Screening
A short, documented decision on whether the activity needs a full DPIA, tested against the guideline's thresholds and qualitative triggers. A recorded decision not to proceed is evidence too, and most organisations never keep it.
Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Service
Every new system, vendor and AI use case is now a question: does this need a DPIA? Since JPDP's DPIA Guideline in April 2026, the answer is often yes, and the assessment has to stand up when someone reads it after something goes wrong. We screen, assess and document, so your projects keep moving and the record holds.
DPIA Service
What it is
A DPIA delivery service. For each proposed processing activity, we screen it against the JPDP thresholds and triggers, run the full five-step assessment where one is needed, and hand senior management a residual risk decision they can actually make. We can do this for a single project or as a standing arrangement that handles the assessments as they arise.
Why organisations need it
The DPIA Guideline released by JPDP on 30 April 2026 sets quantitative thresholds, processing the personal data of more than 20,000 individuals or the sensitive personal data of more than 10,000, and qualitative triggers that apply at any volume, including automated decision-making and profiling, children's data, systematic monitoring and decisions affecting a person's legal or financial position. Most organisations have the policy. Far fewer have the time, method or independence to run assessments that would survive scrutiny, and projects stall while the DPIA waits for someone to write it.
What the engagement covers
Priced per assessment or as a standing arrangement. An organisation-wide PDPA audit is a different product; see Data Protection Solutions. To see what a finished assessment looks like, read our worked DPIA example.
Describing the processing
The data, the flows, the systems, the processors, retention and any cross-border transfer, for the activity being assessed rather than the system in general. This is where most DPIAs go wrong.
Necessity and proportionality
Testing purpose, minimisation, retention, notice and choice, and data subject rights against the processing as designed, while there is still time to change the design.
Risk to individuals
Identifying and rating the harm to the people whose data it is, not only the risk to the organisation, on scales that give consistent results from one assessment to the next.
Safeguards and residual risk
Linking each technical, organisational and contractual safeguard to the risk it reduces, then presenting what remains to senior management for an informed accept or reduce decision.
DPIA register and review
A register of every screening and assessment, owners, sign-off dates and the triggers that should reopen each one, so assessments stay current when systems and vendors change.
What the business gets out of it
Projects stop waiting on paperwork
A DPIA that sits in someone's queue delays a launch. A standing arrangement means assessments start when the project does, with an agreed turnaround.
Assessments that survive being read
After a complaint or a breach, the DPIA is the first document asked for. One that follows the guideline's method and records real decisions is evidence of accountability. A template with the blanks filled is not.
Independent challenge
The people building a system are the worst placed to assess it. An outside assessor asks the uncomfortable questions early, when changing the design is still cheap.
Senior management can actually decide
Residual risk is presented in plain terms with options, so the accept or reduce decision the guideline expects is a real decision rather than a signature.
Automated decisions and AI covered properly
Automated decision-making is a DPIA trigger at any volume. We assess AI and profiling use cases against the ADMP guideline as well, so the two records agree.
Your team learns the method
Where you want the capability in house, our two-day DPIA course is HRD Corp claimable and uses the same method we apply, so the handover is seamless.
How it works
How the engagement runs
01
Intake
You tell us about the project, system, vendor or use case. We agree who we need to speak to and the turnaround.
02
Screening decision
A documented decision on whether a full DPIA is needed, and why. If not, the screening record is filed and the project moves on.
03
Assessment
Workshops with the business owner, IT and your DPO, working through the five steps: describe, evaluate, identify, consider and assess.
04
Recommendations
Safeguards linked to risks, with owners and effort, and any design changes that would materially reduce risk.
05
Sign-off
A residual risk summary for senior management, with the DPO's advice recorded, and the decision filed in the register.
06
Review
Reopening the assessment when a review trigger fires, such as a new data type, a new vendor or a model change.
Deliverables
What you receive
Screening record
A documented decision against the guideline's thresholds and triggers, for every activity screened.
DPIA report
The five-step assessment for the activity, with data flows, risk ratings and the safeguards linked to each risk.
Action plan
Recommended safeguards with owners, effort and priority, ready to feed into the project plan.
Residual risk summary
A short paper for senior management setting out what remains and the accept or reduce options.
DPIA register
Every screening and assessment, its owner, sign-off and the triggers that reopen it.
Screening questionnaire
A questionnaire your project teams can complete themselves, so the right activities reach assessment.
Who it is for
Who this is built for
Industries
Company sizes
Departments
FAQ
FAQ
Under the JPDP DPIA Guideline of 30 April 2026, when it involves the personal data of more than 20,000 individuals or the sensitive personal data of more than 10,000, or when a qualitative trigger applies at any volume, such as automated decision-making or profiling, children's data, systematic monitoring or decisions affecting a person's legal or financial position. Screening is how you document the answer either way.
An audit looks at the whole organisation against the Act. A DPIA looks at one processing activity, usually before it launches, and asks whether the risk to individuals is acceptable. You need both, and they are priced and scoped differently.
It depends on the activity. A screening is usually a short exercise. A full assessment of a new customer-facing system or AI use case needs workshops with the business, IT and your DPO, and the elapsed time is driven mostly by how quickly those people are available.
Senior management accepts or reduces the residual risk. Your DPO advises, and where the DPO disagrees, that advice is recorded. We prepare the assessment and the summary; the decision stays with your organisation.
Often yes. Automated decision-making and profiling are DPIA triggers under the guideline regardless of volume, and the separate ADMP guideline adds transparency and consent points. We assess both together so the records agree.
Yes, and many should for routine changes. Our two-day DPIA course is HRD Corp claimable and uses the method we apply, and some clients use us only for the high-risk or contentious assessments.