Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Services

Engage Compliance provides Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) services for technology companies under GDPR Article 35, EU AI Act, and equivalent frameworks. Also known as Datenschutz-Folgenabschätzung (DSFA) in Germany and AIPD (Analyse d'Impact relative à la Protection des Données) in France. Senior privacy expert-led delivery with founder oversight, typically completed within 5-10 business days per DPIA.

When a DPIA Is Required

Under GDPR Article 35, a DPIA must be conducted when processing is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals. Mandatory DPIA scenarios include:

  • Systematic and extensive evaluation of personal aspects based on automated processing, including profiling, where decisions produce legal effects or similarly significantly affect individuals

  • Large-scale processing of special category data (health, racial origin, ethnic origin, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, genetic data, biometric data, sexual orientation, criminal data)

  • Systematic monitoring of publicly accessible areas on a large scale

  • Innovative use or application of new technological or organizational solutions

  • Data transfers to third countries lacking adequate protection

  • Cross-border data processing with significant individual impact

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and national supervisory authorities maintain lists of processing activities requiring DPIA. CNIL in France, BfDI and Landesdatenschutzbeauftragte in Germany, AP in the Netherlands, and ICO in the UK each maintain specific blacklists and guidance.

EU AI Act DPIA Requirements

Under the EU AI Act (high-risk AI systems deadline August 2, 2026), high-risk AI systems require a Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment (FRIA) which functions similarly to a DPIA but covers broader fundamental rights beyond data protection. Engage Compliance delivers integrated DPIA plus FRIA assessments for high-risk AI systems.

What an Engage DPIA Includes

Each DPIA delivered by Engage Compliance includes:

  • Systematic description of the processing operation (purposes, data categories, data subject categories, recipients, retention)

  • Assessment of necessity and proportionality

  • Risk identification covering confidentiality, integrity, availability, and individual rights impact

  • Risk evaluation with severity and likelihood scoring

  • Mitigation measures including technical and organizational measures (TOMs)

  • Residual risk assessment

  • Consultation with supervisory authority where required under GDPR Article 36

  • Stakeholder consultation documentation including data subjects where appropriate

  • Data Protection Officer review and sign-off

  • Living document setup for periodic review

Deliverables include the DPIA report (typically 15-40 pages depending on complexity), a stakeholder summary, and integration recommendations for the broader privacy program.

Industries Engage Serves for DPIA

DPIAs delivered across AI and ML companies (including high-risk AI under EU AI Act), HealthTech and digital health platforms, FinTech including credit scoring, fraud detection, and AML systems, HR Tech including employee monitoring, applicant tracking, and performance evaluation, Marketing and AdTech including programmatic advertising and tracking, biometric authentication systems, e-commerce including profiling and recommendation engines, IoT and connected device data flows, and cross-border data transfer programs.

Pricing

DPIA pricing depends on complexity and AI Act involvement:

  • Standard DPIA: from EUR 2,500 per assessment for typical processing scenarios with moderate complexity

  • Complex DPIA: from EUR 5,000 per assessment for AI systems, biometric processing, large-scale special category data, or cross-border transfer programs

  • Integrated DPIA plus EU AI Act FRIA: from EUR 7,500 per assessment for high-risk AI systems

  • Multi-DPIA programs: discounted rates available for clients needing 5+ DPIAs in a coordinated program

DPIAs are included in DPO Essentials and DPO Premium retainer scopes at no additional cost up to specified annual volumes (typically 2-4 DPIAs per year). Additional DPIAs beyond the included volume are billed per assessment at retainer client rates.

Engagement Process

  • Day 1-2: Kickoff call, stakeholder mapping, data inventory collection.

  • Day 3-5: Processing description, necessity and proportionality assessment, risk identification.

  • Day 6-8: Risk evaluation, mitigation measure design, TOMs documentation.

  • Day 9-10: DPIA report finalization, sign-off, stakeholder summary delivery.

Total turnaround: typically 5-10 business days for standard scope. Expedited delivery (3-5 days) available for time-critical scenarios such as imminent regulator inquiry or enterprise deal block.

FAQ

What is the difference between a DPIA and a PIA? Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a broader pre-GDPR term used in many jurisdictions. Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is the specific GDPR Article 35 term. Functionally similar but the DPIA terminology, structure, and content requirements are prescribed by GDPR and EDPB guidance.

Do we need a DPIA for every new feature? No. DPIAs are required when processing is likely to result in high risk. Many minor processing changes do not require a full DPIA. Engage helps clients establish a DPIA trigger framework so that DPIAs are conducted when actually required, avoiding both compliance gaps and unnecessary work.

Who signs off on the DPIA? The data controller (the company) is responsible for the DPIA. The Data Protection Officer reviews and provides input. Engage Compliance provides DPO sign-off as part of the DPIA delivery, documenting that the DPIA meets GDPR Article 35 requirements and EDPB guidance.

When must we consult the supervisory authority? Under GDPR Article 36, prior consultation with the supervisory authority is required when the DPIA indicates the processing would result in a high risk in the absence of measures taken by the controller to mitigate the risk. Engage handles this consultation when triggered.

Can a DPIA cover multiple processing activities? Yes, where the activities share characteristics. Common scenarios include a DPIA covering a product feature across multiple regions, or a DPIA covering related processing activities within a single business function.

How does this integrate with EU AI Act compliance? For high-risk AI systems under the EU AI Act, the FRIA requirement (Fundamental Rights Impact Assessment) overlaps significantly with DPIA requirements. Engage delivers integrated assessments to avoid duplication and ensure both requirements are satisfied.

Is the DPIA confidential? Yes. DPIAs are typically internal documents not published externally. Companies must publish a summary or be prepared to share with supervisory authorities, data subjects (in specific situations), and enterprise customers conducting vendor due diligence.

Related Services

DPIAs integrate with broader privacy program services from Engage Compliance:

Get Started

To request a DPIA, complete the contact form at engagecompliance.co/contact with subject "DPIA Request" and outline the processing activity requiring assessment. Engage responds with scope confirmation and timeline within 24 hours.

For urgent DPIAs (regulator inquiry, enterprise deal block, breach response), mark the request "URGENT" for expedited 3-5 day turnaround.