Data Protection

GDPR Compliance Services — From Gap Assessment to DPO

GDPR fines reached $2.1 billion in 2023 alone — and enforcement is accelerating. Most organisations know they need GDPR compliance but struggle with the practical implementation: data mapping across dozens of systems, consent mechanisms, data subject rights automation, and the 72-hour breach notification clock. Opsio bridges the gap between legal requirements and technical reality.

Get Your Free GDPR Assessment See What's Included

Trusted by 100+ organisations across 6 countries

100+

GDPR Projects

72h

Breach Notification

€2.1B

Fines in 2023

DPO

as-a-Service

GDPR

ISO 27001

NIS2

ePrivacy

DPIA

OneTrust

Part of Cloud Security & Compliance

What is GDPR Compliance Services?

GDPR compliance is the ongoing practice of ensuring an organisation collects, processes, stores, and transfers the personal data of EU residents in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation, which carries penalties of up to 20 million euros or 4% of global annual turnover for violations. Core responsibilities under the regulation include establishing a lawful basis for every data processing activity, maintaining Article 30 records of processing activities through structured data mapping, operationalising data subject rights such as access, erasure, rectification, and portability within statutory timeframes, conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments for high-risk processing under Article 35, implementing data protection by design and by default across systems and workflows, and reporting qualifying breaches to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours. Practitioners draw on frameworks including ISO 27701 for privacy information management, the NIST Privacy Framework, and technical controls such as encryption at rest and in transit, pseudonymisation, and role-based access controls implemented through infrastructure-as-code tooling like Terraform. Organisations operating in the EU should also account for NIS2 intersections and, where applicable, the requirement to appoint a Data Protection Officer. Annual GDPR compliance programme costs for mid-market organisations typically range from 50,000 to 250,000 euros depending on data estate complexity and whether DPO functions are insourced or outsourced. Established vendors active in this space include OneTrust, TrustArc, Osano, and the major advisory practices at Deloitte and PwC. Opsio delivers GDPR compliance services from its Sweden headquarters and ISO 27001-certified Bangalore delivery centre, combining 24/7 NOC monitoring, 50-plus certified engineers, and partnerships across AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud to close the gap between regulatory obligation and technical implementation for mid-market and Nordic enterprise clients.

GDPR Compliance Without the Complexity

The General Data Protection Regulation affects every organisation that processes personal data of EU residents — regardless of where that organisation is headquartered. Non-compliance carries fines of up to $20 million or 4% of annual global turnover, whichever is higher. In 2023, EU data protection authorities issued over $2.1 billion in GDPR fines, with Meta alone receiving a $1.3 billion penalty. But beyond the fines, GDPR compliance builds customer trust, enables EU market access, and provides competitive advantage in B2B sales where data protection due diligence is standard. Opsio's GDPR compliance services cover the full regulation: data processing inventories and Records of Processing Activities (RoPA), Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) for high-risk processing, consent management implementation using OneTrust or Cookiebot, data subject rights automation (access, erasure, portability, restriction), breach notification procedures meeting the 72-hour supervisory authority reporting requirement, cross-border data transfer mechanisms (SCCs, adequacy decisions), and ongoing compliance monitoring.

Without structured GDPR compliance, organisations accumulate data protection debt — personal data scattered across systems with no inventory, consent records that would not survive regulatory scrutiny, no documented process for handling data subject requests within the one-month deadline, and no tested breach notification procedure when the inevitable incident occurs. Data protection authorities increasingly conduct proactive audits, not just reactive investigations.

Every Opsio GDPR engagement includes gap assessment against all GDPR articles and recitals, comprehensive data mapping across all systems processing personal data, DPIA for high-risk processing activities, consent management platform implementation, data subject rights request handling workflows, breach notification procedures with templates and escalation paths, and DPO advisory services providing the independent oversight the regulation requires.

Common GDPR compliance challenges we solve: organisations with no Record of Processing Activities despite processing personal data across dozens of systems, consent mechanisms that do not meet the 'freely given, specific, informed, and unambiguous' standard, data subject access requests that take weeks because nobody knows where the data is, missing DPIAs for profiling, marketing automation, and employee monitoring activities, and cross-border data transfers to non-EU countries without proper safeguards.

