Industry
Government
Location
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Company Size
1000-1500
Consultants
0
Weeks to deliver
0
Data Subjects
0
K+
PDPL Compliance Services
Key PDPL Implementation Deliverables
athif@halaprivacy.com
Challenges
Our comprehensive GAP Assessment identified several critical areas requiring improvement to align with Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) as mandated by SDAIA.
Key challenges included:
- Policy Alignment & Legal Framework:
The organization lacked updated data protection policies reflecting the latest SDAIA KSA PDPL requirements, leaving gaps in legal bases for processing, privacy notices, and data retention policies. - Data Governance & Documentation:
There was no structured data governance framework, and Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) were incomplete, making it difficult to track and manage personal data effectively. - Cross-Border Data Transfers & Vendor Compliance:
The organization engaged several external vendors and data processors, yet there were no standardized procedures to assess their compliance with SDAIA KSA PDPL, particularly for cross-border data transfers. - Employee Training & Awareness:
Staff across departments had varying levels of understanding regarding data privacy obligations, leading to inconsistencies in handling data subject rights (DSR) requests and potential risks of non-compliance. - Data Breach Preparedness:
The organization lacked a structured incident response framework to ensure timely identification, reporting, and mitigation of data breaches as required by SDAIA KSA PDPL.
Solutions
To address these challenges, we designed a structured and comprehensive PDPL compliance framework that included the following solutions:
- Policy Development & Legal Compliance:
- Updated and aligned existing policies with SDAIA KSA PDPL, including a robust Data Privacy Policy, Data Retention Policy, and Legal Basis for Processing Manual.
- Developed a Privacy Notice for Employees and Customers that outlined data collection, usage, and rights, ensuring transparency.
- Created Vendor Review Procedures with PDPL-compliant contract templates to ensure third-party data processors adhered to regulatory obligations.
- Updated and aligned existing policies with SDAIA KSA PDPL, including a robust Data Privacy Policy, Data Retention Policy, and Legal Basis for Processing Manual.
- Enhanced Data Governance & Documentation:
- Developed a Data Governance Framework, assigning clear roles and responsibilities for SDAIA KSA PDPL compliance.
- Conducted Data Discovery Workshops to identify all sources of personal data across departments.
- Established a detailed Records of Processing Activities (RoPA) to document all processing activities, legal bases, and data flows.
- Designed a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) Process to assess high-risk processing activities and mitigate privacy risks.
- Developed a Data Governance Framework, assigning clear roles and responsibilities for SDAIA KSA PDPL compliance.
- Cross-Border Data Transfer & Vendor Compliance:
- Implemented a Cross-Border Data Transfer Procedure, ensuring international data flows met SDAIA KSA PDPL’s stringent requirements.
- Drafted and implemented Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) to establish a compliant framework for internal data transfers.
- Developed a standardized Vendor Assessment Program to ensure third-party processors and sub-processors met SDAIA KSA PDPL compliance standards.
- Implemented a Cross-Border Data Transfer Procedure, ensuring international data flows met SDAIA KSA PDPL’s stringent requirements.
- Employee Training & Data Subject Rights Management:
- Delivered a comprehensive training program for employees, including:
- Enterprise-Wide Training Workshops to educate staff on SDAIA KSA PDPL fundamentals, data breach response, and data subject rights.
- Department-Specific Training Sessions covering operational compliance, DSR request handling, and vendor management.
- Enterprise-Wide Training Workshops to educate staff on SDAIA KSA PDPL fundamentals, data breach response, and data subject rights.
- Established a Data Subject Rights Management Process to streamline request handling and ensure timely responses to data access, correction, and deletion requests.
- Delivered a comprehensive training program for employees, including:
- Data Breach Readiness & Compliance Monitoring:
- Developed a Data Breach Response Procedure, including incident reporting guidelines and notification requirements.
- Provided Incident Response Templates & Checklists to facilitate immediate action in case of data breaches.
- Established a Compliance Audit & Monitoring Framework to routinely assess adherence to SDAIA KSA PDPL and track corrective actions.
- Developed a Data Breach Response Procedure, including incident reporting guidelines and notification requirements.
Outcomes
The implementation of these solutions led to measurable improvements, enabling the government organization to achieve full KSA PDPL compliance under SDAIA’s regulatory framework.
Key outcomes included:
- Regulatory Compliance & Risk Reduction:
- Successfully registered as a Data Controller on the National Data Governance Platform (dgp.sdaia.gov.sa).
- Established structured processes for Data Subject Rights Management, Data Breach Reporting, and Cross-Border Data Transfers, reducing regulatory risks.
- Successfully registered as a Data Controller on the National Data Governance Platform (dgp.sdaia.gov.sa).
- Operational Efficiency & Governance Enhancement:
- Implemented a centralized data governance structure, ensuring seamless coordination of compliance efforts.
- Enhanced RoPA documentation, providing clarity on personal data flows and processing activities.
- Implemented a centralized data governance structure, ensuring seamless coordination of compliance efforts.
- Employee Engagement & Privacy Awareness:
- Conducted multiple training workshops, increasing privacy awareness and creating a culture of compliance.
- Empowered employees to manage data subject requests (DSR) efficiently, reducing response time and ensuring legal adherence.
- Conducted multiple training workshops, increasing privacy awareness and creating a culture of compliance.
- Vendor & Third-Party Compliance:
- Standardized vendor due diligence processes, ensuring all external processors met SDAIA KSA PDPL requirements.
- Strengthened contractual safeguards, reducing risks associated with third-party data handling.
- Standardized vendor due diligence processes, ensuring all external processors met SDAIA KSA PDPL requirements.
- Recognition as a Public Sector Compliance Leader:
- The organization now serves as a benchmark for SDAIA KSA PDPL compliance in the government sector, demonstrating industry best practices in data governance and privacy protection.
- Positioned as a model institution for excellence in data governance, contributing to national data privacy awareness and regulatory adherence.
- The organization now serves as a benchmark for SDAIA KSA PDPL compliance in the government sector, demonstrating industry best practices in data governance and privacy protection.
By leveraging best practices and implementing a structured compliance approach, the organization successfully navigated the complexities of SDAIA KSA PDPL, ensuring sustainable data privacy management and regulatory adherence under SDAIA’s framework.
