Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
What is Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?
Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)A structured process to identify, evaluate, and mitigate privacy risks of a system, project, or data-processing activity before it goes live.
A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), called Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) under GDPR Article 35, is a documented evaluation of how a processing activity affects individuals' rights and freedoms. It maps data flows, lawful bases, categories of subjects, retention, recipients, transfers, security controls, and residual risks, and consults the DPO and stakeholders. A DPIA is mandatory for large-scale monitoring, sensitive data processing, automated decisions with significant effects, and other high-risk activities listed by national supervisory authorities. Methodologies such as ICO DPIA template, CNIL PIA guides, ENISA's risk catalog and NIST IR 8062 support reproducible assessments. The output drives design changes, mitigations, prior consultation, and ongoing monitoring.
● Examples
- 01
Conducting a DPIA before deploying facial recognition at office entrances.
- 02
Updating a PIA when adding a new third-party processor to a customer-support platform.
● Frequently asked questions
What is Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?
A structured process to identify, evaluate, and mitigate privacy risks of a system, project, or data-processing activity before it goes live. It belongs to the Privacy & Data Protection category of cybersecurity.
What does Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) mean?
A structured process to identify, evaluate, and mitigate privacy risks of a system, project, or data-processing activity before it goes live.
How does Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) work?
A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), called Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) under GDPR Article 35, is a documented evaluation of how a processing activity affects individuals' rights and freedoms. It maps data flows, lawful bases, categories of subjects, retention, recipients, transfers, security controls, and residual risks, and consults the DPO and stakeholders. A DPIA is mandatory for large-scale monitoring, sensitive data processing, automated decisions with significant effects, and other high-risk activities listed by national supervisory authorities. Methodologies such as ICO DPIA template, CNIL PIA guides, ENISA's risk catalog and NIST IR 8062 support reproducible assessments. The output drives design changes, mitigations, prior consultation, and ongoing monitoring.
How do you defend against Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?
Defences for Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) typically combine technical controls and operational practices, as detailed in the full definition above.
What are other names for Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?
Common alternative names include: DPIA, Data Protection Impact Assessment.
● Related terms
- privacy№ 856
Privacy by Design
An engineering and governance approach that embeds privacy considerations into systems, processes, and defaults from the earliest design stages rather than bolting them on later.
- privacy№ 276
Data Classification
The process of labeling data by sensitivity and value so that the right protection, handling, and retention controls can be applied consistently.
- privacy№ 280
Data Minimization
A privacy principle requiring organizations to collect, process, and retain only the personal data that is strictly necessary for a defined, lawful purpose.
- privacy№ 278
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
A set of technologies and policies that detect and block unauthorized exfiltration of sensitive data across endpoints, networks, email, and cloud services.
- compliance№ 440
GDPR
The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation governing the processing of personal data of individuals in the EU and EEA.
- privacy№ 210
Consent Management
The processes and tooling used to collect, record, refresh, and honor user permissions for processing personal data and setting cookies, in line with privacy law.
● See also
- № 228CPRA