Supplier due diligence is an essential part of data protection compliance. Under Article 28 of the GDPR, data controllers must only engage processors that provide sufficient guarantees that processing will meet GDPR requirements and ensure the protection of data subjects’ rights.

In practice, however, assessing and monitoring suppliers can require considerable time and resources. Organisations may need to repeatedly review policies, questionnaires, safeguards and compliance evidence for multiple service providers, while continuing to carry much of the verification burden themselves.

GDPR certification can help make this process more efficient.

By requesting service providers to certify their services under a GDPR certification scheme approved pursuant to Article 42 GDPR, organisations can strengthen and streamline supplier assessment while making procurement and monitoring processes more consistent.

For Data Protection Officers and organisations, certification can contribute to:

• greater confidence when selecting suppliers with certified GDPR compliance;
• reduced data protection risks across the supplier base;
• less time spent reviewing supplier compliance evidence;
• reduced compliance and monitoring efforts; and
• lower associated costs.

Integrating certification into procurement processes

Certification can be incorporated directly into an organisation’s procurement and supplier management practices.

Organisations can, for example:

• integrate GDPR certification as a criterion in procurement policies and calls for tenders; and
• request existing data processors to complete certification within a defined timeframe.

This can help organisations establish clearer expectations for suppliers while reducing the effort required to assess and monitor GDPR compliance across complex supply chains.

Simplifying supplier due diligence

A structured approach to certification can support organisations in reducing risks, costs and administrative effort while strengthening confidence in the data processing services they procure.

Europrivacy provides dedicated Procurement Support to help organisations integrate GDPR certification into procurement policies, supplier requirements and tender processes.

Organisations and service providers preparing for certification can also access the Europrivacy Welcome Pack, which provides practical resources, tools and guidance to support the certification journey.

Ask your service providers to get certified and make GDPR compliance a stronger part of your procurement strategy.

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