A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is a structured process for identifying and minimising the privacy risks of a project or processing activity before it goes live. It describes the processing and its purpose, assesses necessity and proportionality, identifies risks to individuals, and documents the measures taken to mitigate those risks.
DPIAs are required for processing likely to result in high risk to individuals — for example large-scale profiling, systematic monitoring, or processing of sensitive data. Under India’s DPDP Act 2023, Significant Data Fiduciaries are specifically obligated to carry out periodic DPIAs as part of their enhanced accountability duties, and the assessment becomes key evidence that risk was considered and addressed.
Done well, a DPIA is not a paperwork exercise but a design tool: it surfaces problems early, when they are cheap to fix, and creates a defensible record that the organisation acted responsibly.
Comply automates this — see the privacy platform page.