The Ultimate Guide to Data Subject Access Request Management (DSAR)
Learn the key steps to successful DSAR management, the operational challenges, and how to avoid common pitfalls.
What Is a DSAR? A Complete Guide to Data Subject Access Requests
Be prepared and understand DSAR fulfillment expectations
Automating consumer requests saves time and avoids human error.
Customer satisfaction increases through consistency and transparency.
Stay flexible and adaptable to an evolving privacy landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Data Subject Access Request.
A term introduced by the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a DSAR is the way consumers exercise their rights to access information about why and how their data is being handled. Sometimes referred to as Subject Rights Request or SRR.
Being timely, transparent and consistent.
Timely responses to DSARs are not only required by CCPA/CPRA and GDPR but are also critical to building trust with your current and future customers. And by consistently being transparent about what personal data you’re collecting, where you keep data and who you’re sharing it with and why, you will naturally build trust.
Consider your options carefully.
It’s ideal to take your time with this decision. Will you have the known customers or members log in? How will you handle prospects? What if you can’t find a person’s information? Will you need them to use identification tools such as Knowledge Based Verification? These are all considerations, especially if you need to request data from vendors.
Yes.
Simply, what’s included in a subject access request is anything that can identify, relate, describe or is reasonably capable of being associated with/linked directly or indirectly to with a particular consumer or household. This includes: identifiers such as a real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, internet protocol address, email address, account name, social security number, driver’s license number, passport number, or other similar.
For the most part, upon receiving a DSAR, you must act quickly.
GDPR requires businesses to comply with a data subject’s request within one month from receipt of the request and can extend two months if they notify the data subject. CCPA/CPRA requires businesses to comply within 45 days of receipt of a verifiable request. Businesses may exercise one 45-day extension when reasonably necessary, if they notify the consumer within the first 45-day period.
Not at all.
Privacy laws are important for all members of an organization to understand, including marketing, sales, and purchasing teams. However, this guide will be most useful for privacy, security, and IT teams.
It doesn’t have to be.
Our Ultimate Guide to DSAR outlines all that you need to know about fulfilling requests and avoiding common pitfalls. It’s laid out in a digestible way for reference. Now is the time to get organized on DSAR fulfillment so compliance is a no-brainer.