Data Protection Officer Support
for in-house DPOs.

XpertDPO Support provides expert, on-demand advisory services for named Data Protection Officers operating in complex or high-risk environments. Whether you’re a full-time in-house DPO, part-time appointee, or carrying out the role alongside legal, compliance, or IT duties, our service strengthens your position with practical backup. From DPIAs and AI risk assessments to regulatory correspondence, breach support, and documentation reviews, our experienced team is your expert second pair of eyes.

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XpertDPO Support reinforces in-house DPOs in regulated and high-risk organisations across Ireland, the EU, and the UK.

You don’t have to know everything.

Even the most experienced DPOs need a sounding board. We help you test assumptions, validate decisions, and keep pace with evolving regulatory expectations.

Strengthen your Article 38 independence.

Support isn’t interference. Our role is advisory, we help you protect your independence by offering neutral, well-reasoned input when internal pressure builds.

Be ready before there’s a breach.

Waiting until you’re overwhelmed or under scrutiny is a risk. We provide backup on DPIAs, DSARs, vendor risks, and engagement strategies, before they escalate.

Avoid being the only one.

Acting as a solo DPO can be isolating. We bring you into a team of peer experts who understand your challenges and share what’s working in similar organisations.

Boost regulatory credibility.

Supervisory Authorities expect consistency, documentation, and strategic insight. We help you deliver that, without the guesswork.

Why choose XpertDPO Support?

We’re the DPO for your DPO. Our service is flexible, confidential, and designed to protect both your organisation and your role, without the cost or complexity of outsourcing.

Why Choose XpertDPO Support for Your In-House DPO?

XpertDPO Support empowers your appointed DPO with expert, confidential advisory services tailored to the realities of complex, regulated, and high-risk environments. We act as an expert partner, never a replacement, helping your internal DPO deliver with confidence, clarity, and consistency.

Our difference:

Backup for your DPO, not a replacement

We work alongside your named DPO to strengthen, not substitute, their function. Your DPO stays in control, with our team providing expert input and strategic support.

Structured escalation and second opinion

From DPIAs to cross-border transfers, we’re your sounding board for high-risk scenarios and grey areas. No more solo decision-making under pressure.

Regulator-aware, not regulator-shy

We bring lived experience of regulatory engagement and audit response, so your DPO isn’t second-guessing what a Supervisory Authority expects.

Sector-specific expertise on tap

We understand the nuance of public bodies, healthcare providers, education, finance, and tech, because we work with them every day.

Scalable support model

Whether you need one-off mentoring, ongoing retainer support, or targeted risk advice, we adapt to your DPO’s needs, without unnecessary overhead.

Confidential and independence-respecting

Our support protects your DPO’s independence under Article 38 while enabling them to make better-informed, defensible decisions.

XpertAcademy access for your DPO

Your DPO gains access to our CPD-accredited training modules in data protection, cybersecurity, AI governance, and more, keeping them sharp and supported.

Mature chief executive officer trying to understand data on laptop screen

Businesswomen Working Late In Individual Office Cubicles Using Laptop And Digital Tablet

XpertDPO Support is built around expert backup for in-house DPOs, designed to deliver confidence, clarity, and credibility when it matters most.

Our Proven Approach

In delivering strategic DPO reinforcement, XpertDPO Support follows a clear, collaborative model designed to integrate seamlessly with your internal DPO function. From onboarding to escalation and continuous improvement, our approach ensures your named DPO is never left isolated, under-resourced, or second-guessing their next move.

Engagement Onboarding

We meet with your DPO and stakeholders to understand your structure, risk profile, and regulatory posture, setting clear boundaries, objectives, and contact protocols.

Escalation Path Setup

We agree a secure and confidential pathway for your DPO to request input, escalate complex queries, or pre-clear sensitive decisions.

Initial Compliance Audit & Gap Analysis - xpertdpo

Context & Framework Familiarisation

We review your core compliance artefacts (DPIAs, RoPA, policies, breach logs, etc.) to establish a working knowledge baseline, so we’re advising with precision, not guesswork.