Following GDPR compliance best practices, our gap assessment evaluates your current data protection posture against every relevant GDPR requirement and builds a prioritised implementation roadmap. We use proven data protection tools — OneTrust, TrustArc, Cookiebot, BigID — selected for your environment and budget. Whether you are implementing GDPR for the first time or strengthening an existing programme, Opsio delivers both the legal understanding and technical implementation to achieve demonstrable compliance. Wondering about GDPR compliance cost, whether you need a DPO, or how to handle cross-border transfers? Our assessment provides a clear, practical answer. Featured reading from our knowledge base: NIS2 Compliance Assessment, Cloud and GDPR: Cost-Effective Compliance in the Cloud, and SLA Cybersecurity: How Opsio Ensures Compliance and Protection. Related Opsio services: Compliance & Risk Assessment — GDPR, NIST, NIS2, HIPAA, ISO 27001, DPDPA Compliance Services — Digital Personal Data Protection for Indian Enterprises, NIS2 Directive Compliance — Assessment, Implementation & Ongoing, and ISO Compliance Services.

Data Mapping & RoPAData Protection

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)Data Protection

Consent Management ImplementationData Protection

Data Subject Rights AutomationData Protection

Breach Notification ProceduresData Protection

DPO-as-a-ServiceData Protection

GDPRData Protection

ISO 27001Data Protection

NIS2Data Protection

Data Mapping & RoPAData Protection

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)Data Protection

Consent Management ImplementationData Protection

Data Subject Rights AutomationData Protection

Breach Notification ProceduresData Protection

DPO-as-a-ServiceData Protection

GDPRData Protection

ISO 27001Data Protection

NIS2Data Protection

How Opsio Compares

Capability	DIY / Templates	GRC Tool Only	Opsio Managed GDPR
Data mapping depth	Spreadsheet inventory	Automated discovery	✅ Full RoPA with legal basis analysis
DPIA quality	Generic template	Tool-guided checklist	✅ Expert assessment + DPO review
Consent management	Basic cookie banner	Platform configured	✅ Full compliance + ongoing tuning
DSR handling	Manual, ad-hoc	Workflow tool	✅ Automated + one-month SLA tracked
DPO service	❌ Not included	❌ Not included	✅ DPO-as-a-Service available
Ongoing compliance	Stale after project	Tool monitoring only	✅ Continuous + regulatory tracking
Typical annual cost	$10-20K (one-time)	$15-40K (tool + setup)	$18-48K (fully managed)

Service Deliverables

Opsio's GDPR compliance services cover six capabilities mapped to specific GDPR articles, not generic privacy advice. Data mapping and Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) inventories every personal-data processing activity across systems, third parties, and SaaS tools — what data, whose data, lawful basis, purpose, retention, recipients — satisfying Article 30. Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIA) handle high-risk processing under Article 35 with structured risk evaluation and DPO consultation. Consent management implementation deploys OneTrust, Cookiebot, or custom solutions meeting GDPR's 'freely given, specific, informed, unambiguous' standard plus ePrivacy cookie requirements. Data subject rights automation handles Article 15-22 requests within the one-month deadline with identity verification and audit trails. Breach notification procedures meet the 72-hour Article 33 reporting clock with templates, escalation paths, and evidence preservation. DPO-as-a-Service delivers Article 37-39 independent oversight without full-time hire cost.

Data Mapping & RoPA

Comprehensive inventory of all personal data processing activities across every system, database, SaaS tool, and third-party service: what personal data, whose data, lawful basis, processing purpose, storage location, retention period, and data recipients. The resulting Record of Processing Activities (RoPA) satisfies Article 30 and forms the foundation of your entire GDPR compliance programme.

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

DPIAs for processing activities posing high risk to individuals — profiling, large-scale systematic monitoring, automated decision-making, and sensitive data processing. We assess privacy risks, identify mitigation measures, document the Article 35 analysis, and consult with your DPO. Includes DPIA templates for future processing activities.

Consent Management Implementation

Implementation of GDPR-compliant consent mechanisms using OneTrust, Cookiebot, or custom solutions: cookie consent banners meeting ePrivacy requirements, marketing opt-in with granular preference centres, consent withdrawal mechanisms, and comprehensive consent record-keeping proving consent validity for each individual.

Data Subject Rights Automation

Workflows and systems to handle all Article 15-22 data subject requests within the one-month deadline: Subject Access Requests (SAR), erasure (right to be forgotten), rectification, data portability (machine-readable format), restriction of processing, and objection to processing. Includes identity verification procedures and response templates.

Breach Notification Procedures

Documented breach detection, severity assessment, and multi-stakeholder notification procedures meeting the 72-hour supervisory authority reporting deadline. Includes breach assessment framework (risk to data subjects), DPA notification templates, individual notification letters, internal communication plans, and evidence preservation procedures for regulatory investigation.

