Training Module
Auditing Privacy Risk & Impact Assessment
Evaluate whether privacy risk assessments and DPIAs produce credible risk understanding and prioritisation in an ISO/IEC 27701 PIMS
Training module overview
Privacy risk and impact assessments form the analytical foundation of privacy information management systems. They identify how personal data processing can affect individuals, evaluate the likelihood and severity of harm, and establish priorities for risk treatment and governance decisions.
In practice, privacy risk and impact assessments often appear structured while their analytical value remains limited: processing activities are incompletely described, risk reasoning is inconsistent, impact analysis is superficial, and assessments become compliance artefacts rather than decision tools.
This module develops the capability to audit whether privacy risk and impact assessments credibly analyse processing activities and associated risks. Participants first review how privacy risk assessment and data protection impact assessments function within a privacy information management system, then learn how auditors test analytical completeness, risk reasoning, and impact evaluation evidence.
Applicable environments
This module focuses on auditing clauses and controls that are specific to ISO/IEC 27701. It is intended for auditors working with organisations operating a privacy information management system (PIMS) according to this standard.
Target audience
Aspiring auditors who want to audit privacy information management systems against ISO/IEC 27701 following best practices
Practising ISO/IEC 27701 auditors who want to strengthen their audit knowledge, judgement, and effectiveness
Decision support
Is this module for you?
It is a good fit if you…
audit privacy risk assessments or DPIAs within privacy information management systems.
seek to judge whether privacy risks are identified and prioritised credibly.
want to test analytical completeness and impact reasoning in DPIAs.
need to evaluate how processing activities are analysed from a privacy risk perspective.
expect to strengthen audit conclusions on privacy risk analysis effectiveness.
If most of the points above apply, this module is likely a good fit.
It may not be the best fit if you…
prefer to conduct privacy risk assessments or DPIAs yourself.
are looking for methods to design privacy controls or safeguards.
focus primarily on privacy engineering or compliance implementation.
do not intend to audit privacy risk and impact assessments.
Agenda
Privacy risk and impact assessment in a PIMS
Effective auditing of privacy risk and impact assessment
Processing activity identification and scope
Privacy impact reasoning
Likelihood and risk evaluation logic
Completeness of privacy risk analysis
Common DPIA failure patterns
Case-based audit simulation
Show detailed agenda...
Learning outcomes
Key outcomes
Assess whether privacy risk assessments and DPIAs identify relevant processing activities and risks
Test impact reasoning and likelihood assessments for consistency and plausibility
Trace privacy risk conclusions to underlying processing activities using defensible audit evidence
Additional capabilities
Evaluate whether impact analysis credibly considers risks to individuals rather than organisational risk only
Detect common privacy risk assessment failure patterns such as template-driven assessments or incomplete processing descriptions
Select meaningful sampling targets when auditing privacy risk and impact assessments
Formulate defensible audit conclusions on the credibility and usefulness of privacy risk analysis
Additional benefits
Learning materials
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Templates & tools
Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.
Audit interview planning tool
Documented information checklist
Sampling tool
Audit analysis worksheets
Failure pattern library
Supporting AI prompt set
Confirmation
Certificate of completion
Module ID
HAM-DP-A-01
Discipline
ISO clause
6: Planning
Audience
Auditor
Languages
English
Delivery
Live virtual
Duration
7 h
List price
CHF 550
Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.
Delivery & learning format
Virtual live teaching
This module is delivered live, with a strong focus on discussion, practical application, and direct interaction with the instructor.
Sessions work through realistic examples, clarify concepts in context, and apply methods directly to participants’ organisational realities.
Custom delivery options
For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.
For an optimal learning experience
Preparation guidance
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
Assumed background
This module assumes participants can perform basic audit activities and apply evidence-based judgement.
Helpful background includes:
General understanding of privacy concepts and personal data processing
Ability to follow audit trails across documentation, systems, and organisational processes
Basic familiarity with privacy risk assessments or DPIAs
Preparatory modules
Foundational modules (depending on background)
Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.
Supporting modules (optional)
Helpful if you want to deepen related skills, but not required to participate effectively.
