Appointing a DPO increases the chances of winning tenders by 50%

New research published by the French data protection authority, the CNIL, has shown that the role of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) is often profitable for companies. The findings from the CNIL's fourth statistical survey of DPOs indicate that the role provides several economic benefits, including helping to win tenders, protecting against fines, avoiding data breaches, and streamlining data management.

The report notes that the presence of a DPO acts as an important trust signal in tendering procedures, particularly when personal data processing is involved. It demonstrates to potential buyers that a company is taking compliance issues seriously and provides a valuable point of contact throughout a contract. The research found that 42% of DPOs surveyed perceive this benefit, with that number rising to 50% among those regularly consulted. One DPO interviewed by the CNIL stated that after implementing a compliance-focused strategy, their company's chances of winning tenders increased by half.

Beyond tendering, the CNIL's report also found that DPOs are beneficial in avoiding sanctions and data breaches, which can cause significant reputational and financial damage. DPOs help reduce these risks by advising on security measures, conducting audits, and raising employee awareness through training sessions. Furthermore, DPOs streamline data management by encouraging the minimisation of collected data, which leads to savings in storage costs and improves cybersecurity. This streamlining also enhances internal efficiency and decision-making by improving a company's knowledge of its data assets.

However, the analysis reveals that these benefits are not universally perceived across all organisations with a DPO. According to the study, the benefits are more likely to be seen by larger companies and those that are more invested in GDPR compliance, viewing it as an opportunity rather than a constraint. The CNIL's study suggests that a positive approach to compliance significantly enhances the perceived value of the DPO role.

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