DPO-as-a-Service

An experienced Data Protection Officer available to your organisation without full-time employment cost. Our DPOs provide independent Article 37-39 oversight, supervisory authority liaison, complaint handling, DPIA oversight, staff training, and quarterly compliance reporting. Available for organisations legally required to appoint a DPO or those wanting expert oversight.

Ready to get started?

Get Your Free GDPR Assessment

What You Get

A GDPR compliance engagement ships ten specific deliverables tied to regulatory evidence requirements. Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) with lawful-basis analysis satisfies Article 30 documentation needs under supervisory authority audit. DPIA reports cover high-risk processing per Article 35 with structured risk evaluation and mitigation. Consent management platform implementation delivers GDPR-compliant cookie banners and preference centers with audit-trail recordkeeping. Data subject rights automation workflows track every request against the one-month deadline with documented response evidence. Breach notification procedures include 72-hour DPA templates, individual notification letters, and internal escalation runbooks. Cross-border data transfer assessment and SCC implementation covers every international flow including SaaS sub-processors. DPO advisory reports document Article 37-39 oversight activities. Staff training materials, annual compliance review, and DPA vendor templates close out the engagement with audit-ready evidence packages.

Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) with legal basis analysis

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) reports for high-risk processing

Consent management platform implementation and configuration

Data subject rights automation workflow with SLA tracking

Breach notification procedures with 72-hour DPA templates

Cross-border data transfer assessment and SCC implementation

DPO advisory reports and supervisory authority correspondence

Staff data protection awareness training materials

Annual GDPR compliance review and gap remediation plan

Data processing agreement (DPA) templates for vendor management

“Opsio has been a reliable partner in managing our cloud infrastructure. Their expertise in security and managed services gives us the confidence to focus on our core business while knowing our IT environment is in good hands.”

Magnus Norman

Head of IT, Löfbergs

Pricing & Investment Tiers

Transparent pricing. No hidden fees. Scope-based quotes.

GDPR Gap Assessment

$5,000–$12,000

One-time

Why Choose Opsio for Cloud Services

Six characteristics make Opsio's GDPR compliance services materially different from law-firm-only advice or tool-only deployments. Both technical and legal expertise sit in the same engagement — privacy-by-design measures get implemented in your systems, not just specified in PDFs. Practical implementation focus means our engineers configure consent management platforms, build data subject rights workflows, and stand up breach procedures alongside legal review — no handoff gap. Cloud-native GDPR expertise covers personal data flowing through AWS, Azure, and GCP with platform-specific Article 32 technical measures. DPO-as-a-Service provides independent oversight at $1,500-4,000/month versus $120K+ for a full-time senior hire. Automation-first approach means data subject requests, consent management, and compliance monitoring run through proven platforms rather than spreadsheets and email. Compliance is treated as continuous, not a one-time project — regulatory change tracking and ongoing DPO advisory keep you current.

Technical and legal expertise

We understand both the technology and the regulation — bridging the gap between IT teams and legal requirements.

Practical implementation focus

We implement technical measures in your systems, not just deliver legal advice documents and leave.

Cloud-native GDPR expertise

Deep expertise in GDPR compliance for data processed on AWS, Azure, and GCP cloud environments.

DPO-as-a-Service available

Independent DPO expertise and oversight without the $120K+ cost of a full-time senior hire.

Automation-first approach

Automated data subject request handling, consent management, and compliance monitoring using proven platforms.

Ongoing compliance, not one-time

GDPR compliance is continuous — we provide ongoing monitoring, DPO services, and regulatory change tracking.

Not sure yet? Start with a pilot.

Begin with a focused 2-week assessment. See real results before committing to a full engagement. If you proceed, the pilot cost is credited toward your project.

Start a Pilot

Our 4-Phase Delivery Process

GDPR compliance from Opsio runs through four phases with clear deliverables and decision points. GDPR Gap Assessment (1-2 weeks) evaluates current compliance against every relevant GDPR article and recital — data mapping, consent, rights handling, breach procedures, technical measures — and produces a prioritized compliance roadmap. Data Mapping & Documentation (3-4 weeks) builds the comprehensive personal data processing inventory, Records of Processing Activities under Article 30, and Data Protection Impact Assessments for high-risk processing under Article 35 — establishing the compliance foundation. Technical Implementation (4-6 weeks) deploys the consent management platform, data subject rights workflows, breach notification procedures, cross-border transfer mechanisms (SCCs, adequacy assessments), and privacy-by-design controls. Ongoing Compliance & DPO (continuous) covers compliance monitoring, DPO-as-a-Service, annual reviews, regulatory change tracking, and staff training — ensuring compliance survives organizational and regulatory drift.

