Outsourced DPO · Asia-Pacific
Outsourced DPO solutions for APAC
Navigate evolving local regulations with confidence
Speak to an APAC DPO specialistSee our other services
We offer expert Data Protection Officer (DPO) services in the Asia-Pacific region. Helping organisations navigate constantly evolving local regulations and complex, multi-jurisdictional compliance requirements.
Confident compliance, made a strategic advantage.
As a trusted, independent data protection partner across APAC, HewardMills enables confident compliance, strengthening operational resilience and transforming data protection into a strategic advantage.
Our approach combines global best practices with deep regional expertise and local insight to deliver tailored, cross-jurisdictional support to your business.
Book an APAC data protection consultation
10+
APAC jurisdictions covered
24/7
Full time-zone coverage
Multi
Multilingual capability
Local
On-the-ground regulatory insight
B Corp
Purpose beyond profit
APAC Hub
in Mumbai
Our APAC DPO hub in Mumbai provides centralised oversight of regional regulatory obligations and the interplay between evolving frameworks—keeping you ahead in a fast-moving landscape.
- Singapore PDPA
- India (Mumbai) DPDPA
- China — Hong Kong & Shanghai PIPL / DSL
- Japan (Tokyo) APPI
- Australia (Sydney) Privacy Act
- South Korea PIPA
- Thailand (Bangkok) PDPA
- Philippines DPA
- Vietnam PDPL
- Malaysia PDPA
- Indonesia PDP
Agile Support
APAC service delivery.
We give you the clarity needed to navigate complex APAC regulatory requirements, ensuring practical and effective compliance through targeted risk management and tailored programme implementation.
Our agile service delivery model gives you on-demand access to a multidisciplinary team that operates as a seamless extension of your in-house capabilities, offering expert guidance across the full spectrum of data protection and privacy matters.
Key areas include:
- Cross-border data transfers
- Breach & incident response
- Data subject rights requests
- Privacy impact assessments
- Complaint handling
- Regulator engagement
- AI governance
- Data localisation
- Cybersecurity
- Data mapping
- E-privacy compliance
- Consent management
Why Outsource
The benefits of an outsourced DPO.
Tightening privacy laws across the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly making the appointment of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) mandatory for many organisations.
An experienced, outsourced DPO can be the key to a successful data protection and privacy programme, offering several benefits:
Save money
Often providing a more
cost-effective solution
than internal recruitment
and resource costs.
Demonstrate
independence
Appointing an external
DPO to support internal
resource or act alone
ensures the necessary
independence of the role
as required under law.
Maintain focus
Alleviate potentially
divided focus of internal
resource from other
business priorities.
Access specialist
expertise
Benefit from expert,
multidisciplinary data
protection and privacy
support.
STRUCTURED APPROACH
A clear path to compliance.
We blend structured governance frameworks with agile, client-centric delivery so that data protection becomes an enabler, not a burden.
Key aspects of our approach include:
Holistic assessment
We evaluate your current data protection posture across people, processes and technology
Tailored solutions
We guide the development of programmes that align with your business needs, risk profile and industry context
Operational support
As your trusted partner, we embed robust processes, provide training and offer ongoing guidance. Working in tandem with internal teams.
Continuous horizon-watching
We monitor the regulatory landscape, keeping you ahead of emerging risks and changing legal requirements
WHY CHOOSE US
A partner you can trust.
Diverse by design, our experienced multidisciplinary team brings deep knowledge of APAC data protection and privacy regulations, combined with specialised skills and cross-sector expertise.
By choosing HewardMills as your Asia-Pacific DPO partner, you benefit from:
An agile, cost-effective service delivery model that adapts to your changing needs
APAC-specific support with seamless integration into global GDPR programmes where needed
Global best practice combined with regional and local expertise
On-the-ground expertise and multilingual, cross-time-zone coverage for fully responsive support
HewardMills’ proactive regulator engagement, strengthening your risk management framework
A DPO that’s trusted by organisations worldwide—from life sciences and technology to hospitality, retail, banking and beyond
Working with a B Corp-certified business, with a purpose that goes beyond profit
Assurance that we practice what we preach—with robust, independently verified cybersecurity controls in place
APAC COMPLIANCE COVERAGE
Keeping you ahead of evolving regulations.
Singapore
Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA)
Regulatory focus: Strengthening governance, enhancing enforcement, and addressing the security challenges posed by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Mandatory DPO role.
DPO mandatory
In force
India
Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023
Regulatory focus: Execution and how frameworks actively function in practice. Data mapping, consent management, e-privacy compliance, third-party risk, and accountability and governance-related requirements. Deadline to comply with the DPDP rules – May 2027.
DPO Mandatory (SDFs)
Comply by May 2027
China
PIPL & Data Security Law (DSL)
Regulatory focus: Cross-border data transfers, strict consent management for sensitive data and stringent data security protections to prevent breaches.
DPO mandatory
In force
Japan
Act on Protection of Personal Information (APPI)
Regulatory focus: AI data governance, stricter biometric data rules, protection of children’s privacy and enhanced data breach notifications.
In force
Australia
Privacy Act
Regulatory focus: Strengthening individual rights, ensuring transparency and data security, and increasing accountability for entities handling personal information.
In force · reform underway
Other key jurisdictions
Active & growing markets
We also support compliance across the region’s
fast-developing frameworks:
South Korea · PIPA
Thailand · PDPA
Indonesia · PDP
Vietnam · PDPL
Philippines · Data Privacy Act
Spotlight
India's DPDP Act.
Compared to GDPR, India’s DPDP Act places heavier operational reliance on consent, with fewer alternative lawful bases available. This creates day-to-day pressure on organisations to design systems and processes that can manage granular, revocable consent at scale.
There is also a stronger expectation around practical accountability. Organisations are expected to clearly demonstrate why data is collected, how long it is retained, and who has access — not just through policies, but through real operational controls.
DPDP also signals closer integration between data protection and business teams, such as product, HR, IT, and operations. Compliance is less about a central legal function and more about embedding data protection into everyday workflows.
Finally, the structure of the regime suggests a visible focus on citizen experience, including grievance redressal and responsiveness.
Good DPDP compliance is operational, not theoretical — clear data ownership, smooth consent and rights handling, actively managed vendors, and an organisation that can explain why it processes data, not just that it does.
Data subject rights
Organisations must be able to respond promptly to access, correction, and withdrawal of consent requests, with operational systems that support timely handling
Cross-border data transfers
There is increased emphasis on localisation and government approval requirements where applicable, requiring stronger governance over international data flows
Accountability & governance
Organisations are expected to appoint responsible roles where required and maintain ongoing internal reporting and oversight
Significant Data Fiduciary obligations
Certain organisations may be subject to enhanced requirements, such as DPIAs, audits, and mandatory DPO appointments, increasing the overall governance burden
Children's data
There are stricter requirements around processing children’s personal data, including verifiable parental consent and heightened regulatory sensitivity.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP?
Make APAC compliance a
competitive advantage.
Connect with our APAC DPO specialists today and build the governance,
resilience and local insight your organisation needs to operate with confidence
across the region.
