Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring a GDPR Consultant

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) introduced a sweeping set of legal obligations for organisations that process personal data of individuals in the European Union. Since its enforcement in 2018, GDPR has significantly reshaped how data is collected, stored, and managed across industries. Businesses found non-compliant can face heavy fines and reputational damage, making adherence not only a legal requirement but a core component of operational integrity and trust.

However, navigating the ins and outs of this regulation is no straightforward task. The complexity of GDPR demands both legal comprehension and practical application. This is where a consultant with deep expertise becomes invaluable. Hiring one can mean the difference between effective compliance and costly missteps. Yet, choosing the right consultant is itself a challenge. With varying levels of experience, knowledge, and approach among professionals purporting to be GDPR experts, how can a business make an informed decision?

What Is Their Professional Background?

One of the first aspects to scrutinise is the consultant’s professional history. Do they come from a legal background, a cybersecurity career, or perhaps data governance? Understanding this context helps assess how their expertise aligns with your business needs.

If your organisation requires help redesigning data processes, a consultant with a technological or operational background may be the most helpful. Conversely, if you are more concerned about regulatory interpretation and legal liability, a consultant who has worked in privacy law will have the necessary depth.

Ask for a detailed account of their career path, including qualifications, certifications, and previous roles that lend credibility to their current consulting offering. Recognised accreditations such as CIPP/E, ISO 27001 Auditor certifications, or a law degree specialising in data protection law can vouch for their proficiency. Experience within your specific industry is another beneficial indicator. For instance, an expert familiar with healthcare data regulations will better understand the nuances of GDPR compliance in your sector.

Have They Worked With Similar Organisations?

Not all GDPR challenges are created equal. A multinational corporation dealing with complex data transfer issues will require a different approach than a small e-commerce business. Ask the candidate whether they have supported companies similar in size, structure, or sector.

Gaining insight into how they handled comparable cases reveals not only their competence but also their ability to adapt knowledge to different operational environments. It’s not unusual for consultants to present case studies or references that demonstrate their proficiency in action. Pay attention to the breadth of industries and organisation types they’ve worked with—it reflects their flexibility and capability to tailor compliance strategies to a broad set of scenarios.

This is particularly important for businesses bound by overlapping compliance obligations, such as PCI DSS in payment processing or HIPAA in healthcare. A GDPR consultant who is aware of and comfortable working within these intersecting requirements can provide more integrated, strategic advice.

What Services Do They Offer—and What’s Not Included?

It’s critical to understand what exactly the consultant is offering as part of their engagement. GDPR compliance isn’t a checkbox task—it is an ongoing, evolving process. An important question to ask is whether the consultant is offering only a one-time compliance review or a continuous support package.

Delve into the scope of their services. Will they perform a data audit, help map data flows, draft or update privacy policies, handle Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and train your staff? Or do they limit themselves to advisory roles?

Ask for a breakdown of all deliverables you can expect. This prevents misunderstandings later on and ensures the consultant’s contribution aligns with your expectations and legal obligations. Also, inquire about what isn’t included. Any exclusions should be clearly outlined, and any optional services or additional charges flagged from the beginning.

Not all consultants handle documentation or provide practical implementation support. Some may suggest what to do without offering hands-on help in doing it. Decide beforehand whether you need a strategic advisor or a more operational resource who will work closely with your internal teams.

How Do They Stay Updated With Ever-Evolving Regulations?

GDPR is not a static framework. Aside from the regulation itself, there are regular updates, guidance notes from Data Protection Authorities (DPAs), court rulings, and evolving best practices. A knowledgeable consultant actively tracks such developments and integrates them into their practice.

Understanding how a potential consultant stays informed is important. Do they attend conferences, take part in working groups or legal education activities, or subscribe to industry publications? Are they members of professional associations such as the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) or the UK’s Data & Marketing Association?

Their commitment to continuing professional development reflects their dedication and adaptability—both crucial qualities given how quickly the data protection landscape can shift. For example, recent changes in international data transfer tools, such as new Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or EU-US data transfer agreements, demand an up-to-date understanding. A professional unable to respond promptly to such changes could leave you non-compliant.

What Is Their Approach to Risk?

