Why Do You Need a DPO in Colombia?
Law 1581 of 2012 on Personal Data Protection (Habeas Data) and Decree 1377 of 2013 establish clear obligations for organisations that process personal data in Colombia. The Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) oversees compliance and can impose penalties of up to 2,000 current legal monthly minimum wages for non-compliance.
Having a Data Protection Officer (DPO) allows your organisation to manage these requirements professionally and in a structured manner, without hiring a full-time specialist.
What Is an Outsourced DPO?
An outsourced DPO is a certified professional who assumes the functions of Data Protection Officer for your organisation as a managed service. This offers you:
- Specialised expertise — Certified professionals with in-depth knowledge of Colombian data protection legislation
- Reduced cost — A fraction of the cost of a full-time internal DPO
- Immediate availability — No recruitment processes or training periods
- Independence — Objective and impartial advice, as required by regulations
Outsourced DPO Responsibilities
Our outsourced DPO service for Colombia includes:
- National Database Registry (RNBD) — Management of registration and updates with the SIC in accordance with the Single Circular
- Impact assessments — Risk analysis and personal data protection impact assessments
- Policies and procedures — Development and maintenance of processing policies, privacy notices and authorisation forms
- Data subject rights handling — Management of access, update, rectification, deletion and authorisation revocation requests
- Training — Regular staff training on personal data protection and demonstrated accountability
- Incident management — Security breach notification protocol to the SIC
- Internal audits — Regular compliance reviews and report generation for senior management
Legal Framework in Colombia
The outsourced DPO service covers compliance with:
- Law 1581 of 2012 — Personal Data Protection Law (Habeas Data)
- Decree 1377 of 2013 — Partial regulation of Law 1581, on authorisation, processing policies and transfers
- SIC Single Circular — Instructions on the National Database Registry and security measures
- Law 1266 of 2008 — Financial Habeas Data, for entities handling credit and financial information
How Does It Work?
Initial Assessment
We conduct a comprehensive assessment of your current compliance status against Law 1581, Decree 1377 and the SIC Single Circular.
Action Plan
We design a prioritised remediation plan with clear timelines and deliverables to close identified gaps.
Ongoing Management
We assume DPO functions with monthly reports, request handling and regulatory updates.