In the digital age, privacy has become one of the most valuable organisational assets.
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a process that evaluates how new projects, systems, or technologies affect the privacy of individuals whose data is processed.
The goal of PIA is to identify, analyse, and minimise privacy risks before the project goes live.
What Is a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?
A PIA (also known as DPIA – Data Protection Impact Assessment under GDPR) is a systematic risk analysis focused on privacy and personal data protection.
It enables organisations to anticipate the consequences of new technologies and ensure personal data is processed in line with GDPR and the “privacy by design” principle.
In simple terms: PIA is a privacy risk map — created before anything goes wrong.
When Should You Conduct a PIA?
- New technology deployment – when introducing systems or tools that process personal data (e.g., CRM, surveillance, cloud apps).
- Changes in data processing – new purposes, integration with external systems, or significant scale increases.
- Regulatory requirement – GDPR Article 35 mandates a PIA for high-risk processing activities.
The PIA Process
- Risk identification – recognise potential threats to privacy arising from the project or process.
- Risk evaluation – assess likelihood and severity of those threats.
- Mitigation measures – develop and implement strategies to reduce risk (e.g., anonymisation, encryption, access restriction, data minimisation).
A well-executed PIA becomes a strategic tool, not just a compliance checkbox.
Benefits of Conducting PIAs
- Stronger privacy protection – ensures an appropriate level of personal data security.
- Regulatory compliance – meets GDPR, eIDAS, and other data protection requirements.
- Enhanced trust – increases transparency and credibility with customers and partners.
Regular PIAs Are Essential
PIA
A PIA is not a one-time task.
Perform it regularly — especially when introducing changes to IT systems, external integrations, or new digital services.
Regular PIAs = ongoing compliance and real data protection.
Get in Touch
I help organisations develop and implement Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA processes compliant with GDPR, ISO/IEC 27701, and EDPB guidelines.
Email: biuro@wichran.pl
Phone: +48 515 601 621
Author: Piotr Wichrań – Court-appointed IT forensic expert, IT/OT cybersecurity specialist, licensed private investigator
@Informatyka.Sledcza