Global Data Protection Officer
iliomad Health Data provides specialized DataProtection Officer services engineered specifically for the unique challenges of the life sciences sector. As your dedicated outsourced DPO, we ensure complete compliance with privacy-by-design and accountability principles, supported by an unparalleled understanding of both data protection law and the intricate regulatory environment governing life sciences operations. Our senior consultants are recognized experts in managing highly sensitive personal data—including health records, genetic information, and clinical trial data—while maintaining rigorous compliance across complex collaborations with third parties, implementing robust cybersecurity frameworks, and conducting comprehensive risk management programs.
Why Compliance Is Essential for Your Organization ?
Specialized, certified DPO services meticulouslydesigned for healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and healthtechcompanies navigating the complex landscape of global privacy regulations. Webring deep sector expertise to every engagement.
Processing sensitive categories of personal data—particularly health records, genetic information, biometric data, and clinical trial participant information—triggers mandatory requirements underGDPR Article 37 to appoint a qualified Data Protection Officer. Your DPO serves as the cornerstone of your privacy compliance program, overseeing all data protection activities, implementing comprehensive risk management frameworks, liaising with supervisory authorities, and ensuring that every data handling practice across your organization aligns precisely with applicable EU and national regulations.
GDPR-compliant training is not merely recommended—it is essential for all personnel involved in the processing ofpersonal data at any stage. Effective training programs ensure a consistent,thorough understanding of privacy principles across all departments and functions—from clinical operations staff and research scientists to IT teams,management, and executive leadership. Our tailored training programs embed alasting culture of compliance, accountability, and privacy awareness throughoutyour organization.
Understanding precisely how personal data moves through your organization—from initial collection points through processing, storage, sharing, and eventual deletion—is absolutely fundamental to achieving and maintaining compliance. Comprehensive data mapping enables organizations to clearly define who accesses health data, under what circumstances, for which purposes, and with what safeguards in place. This transparency supports law full processing, enables effective data minimization, and facilitates accurate responses to data subject requests.
Demonstrating compliance with EU regulations requires organizations to develop and maintain robust, comprehensive QA and privacy documentation that can withstand regulatory scrutiny. This includes implementing detailed data privacy policies, establishing clear and tested data breach response protocols, creating efficient procedures for managing data subject access requests, maintaining thorough records of all processing activities (RoPA), and documenting the legal bases for each processing operation.
Life sciences companies invariably rely on extensive networks of third-party vendors—including Contract Research Organizations (CROs), central and local laboratories, clinical trial sites, imaging centers, data management platforms, cloud service providers, and research partners. Each collaboration introduces potential data protection risks that must be systematically identified, assessed, and mitigated through rigorous vendor vetting processes and regular compliance audits.
Privacy by design is not simply a regulatory buzzword—it is a fundamental principle requiring organizations to embed data protection considerations into every system, process, product, and service from the earliest stages of development. This proactive approach ensures that compliance is architecturally built into your operations rather than retrofitted as an afterthought, reducing costs, minimizing risks, and creating sustainable privacy practices that scale with your organization.
How iliomad Health Data Can Help You
The iliomad Health Data team is composed of certified Data Protection Officers with deep specialization in the life sciences sector. Our experts hold CIPP/E, CIPM, and ISO 27005 Risk Manager certifications, combining rigorous technical expertise with practical understanding of the regulatory landscape governing clinical research, pharmaceutical operations, and health data processing. We provide tailored, end-to-end data protection support—helping your organization remain compliant, secure, and trusted across all jurisdictions where you operate. Our approach is hands-on, practical, and designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing operations.
FAQs
Our frequently questions
Under GDPR Article 37, appointing a DPO is mandatory if your organization: (1) is a public authority, (2) conducts large-scale systematic monitoring of individuals, or (3) processes large-scale special category data such as health, genetic, or biometric information. Most life sciences companies—including clinical trial sponsors, MedTech developers, and health AI companies fall under category 3 and require a DPO. We assess your specific processing activities and advise whether DPO appointment is mandatory or strategically advisable for your organization.
Yes. iliomad provides specialized external DPO services for life sciences and health tech companies. We act as your independent, qualified point of contact for data protection authorities, respond to data subject requests, oversee compliance activities, and provide strategic regulatory guidance all while maintaining the independence and objectivity required under GDPR Article 38.
As your external DPO, we oversee GDPR compliance strategy, advise on data protection obligations across your operations, conduct and review Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), support data breach incident response and notification, manage regulatory correspondence with supervisory authorities, maintain Article 30 processing records, review vendor agreements and data processor contracts, and provide ongoing advisory support for new products, clinical trials, and data processing activities. With experience across 66 countries, we coordinate multi-jurisdictional compliance for organizations with international operations.
An external DPO brings structural independence (required under GDPR), specialized life sciences regulatory expertise, immediate availability without recruitment delays, and cost efficiency compared to €80,000-120,000+ annual salaries for qualified internal DPOs. This is particularly valuable for clinical-stage companies, organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions, or those in high-risk data environments such as clinical trials, genetic research, or AI-driven diagnostics where specialized knowledge is critical.
Yes. We provide DPO services for organizations operating across Europe and beyond, with hands-on compliance experience in 66 countries worldwide. We coordinate requirements across GDPR, country-specific regulations (such as Turkish VERBİS, Canadian PIPEDA, Australian Privacy Act), and cross-border data transfer mechanisms to ensure your compliance strategy works wherever your data flows or operations extend.
Contact us through our website form or email directly. We'll schedule an initial consultation to understand your regulatory landscape, identify immediate priorities, and propose a tailored engagement that fits your timeline and budget.
Any Questions ?
