements.
- Identify AI systems, classify risk and review AI-enabled vendors.
- Align impact assessments, governance documentation and evidence with your DPIA workflows.
- Monitor compliance through Privacy360 dashboards, reporting and escalation routes.
Key Terms Explained
- Data Protection Officer (DPO)
- An independent expert responsible for overseeing an organisation's data protection strategy and ensuring compliance with applicable privacy legislation, including UK GDPR and EU GDPR. Under Article 37 of the GDPR, certain organisations are legally required to appoint one. The ICO and the EDPB publish guidance on the role.
- Outsourced DPO
- A qualified DPO provided by an external specialist firm rather than employed directly. Permitted under Article 37(6) of the GDPR. Delivers the same legal accountability at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.
- DSAR (Data Subject Access Request)
- A formal request from an individual to access the personal data an organisation holds about them. Organisations must respond within one calendar month under UK and EU GDPR.
- DPIA (Data Protection Impact Assessment)
- A structured risk assessment required before undertaking processing activities likely to result in high risk to individuals. Mandated under Article 35 of the GDPR.
- Fractional DPO
- A part-time or shared DPO arrangement where the officer works across multiple client organisations simultaneously. Suitable for organisations that require qualified oversight without full-time resourcing.
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. The Small tier starts 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.
What is the minimum contract term?
The ongoing outsourced DPO service has a minimum term of 12 months and a 60-day notice period. Interim DPO Service is separate and provides temporary cover.
Who is personally liable if something goes wrong?
Your organisation stays legally responsible for GDPR compliance. The law places that duty on the controller or processor, not on the DPO. European data protection guidance also confirms that a DPO is not personally liable for an organisation’s non-compliance. However, we are accountable for the quality of our service. Our responsibilities, service levels and liability are set out in your service agreement. We carry professional indemnity insurance. We will share the details with you before you sign.
What happens if our DPO is unavailable?
Your named backup DPO covers, supported by the Privacy Regulations, Legal and Privacy Operations teams.
Can we switch from our current DPO mid-year?
Yes. We handle the handover, update your supervisory authority registration and publish new contact details.
What do we need to provide in week one?
Access to your records of processing, key contracts, an organisation chart and a named internal contact.
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 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?
Your DPO is appointed and registered within 7 days. You receive your full action plan by day 30.
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?
Get a costed DPO proposal within one working day of your consultation.
Tell us your size and jurisdictions. We'll confirm scope, name your DPO and send a fixed fee.
What happens next
We review your requirements and current DPO model.
We schedule a free consultation to discuss scope, risk and fit.
We send a costed proposal within one working day.
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.
Further reading on this topic
- Fractional DPO for Startups and Scale-ups: HealthTech, HR Tech and E-commerce Guide (2026)
- What to Look for in an Outsourced DPO
- Formiti vs Standard Outsourced DPO: Which Service Model Scales Across 120+ Jurisdictions in 2026?
- Why Fractional DPO Services Are the Strategic Choice for Global AI Deployment in 2026
- The Article 38(6) Trap: Why Your CISO Cannot Be Your DPO in 2026
- When Is a DPO Required Under GDPR and UK GDPR?