Die Apollon Security GmbH - Ihr Experte, der Unternehmen und Organisationen in Datenschutzfragen unterstützt.

External Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Competent | Efficient | Pragmatic

External Data Protection Officer

Data protection at the highest level—we ensure your compliance, minimize risks, and strengthen the trust of your business partners.
Are you looking for experienced experts who can implement complex data protection requirements efficiently and in a practical manner?

Schedule a Free Consultation
Externer Datenschutzbeauftragter für Ihr Unternehmen – DSGVO-konform & effizient

Your Benefits at a Glance

  • Cost and Effort Savings – No recruiting, no tying up internal resources
  • Reducing Liability Risks – Early Risk Identification & Pragmatic Solutions
  • High Level of Expertise & Specialization – Always Up-to-Date Knowledge on the GDPR & BDSG
  • Maximum flexibility—no long-term commitment to staff, adaptable at any time
  • Available immediately & scalable – No training required; ready to go right away
  • Enhanced Reputation – Trust Among Customers, Partners, and Regulatory Authorities
  • Neutral & independent – free from conflicts of interest
  • Predictable Budget – Clear Contract Structure
Der DSB-Check für Ihr Unternehmen – schnell & unkompliziert bei der Apollon Security GmbH
Data Protection Check for Businesses

When is a data protection officer required?

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), a company is required to appoint a data protection officer if certain conditions are met.

Take the data protection check for your company.
Quick and easy:

Start the Privacy Check

Our External DSB Packages

Bronze

  • Benennung externer DSB
  • Onlineschulung
  • Nennung bei Behörde
  • Nennung auf Website
  • Vorlagen & Checklisten
Jetzt anfragen
BEST VALUE

Silber

  • 10 Beratungsstunden / Jahr
  • Webseiten & Social Media Check (jährlich)
  • Statusbericht (jährlich)
  • Verarbeitungsverzeichnis
  • Erstes Datenschutzaudit
  • Datenschutzerklärungen für Websiten

Inklusive aller Bronze Vorteile

Jetzt anfragen

Gold

  • 20 Beratungsstunden / Jahr
  • Jährliches Datenschutzaudit
  • Folgenabschätzung & Technikberatung
  • Addons: Phishing, Schwachstellenscans, Pentests

Inklusive aller Bronze und Silber Vorteile

Jetzt anfragen

Platin

  • DSMS & Vertragsprüfungen
  • Risikomanagement
  • Technische Beratung
  • Behördenkommunikation
  • Awareness-Kampagnen

Inklusive aller Bronze, Silber und Gold Vorteile

Jetzt anfragen

The Importance of Data Protection for Businesses

The protection of personal data is a central component of every company’s compliance strategy. With the entry into force of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the requirements for processing and securing data have become significantly stricter. Violations can result in far-reaching financial damage—ranging from fines of up to 20 million euros or 4% of global annual revenue to serious reputational damage and the loss of customer trust. An experienced external data protection officer ensures that your company operates in compliance with the law, minimizes liability risks, and positions data protection as a hallmark of quality. In this way, you not only ensure compliance with legal requirements but also strengthen your market position and competitiveness in the long term.

Your Expert in Data Protection & Compliance

What is a data protection officer?

An external Data Protection Officer (DPO) is an independent expert who assists companies and organizations in implementing the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other data protection laws in a legally compliant manner. The DPO is not part of the workforce but brings extensive expertise from various industries to the role.

By engaging an external Data Protection Officer, companies benefit from immediate availability, impartial advice, a high level of specialization, and clearly predictable costs—without tying up internal resources.

Ein Datenschutzbeauftragter ist Ihr Experte für Datenschutz & Compliance
Der externe Datenschutzbeauftragte übernimmt die strategische Beratung & operative Umsetzung.
Strategic Consulting & Operational Implementation—All Under One Roof

What does a data protection officer do?

The external data protection officer assumes operational and strategic responsibility for ensuring compliance with data protection requirements within the company. He analyzes existing processes, identifies data protection risks, and develops targeted measures to minimize risks and ensure compliance with the GDPR and the BDSG (Federal Data Protection Act). In doing so, he works closely with management and relevant departments to ensure that data protection requirements are implemented efficiently and in compliance with the law.

