Yes, and no. Although we do operate as a DPOaaS, by partnering with us you get the support of a team of experts, not just a single DPO. This includes a specialist lawyer, UK and EU GDPR reps, change management and training. We don't put a cap on the amount of support you get from your dedicated team, it's unlimited. So we essentially become part of your team, at the fraction of the cost of hiring in-house or outsourcing consultants.

You may have a legal duty to appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO). One example under GDPR, is if your business processes ‘special category’ data such as: personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin; personal data revealing political opinions; personal data revealing religious or philosophical beliefs; personal data revealing trade union membership; genetic data; biometric data (where used for identification purposes); data concerning health; data concerning a person’s sex life; and data concerning a person’s sexual orientation.

There are strict requirements around who can act as your DPO. Here are some examples: Your DPO MUST be independent, without any conflict of interest. For example, they can't have an executive role in the company. Your DPO MUST be an expert in data protection They need to be adequately qualified and experienced to know the regulations inside-out. Your DPO can be an internal employee, or externally appointed (outsourced).

Not required to appoint a formal DPO? Or just not ready yet? Our "Core" plan is built for startups that don't necessarily need to appoint a formal DPO, but still want to achieve and maintain data protection compliance. You'll still get unlimited support from a qualified and dedicated DPO, along with everything your business needs to stay compliant with global data protection requirements. See our Pricing page, or get in touch with us to find out more!

Through your personalised automated trust portal, you'll be able to showcase your compliance posture, and authorise any requests for proof, instantly. Your dedicated team will also help you to transform compliance from a dry legal necessity into a compelling brand asset by communicating your commitment to privacy, security, and ethical data practices in a way that builds trust with customers, investors, and partners. Too often, startups struggle to articulate their compliance efforts in a way that resonates beyond legal teams. We bridge that gap by crafting clear, engaging narratives that showcase your privacy-first approach – turning compliance into your competitive advantage.

Yes! No matter what plan you choose, we will ensure that you have all of the necessary documentation, processes and systems in place to stay compliant with any global data protection requirements applicable to you. You'll also have uncapped embedded support from your dedicated data protection team, to make sure everything is always up to date, and to help with anything that may crop up.

Traditional consultants typically come in, solve for a snapshot in time, charge a fee, then leave. This is great for larger established businesses that don't change much! However, this can quickly become a monetary black hole for startups that need to continually iterate as they grow. At Onteigo, we are built around the needs of innovative, fast-paced startups that need to know that compliance is taken care of, no matter how much they pivot, innovate or grow.

SaaS platforms typically offer generic, template driven compliance frameworks, and are a great option for very low risk businesses! At Onteigo, we specialise in working with innovative and data-driven startups that require more embedded and competent support. We navigate the grey areas and complexities of data protection and ensure you're always protected, and we implement bespoke compliance strategies that facilitate innovation and growth, rather than hindering it with generic outputs and excessive red tape.

Very little! We've made sure that our processes are as time efficient as possible. Generally, we'll initially meet with department heads, to understand and map out how data is being processed within the business. We'll then only meet with specified stakeholders on a regular basis. Once we're onboard, we'll operate as an extension of your internal team and take complete care of your data protection compliance framework.