GDPR Gap Assessment

Evaluate current compliance status against all relevant GDPR articles. Identify gaps in data mapping, consent, rights handling, breach procedures, and technical measures. Deliverable: prioritised compliance roadmap. Timeline: 1-2 weeks.

Data Mapping & Documentation

Comprehensive data processing inventory, Records of Processing Activities, and Data Protection Impact Assessments for high-risk processing. Establish the compliance foundation. Timeline: 3-4 weeks.

Technical Implementation

Implement consent management platform, data subject rights workflows, breach notification procedures, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and privacy-by-design controls. Timeline: 4-6 weeks.

Ongoing Compliance & DPO

Continuous compliance monitoring, DPO-as-a-Service, annual compliance reviews, regulatory change tracking, and staff training updates. We maintain your compliance programme. Timeline: Ongoing.

Key Takeaways

Data Mapping & RoPA
Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
Consent Management Implementation
Data Subject Rights Automation
Breach Notification Procedures

Industries Served by Opsio

GDPR compliance pressure varies sharply by industry, and Opsio adapts engagement scope accordingly. SaaS and technology companies process personal data on behalf of B2B customers, requiring data processor compliance under Article 28, customer DPA management with templates, sub-processor disclosure, and cross-border transfer documentation that customers' DPOs will scrutinize during procurement. E-commerce and retail face customer data and marketing consent challenges — cookie compliance under ePrivacy, granular preference centers, payment data protection alongside PCI DSS, and frequent consent renewal cycles. Healthcare processes special-category health data under Article 9 with explicit-consent or substantial-public-interest lawful bases, plus enhanced security under Article 32 and DPIA requirements for nearly all processing. Financial services run profiling and automated decision-making under Article 22, requiring impact assessments and individual rights to opt out — alongside DORA, PSD2, and MiFID II overlays.

SaaS & Technology

Data processor compliance, customer DPA management, and cross-border transfers.

E-commerce & Retail

Customer data, marketing consent, cookie compliance, and payment data protection.

Healthcare

Special category health data protection with GDPR Article 9 safeguards.

Financial Services

Customer data processing, profiling compliance, and cross-border data transfers.

Related Cloud Insights & Articles

8 min

Compliance Risk Assessment: A Practical B2B Guide

Regulatory exposure is not a theoretical concern. GDPR fines in the EU have exceeded €4 billion in aggregate since enforcement began. HIPAA settlements...

11 min

AI Governance Framework: EU AI Act Compliance

AI Governance Framework: EU AI Act Compliance The EU AI Act became law in August 2024 and represents the world's first comprehensive legal framework for...

Explore More

Compliance Analysis

Security & Compliance — Compliance

NIS2 Directive

Security & Compliance — Compliance

HIPAA

Security & Compliance — Compliance

GDPR Compliance Services — From Gap Assessment to DPO — FAQ

What is GDPR compliance?

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance means meeting all requirements of the EU's data protection regulation for any organisation processing personal data of EU residents. This includes establishing lawful bases for processing, maintaining Records of Processing Activities, implementing data subject rights (access, erasure, portability), conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments, appointing a DPO where required, implementing breach notification procedures, and ensuring appropriate technical and organisational security measures. GDPR applies regardless of where your organisation is headquartered.

How much does GDPR compliance cost?

A GDPR gap assessment costs $5,000-$12,000. Full implementation including data mapping, DPIAs, consent management, rights automation, and breach procedures ranges from $15,000-$40,000 depending on organisational complexity. DPO-as-a-Service starts at $1,500/month. Ongoing compliance monitoring is $1,000-$3,000/month. Consent management platform licensing for OneTrust or Cookiebot is additional at $200-$2,000/month. The total investment is a fraction of the risk since GDPR fines can reach 4% of global turnover. For perspective, recent enforcement actions have seen fines exceeding hundreds of millions of euros for major violations, making proactive compliance significantly more cost-effective than reactive remediation after regulatory scrutiny begins.

How long does GDPR compliance take?