Typical areas of responsibility include:

  • Development and refinement of data protection-compliant processes and structures
  • Advising on the implementation of technical and organizational measures (TOM)
  • Conducting and evaluating data protection impact assessments (DPIA)
  • Serving as the point of contact for senior management, functional departments, and regulatory authorities
  • Training and raising awareness among employees
  • Support during audits and internal review processes

In-House vs. External Data Protection Officer

Internal Data Protection Officer

  • Must be recruited, hired, and trained internally
  • Limited experience; often only company-specific expertise
  • Requires time for continuing education and often fails to keep specialized knowledge up to date
  • Additional personnel costs for salary, training, and equipment
  • Subject to strong employment protection—little flexibility for the company
  • Potential conflicts of interest (e.g., when holding a dual role in HR or IT)
  • Little influence on the company’s external image
  • Internal resources are tied up—focus on the core business suffers
  • Difficult to replace if they leave; long-term retention is necessary

External Data Protection Officer

  • Brings ready-to-use expertise and certifications
  • Benefit from cross-industry experience and best practices
  • Ongoing professional development included—always up-to-date knowledge in data protection, IT security, and compliance
  • Clear, transparent cost structure—contractually fixed, no hidden fees
  • The contractual relationship can be adjusted or terminated at any time—maximum flexibility
  • Neutral, objective consulting with no internal dependencies
  • Builds trust with customers, partners, and regulatory authorities—enhances your company’s image through a professional presence
  • Relieves the burden on internal teams – your company remains operational and efficient
  • Available immediately, no time-consuming recruitment process – scalable as needed

Focus on Your Data Protection Strategy

By engaging an external data protection officer, you gain immediate access to expert knowledge, reduce liability risks, and project a professional image to the outside world.

Our experts review your processes, identify vulnerabilities, and ensure long-term compliance with the GDPR and the BDSG.

Schedule a no-obligation consultation today—we look forward to hearing from you.

Request a non-binding quote

FAQs

When selecting an external Data Protection Officer (DPO), companies should place particular emphasis on professional competence, experience, and trustworthiness. A qualified external DPO should not only have certified knowledge in accordance with Articles 37–39 of the GDPR, but also possess practical experience across various industries. Equally important is the ability to communicate complex data protection requirements in an understandable way and translate them into practical measures.

Here’s a summary of the key points for you:

  • Certifications & Continuing Education:
    Verifiable qualifications in data protection law, IT security, and compliance.
  • Industry Knowledge:
    Ideally, experience with companies of a similar size and structure to yours.
  • Contractual Transparency:
    Clear provisions regarding services, availability, liability, and cost structure.
  • Communication Skills:
    The data protection officer should serve as a trusted point of contact for both management and employees.
  • Interdisciplinary skills:
    An understanding of technical workflows, IT infrastructures, and organizational processes is essential.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) does not prescribe fixed intervals for data protection reviews or audits. However, effective data protection management is not a one-time project, but rather an ongoing process. As a general rule, internal data protection measures should be systematically reviewed at least once a year—especially in the event of changes to the IT infrastructure, new processing activities, or legal amendments.

In addition, we recommend regular internal audits or external reviews on a fixed schedule (e.g., every 12 to 18 months) to identify risks early and take proactive measures to mitigate them. For security-critical industries, highly interconnected systems, or large volumes of data, a semi-annual review may also be advisable.
The key point is this: Data protection must grow alongside the company—technically, organizationally, and legally.

In principle, the company, as the data controller, is responsible for compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

A data protection officer (whether internal or external) provides advice and oversight but is not itself responsible within the meaning of the GDPR. Nevertheless, if an internal data protection officer breaches their duties through gross negligence or intentionally, liability under labor law may apply.

In the case of an external data protection officer, the liability risk can generally be clearly defined in the contract. In practice, civil liability often applies here, which makes the legal situation significantly more predictable for companies.

The cost of an external data protection officer depends on individual needs and the size of the company. In most cases, the fee is based on a monthly flat rate. This typically covers all agreed-upon services, such as:

  • Initial assessment and risk analysis
  • Creation and maintenance of the record of processing activities
  • Advice on data protection measures
  • Employee training
  • Communication with supervisory authorities
  • Regular reviews and audits

Advantage: Costs are transparent, predictable, and scalable, as they are specified in the contract.

Do you have any questions, would you like us to call you back, or would you like a personalized quote?

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