Data is at the heart of your business, but so is the risk

The UK GDPR requires many organisations to appoint a qualified Data Protection Officer (DPO), and even where it isn’t mandated, the consequences of getting data protection wrong are severe – fines, reputational damage, and operational disruption. However appointing a senior in-house DPO isn’t viable for many organisations.

Our monthly, virtual DPO service gives you the expertise, leadership, and assurance of a qualified Data Protection Officer – without the cost or complexity of hiring in-house.

Cost effective

More affordable and less risky in comparison to hiring an in-house DPO.

Reduces workload

Allows those with responsibilities in addition to data protection to focus on the ‘day job’.

Flexible delivery

Different tiered services that can be tailored to meet exact data protection needs.

Proactive

Identifies potential data protection risks before they escalate.

Future proof

Keeps abreast of the latest regulatory developments for continual compliance.

Data is at the heart of your business, but so is the risk

The UK GDPR requires many organisations to appoint a qualified Data Protection Officer (DPO), and even where it isn’t mandated, the consequences of getting data protection wrong are severe – fines, reputational damage, and operational disruption. However appointing a senior in-house DPO isn’t viable for many organisations.

Our monthly, virtual DPO service gives you the expertise, leadership, and assurance of a qualified Data Protection Officer – without the cost or complexity of hiring in-house.

Cost effective

More affordable and less risky in comparison to hiring an in-house DPO.

Reduces workload

Allows those with responsibilities in addition to data protection to focus on the ‘day job’.

Flexible delivery

Different tiered services that can be tailored to meet exact data protection needs.

Proactive

Identifies potential data protection risks before they escalate.

Future proof

Keeps abreast of the latest regulatory developments for continual compliance.

Want to give our virtual DPO service a try?

We offer a free Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) for any project you are looking to introduce or are currently working on. It’s a great, no obligation way to get to know our vDPO service better.

Our Virtual Data Protection Officer Services

Bronze vDPO

For SMEs and / or those in low risk industry sectors. This service provides essential data protection support including ICO registration, GDPR policy review and access to expert advice.

Silver vDPO

For growing organisations that need more hands-on data protection support. This pro-active service provides customised policies, DPIA drafting, staff training & quarterly reporting amongst others.

Gold vDPO

For mid-to-large organisations needing full-spectrum data protection management. This service includes unlimited support, tailored policies, complete DSAR & breach handling, and priority response times.

Read how Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber have benefited from a vDPO Service

Scaling fast doesn’t have to mean falling behind on data protection. Discover how Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber maintained strong compliance while expanding across complex industry and academic partnerships – with the support of a Virtual DPO.

Get in touch

If you are interested in any of our vDPO services or keen to understand how outsourcing your data protection responsibilities could help then please get in touch by completing the form below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ad hoc advice answers specific questions. A vDPO provides ongoing oversight, proactive monitoring and an accountable function. The ICO's expectation — and the legal requirement where a DPO is mandated — is not just that you can find advice when needed, but that someone is actively monitoring your compliance position, identifying issues before they become incidents, and maintaining institutional knowledge of your processing activities. When a breach occurs or a subject access request lands, you have someone who already knows your organisation rather than starting from scratch.

Yes. Where a DPO is legally required, TMW Resilience can act as your formally designated DPO and be registered as such with the ICO. The ICO accepts external DPO appointments provided the individual has the required expert knowledge and is not in a position of conflict of interest. We ensure the appointment is structured correctly and that the required contact details are published on your website and registered appropriately.

Breach response is one of the most time-critical aspects of the role. Under UK GDPR, notifiable breaches must be reported to the ICO within 72 hours of the organisation becoming aware — a tight window that requires immediate expert assessment. Your vDPO will triage the breach, assess whether it meets the notification threshold, draft the ICO notification if required, advise on whether affected individuals need to be notified, and document the incident in your breach register. Having someone already familiar with your systems and processing activities makes a material difference to the speed and quality of your response.

We structure vDPO engagements on a retainer model calibrated to your volume of processing activity and the complexity of your data landscape. Engagements typically range from half a day per month for smaller organisations with straightforward processing, to two or more days per week for larger or more complex operations. Within the retainer you have access to advice, document reviews, DPIA support, incident response assistance and ICO liaison. We review the level periodically — organisations grow and their data processing activities change.

Often yes. Small organisations are not exempt from UK GDPR, and the ICO does not apply a lighter touch to smaller businesses that fail in their obligations. Common scenarios where smaller organisations benefit most: handling employee or customer health data, operating as a data processor for larger clients who require contractual DPO assurance, using third-party marketing or CRM platforms, and responding to subject access requests. A proportionate retainer — sometimes a few hours per month — provides the oversight and expertise that most small organisations cannot justify hiring full-time.

A policy is a document. A vDPO is an ongoing function. Having a privacy policy on your website satisfies one narrow transparency obligation under UK GDPR, but the broader accountability principle requires you to demonstrate active, maintained compliance — maintained records of processing, completed DPIAs for high-risk activities, reviewed processor agreements, trained staff and a tested breach response process. A policy alone does not demonstrate any of that.