A typical GDPR compliance programme takes 3-6 months from gap assessment to full implementation: 1-2 weeks for assessment, 3-4 weeks for data mapping across all systems and third parties, 4-6 weeks for technical implementation of consent management, data subject rights automation, and breach notification procedures, and 2-3 weeks for staff training and rollout. The timeline depends on your current maturity, number of systems processing personal data, data processing complexity, and stakeholder availability. Organisations with existing ISO 27001 certification have a significant head start as many technical controls already satisfy GDPR requirements.

What are the penalties for GDPR non-compliance?

Tier 1 fines reach $20 million or 4% of annual global turnover for violations of data processing principles, lawful basis, data subject rights, and international transfers. Tier 2 fines reach $10 million or 2% of turnover for administrative violations. Beyond fines, data protection authorities can ban processing activities, order data deletion, and require public notification. Reputational damage and loss of customer trust often exceed the financial penalties themselves. Recent high-profile cases include Meta receiving a 1.2 billion euro fine for transfer violations and Amazon receiving a 746 million euro penalty, demonstrating that enforcement authorities are willing to impose substantial penalties on organisations of all sizes.

Do I need a Data Protection Officer (DPO)?

You legally need a DPO if you are a public authority, your core activities involve regular and systematic monitoring of individuals at scale, or you process special category data (health, biometric, genetic, racial, political, religious) at scale. Even if not legally required, a DPO is recommended best practice and increasingly expected by enterprise customers. Opsio's DPO-as-a-Service provides qualified, independent DPO oversight at $1,500-$4,000/month — a fraction of the $120K+ salary for a full-time senior DPO.

What GDPR tools does Opsio use?

We implement consent management using OneTrust, Cookiebot, or TrustArc depending on your requirements and budget. For data mapping, we use BigID, OneTrust Data Discovery, or manual documentation approaches for smaller organisations. Data subject request handling uses workflow automation through OneTrust or custom-built workflows. Breach notification procedures integrate with your incident management tools such as ServiceNow or Jira. Tool selection depends on your organisation size, budget, and existing technology ecosystem. For companies processing data across multiple jurisdictions, we also configure geo-specific consent rules and cookie banners that adapt to local regulatory requirements across EU member states.

How does GDPR relate to NIS2 and ISO 27001?

GDPR, NIS2, and ISO 27001 share significant overlap in technical security measures — encryption, access controls, incident management, and risk assessment. Organisations with ISO 27001 have 60-70% of GDPR technical requirements already covered. NIS2 adds network and information security measures that complement GDPR data protection requirements. Opsio maps shared controls across all three frameworks, implementing once and demonstrating compliance to multiple requirements — significantly reducing effort and cost versus treating each framework independently. For example, a single access control policy can satisfy ISO 27001 Annex A.9, GDPR Article 32 technical measures, and NIS2 Article 21 access management simultaneously with proper documentation.

What is a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)?

A DPIA is a mandatory assessment under GDPR Article 35 for processing activities likely to result in high risk to individuals' rights and freedoms. This includes profiling, automated decision-making, large-scale systematic monitoring, and processing of sensitive data. The DPIA must describe the processing, assess necessity and proportionality, evaluate risks to data subjects, and identify mitigating measures. Opsio conducts DPIAs using structured templates, stakeholder interviews, and technical analysis — producing documentation that satisfies supervisory authorities.

How do I handle cross-border data transfers under GDPR?

Transfers of personal data outside the EU/EEA require appropriate safeguards. Options include: adequacy decisions for transfers to countries deemed adequate by the EU Commission, Standard Contractual Clauses with Transfer Impact Assessments, Binding Corporate Rules for intra-group transfers, and specific derogations for occasional transfers. The Schrems II decision invalidated Privacy Shield and strengthened requirements for US transfers specifically. Opsio helps you map data flows, identify all international transfers including those through cloud providers and SaaS tools, implement appropriate mechanisms, and document compliance. We also monitor adequacy decision changes and regulatory guidance updates that could affect your existing transfer arrangements.

What should I do if we have a data breach?

GDPR requires notifying your supervisory authority within 72 hours of becoming aware of a breach likely to result in risk to individuals. If the breach poses high risk, you must also notify affected individuals without undue delay. Your breach response should: contain the breach, assess scope and risk, document everything, notify the DPA within 72 hours using their prescribed form, notify individuals if required, and conduct a post-incident review. Opsio's breach notification procedures prepare you for this scenario with pre-built templates and escalation paths.

Still have questions? Our team is ready to help.

Get Your Free GDPR Assessment

Editorial standards: Written by certified cloud practitioners. Peer-reviewed by our engineering team. Updated quarterly.