Done-for-you SAR Processing
Subject Access Requests are time-consuming, detail-heavy, and unforgiving. We handle the entire process for you – from data collection through to compliant disclosure – so your team can get on with everything else.
What is done-for-you SAR processing?
Done-for-you SAR processing is a fully managed service in which an experienced Data Protection Officer handles your Subject Access Requests from start to finish – scoping and validation, data collection, review and redaction, and compliant disclosure with a full audit trail. It is designed for teams that receive DSARs and related disclosure requests but don’t have the internal capacity or specialist expertise to answer every one consistently within the statutory 30 days.
The same disciplined process applies whether you are handling a Subject Access Request, a DSAR, or related FOI and disclosure obligations. Whether you are a privacy team stretched thin, an organisation without a dedicated DPO, or a business facing a complex, high-volume request, this SAR processing service manages the request so your team can focus on everything else.
Why do SARs go wrong?
Most organisations treat Subject Access Requests as an interruption. Someone in the privacy team – or worse, someone without any privacy experience at all – is asked to drop what they’re doing and pull together a response within 30 days.
The result is often a scramble: chasing data owners for information, trying to work out what should be redacted, using tools that aren’t designed for the job, and hoping the final output won’t cause more problems than the original request.
When it goes wrong, the consequences are real. Regulatory complaints, enforcement action, reputational damage, and the quiet erosion of trust that comes from handling personal data carelessly.
How our done-for-you SAR processing service works
We take the SAR off your hands entirely. An experienced Data Protection Officer manages the process from start to finish – not a junior analyst following a script, but someone who has handled hundreds of these and understands the judgement calls involved.
1 Scoping & validation
We assess the request, confirm identity where needed, and agree the scope with you before any work begins.
2 Data collection
We work with your systems and teams to locate and extract the relevant personal data — including from email platforms, cloud storage, and business applications. Where a technical extraction is required, our eDiscovery data extractions service recovers data at source.
3 Review & redaction
Every document is reviewed, third-party data is identified and protected, exemptions are applied with clear reasoning, and redactions are made securely and irreversibly. The secure redaction tooling behind this work is described in our features.
4 Disclosure & audit
You receive a compliant disclosure pack with a full audit trail documenting every decision made — ready to defend if challenged.
Why this works
The difference between a SAR that’s been handled properly and one that hasn’t is rarely visible at first glance. It becomes apparent later — when someone asks why a document was excluded, or why third-party data wasn’t redacted, or why the response took 47 days instead of 30.
We bring the experience to get these decisions right the first time. Every exemption is applied deliberately. Every redaction is documented. Every deadline is tracked.
Who is the done-for-you DSAR service for?
Organisations that receive SARs but don’t have the internal capacity — or the specialist expertise — to handle them consistently and compliantly. This includes organisations dealing with complex or high-volume requests, those without a dedicated DPO, and teams that have been caught out before and want to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
If you already have a privacy function but occasionally need additional hands for complex or sensitive requests, we work alongside your team without getting in the way. Get in touch to discuss a specific request.
Frequently asked questions
What does your done-for-you SAR processing service include?
Our managed service covers the full lifecycle of a Subject Access Request: scoping and validation, data collection, review and redaction, and disclosure with a full audit trail. Every exemption is applied deliberately and every redaction is documented. The secure redaction tooling behind the work is described in our features.
Who manages our Subject Access Requests?
An experienced Data Protection Officer manages the process from start to finish – not a junior analyst following a script, but someone who has handled hundreds of these requests and understands the judgement calls involved.
Can you work alongside our in-house privacy team?
Yes. If you already have a privacy function but occasionally need additional hands for complex or sensitive requests, we work alongside your team without getting in the way. Contact us to discuss how we can support a specific request.
How do you locate and extract the data?
We work with your systems and teams to locate and extract the relevant personal data, including from email platforms, cloud storage, and business applications. Where a technical extraction is required, our eDiscovery data extractions service recovers data at source.
How much does managed SAR processing cost, and how do we get started?
Cost depends on the scope and volume of each request, which we agree with you before any work begins. You can review our pricing, get in touch, or book a demo to see how the process would work for your organisation.