Advisory & Response Support

We provide structured advice on high-risk matters, draft/review regulatory correspondence, and act as your DPO’s behind-the-scenes expert team.

Feedback & Reflection Loop

Regular check-ins ensure support stays aligned with your DPO’s needs, upcoming audits, or internal pressures, preventing reactive firefighting.

Continuous Capability Uplift

We embed access to knowledge sharing, CPD-accredited training, and evolving best practices, so your DPO grows in both competence and confidence over time.

Key Services Included in XpertDPO Support

Second-Opinion Advisory for High-Risk Processing

Support for in-house DPOs on interpreting legal bases, assessing proportionality, and making defensible calls on complex data use.

DPIA, RoPA, and Policy Review

Expert review of Data Protection Impact Assessments, Records of Processing Activity, internal policies, and privacy notices with actionable feedback, not just checklists.

Regulatory Correspondence Support

Co-drafting, reviewing, or advising on communications with Supervisory Authorities, complaints, breaches, or proactive engagement.

Data Breach Response Guidance

Real-time advisory support when your DPO faces a breach notification, including risk assessment, reporting decision support, and documentation.

AI & Emerging Tech Risk Advisory

Specialist support for in-house DPOs navigating data protection risks related to artificial intelligence, biometrics, and automated decision-making.

Cross-Border Data Transfer Escalation

Advice on international data transfers, SCCs, TIAs, and transfer risk assessments, especially where Schrems II and UK-EU dynamics apply.

DSAR and Individual Rights Support

Guidance on complex subject access requests, including redactions, refusals, exemptions, and process improvements.

On-Demand Expert Consultation

Direct access to senior DPOs for ad hoc queries, sounding board discussions, and support in meetings or investigations.

Quarterly Strategic Check-ins

Optional structured meetings to review risks, look ahead to audits or projects, and ensure the DPO function stays fit-for-purpose.

Access to XpertAcademy Training

Continuous professional development for your DPO, with CPD-accredited courses covering GDPR, Security, AI governance, and more.

What Our Clients Say About XpertDPO Support

We are proud to support in-house and named Data Protection Officers across the public and regulated sectors, delivering trusted advisory support alongside practical GDPR compliance expertise. Our DPO support clients include public bodies such as The Teaching Council, Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Atlantic Technological University, CORU, and the Irish Defence Forces. We also support Section 38 healthcare organisations, research institutions, and professional services firms operating in high-risk or regulated environments. Here’s what some of them say about working with us:

"As an in-house DPO in a complex regulatory environment, I needed more than a legal helpline. XpertDPO gave me strategic guidance I could rely on, especially during DPIA and Records of Processing Activity reviews."

— Head of Compliance, Public Education Services

"Having a named DPO didn’t mean we had all the answers. XpertDPO Support helped us navigate a supervisory authority engagement with confidence, reviewing our draft responses and advising on tone and risk strategy."

— Legal Counsel, Public Sector

"We’ve leaned on XpertDPO Support for DSARs, data breach decisions, and ROPA review. They work with, not over, our internal DPO, and that’s what makes the relationship so effective."

— Group Compliance Manager, Health & Social Care Provider

Trusted by in-house DPOs and data protection leads in: Public Bodies, Higher Education, Healthcare Providers, Regulators, Semi-State Agencies, Local Authorities, Professional Services, and Technology & Research Organisations.

In-House DPO: Choosing the Right Support Model

Organisations with a named or appointed Data Protection Officer (DPO) often face a familiar challenge: how to ensure their DPO has the right resources, regulatory insight, and strategic backup to fulfil their obligations with confidence. The choice typically comes down to three routes: managing the role entirely in-house, hiring external privacy or legal consultants, or engaging an expert support partner like XpertDPO.

Choosing the right model for reinforcing your internal DPO is critical to maintaining sustainable GDPR compliance, meeting Article 38 expectations, and reducing regulatory risk. The table below compares these approaches, highlighting where XpertDPO Support delivers the confidence, continuity, and capability your DPO needs to succeed.