Risk-based thinking is central to the GDPR framework. Organisations are encouraged to assess the risks to individuals’ rights and freedoms when processing personal data. A good GDPR consultant will help you build an approach to data protection that is sensible, proportionate, and documented.

Ask the consultant how they integrate risk assessments into their consultancy process. Do they conduct full DPIAs or help design them into your product or project lifecycles? Will they perform gap assessments or provide tools and templates to help you assess processing activities?

Understanding their method of identifying and prioritising risks will reveal how practical and strategic their thinking is. A consultant who can help you not only recognise and mitigate compliance gaps but also create a defensible position in case of regulatory scrutiny brings real value to the table.

Ensure they also take your organisational risk appetite into account. It’s one thing to flag theoretical risks; it’s another to tailor recommendations to the size, sector, and exposure level of your particular operation. A capable consultant will help guide you through making risk-based decisions, not force rigid checklists upon you.

Will They Help Educate and Train Your Staff?

Compliance is not just a matter of implementing policies; it lives and breathes through your people. Human error is one of the most common causes of data breaches. Ensuring your workforce understands their roles under GDPR is as critical as putting technical safeguards in place.

A well-rounded GDPR consultant will recognise the importance of education and training. Ask if they offer customised workshops, online training modules, or awareness campaigns tailored to different teams within your organisation.

The ability to translate complex legal jargon into accessible language that resonates with non-experts is a skill on its own. A consultant who can empower your employees with knowledge, rather than merely instruct from above, ensures compliance is embedded within the culture of your business.

Don’t forget to ask how regularly the training is updated, how they assess learning outcomes, and whether certifications or records of completion can be provided. Regulators often look for evidence of ongoing awareness programmes.

How Do They Ensure Client Confidentiality?

Hiring a consultant will, by necessity, involve sharing potentially sensitive information regarding your data operations and internal processes. It’s essential that this relationship is underpinned by trust and confidentiality.

Ask the consultant how they maintain discretion and whether they have formal procedures or contractual obligations in place. A reputable GDPR consultant should be willing to sign non-disclosure agreements and outline how your information is handled.

Clarify who within their consultancy will have access to your records. Will work be subcontracted out or handled across teams? Transparency on this point is critical to maintaining control over your organisational insights and sensitive data.

Security also extends to how information is stored and communicated during the engagement. Ensure that secure file transfer systems, encrypted communications, and appropriate data handling procedures are part of their working method.

Can They Support a Data Breach Response?

Despite our best efforts, breaches can and do occur. Having an expert on hand to help you respond swiftly is a key advantage. While some consultants focus only on preventive measures, others can act as your partner in the event of an emergency.

Ask whether the consultant offers incident response planning, and if they are available for emergency consultation during data protection crises. Their ability to support breach notification procedures, communication with regulators, and even forensic evidence collection could be vital in mitigating damage and fulfilling your obligations under GDPR.

This is a particularly salient point for organisations that may not have an in-house legal or compliance team. In these contexts, the consultant becomes an outsourced point of guidance when it matters most.

Do They Have a Track Record of Success?

Finally, results matter. But because GDPR compliance is largely preventative and nuanced, proving “success” can be difficult. Still, a seasoned consultant will be able to share examples of how they have enabled organisations to improve data governance, avoid enforcement actions, or streamline internal policies in line with regulation.

Ask for references or testimonials. Dig into case outcomes, not just methodologies. Did they help reduce incident rates? Improve efficiency of Subject Access Request handling? Enable smoother third-party contracts and data-sharing agreements?

Seeing these outcomes, even qualitative ones, can give you confidence in their capabilities and the value they will bring to your business.

Making the Final Decision

Choosing the right GDPR consultant is not merely a contractual transaction but a strategic partnership. They will be instrumental in shaping how your organisation handles one of the most sensitive areas of modern business—personal data.

Carefully examining their background, approach, offered services, and ethical standards will help ensure that they don’t simply provide textbook answers but become a trusted adviser aligned with your organisation’s goals.

Ultimately, a skilled GDPR consultant won’t just help you comply with the law—they’ll help you earn the trust of your customers, employees, and stakeholders, building a resilient and responsible future.