Key Differences Between DPO Support Models

Feature / Factor	In-House DPO Only	External Consultants	XpertDPO Support
Independence protected (Article 38 compliant)	✔️	⚠️	✔️
Access to expert second opinion	❌	⚠️	✔️
Strategic escalation pathway	❌	❌	✔️
Regulatory correspondence review & prep	❌	⚠️	✔️
Context-aware policy & DPIA feedback	❌	⚠️	✔️
Continuity of support	⚠️	❌	✔️
Sector-specific insight	⚠️	⚠️	✔️
Supports independence, not replacement	⚠️	⚠️	✔️
Cost-effective, scalable model	✔️	❌	✔️
Includes access to training & knowledge base	❌	❌	✔️

XpertDPO Support delivers the insight, continuity, and strategic capability your internal DPO needs, without the cost, disconnection, or risk of outsourcing or overloading legal counsel. Our structured support model is trusted by in-house DPOs in public bodies, healthcare, education, regulators, and professional services. Backed by CPD-accredited training, responsive expert advice, and regulatory credibility, it’s the smart choice for organisations that take the DPO role seriously—and want to reinforce it responsibly.

What exactly is XpertDPO Support?

XpertDPO Support is an expert advisory and escalation service for appointed or in-house DPOs. It provides a structured pathway for second opinions, documentation review, and regulatory risk handling, without displacing the internal DPO function.

How does this protect the DPO’s independence under Article 38?

Our model is designed to respect and reinforce DPO independence, not compromise it. We provide input, not instructions. Your DPO retains full decision-making autonomy, with the benefit of strategic advisory from a trusted peer team.

When should an in-house DPO use this service?

Any time they need:

A second opinion on a DPIA, breach, or risk decision
Input on regulatory correspondence
Feedback on documentation before executive or board submission
External validation on complex or contested positions
Access to specialist guidance in niche areas (e.g. AI, cross-border transfers, TIAs)

We’re the escalation point before things escalate further.

How is this different from ad hoc consultants or external legal?

We work alongside your DPO, proactively, not reactively. Unlike ad hoc consultants or firms that offer limited context or continuity, we understand your data environment, risk posture, and internal dynamics. Our input is sector-specific, regulator-aware, and built for defensibility.

Does this include support for supervisory authority engagement?

Yes, we provide back-channel input, document review, and escalation framing for engagements with regulators. That includes complaints, investigations, breach notifications, and proactive transparency reporting.

Do you offer privilege or legal sign-off?

No. XpertDPO Support is an expert advisory service, not legal representation. Many of our advisors are legally qualified, but we do not operate under legal privilege. For legal defence or litigation-specific advice, we collaborate with your chosen counsel.

Is this suitable for public sector and shared service DPOs?

Absolutely. We currently support named DPOs in local authorities, education, Section 38 healthcare, and statutory bodies. Our model aligns with public sector governance and procurement expectations, with clear service boundaries and accountability.

What does XpertAcademy access include?

Your DPO receives access to CPD-accredited training modules on data protection, cybersecurity, AI governance, and supervisory authority trends, supporting continual development without additional cost.

Can I scale support up or down?

Yes. Our model is modular and scalable. Some clients use it for ongoing quarterly support, others retain access for critical incident response or advisory peaks. It adapts to your workload and risk environment.

What’s the typical onboarding process for XpertDPO Support?

We start with a focused onboarding session involving your DPO and key stakeholders. This includes a review of your governance structure, existing documentation (RoPA, DPIAs, breach logs), and a discussion around escalation triggers and sector risks. You’ll receive a clear engagement protocol so your DPO knows exactly when and how to reach out, and we’ll align our support to your operating context from day one.

Ready to Reinforce Your DPO with Expert Support?

Your named or in-house DPO doesn’t need to go it alone. With XpertDPO Support, you gain a strategic partner for high-risk decisions, regulator engagement, and GDPR compliance assurance, without compromising independence or adding unnecessary overhead. Schedule a confidential consultation with our senior DPO team today and discover how we can help your organisation strengthen its data protection capability from within.