This is an example risk assessment covering the main data protection and privacy risks and the controls that manage them. It makes preparing your own much easier than starting from a blank page.

Effective form templates

This example risk assessment has been prepared using the
F-Q36 General Risk Assessment form template - a purpose-built template designed to focus entirely on what matters: identifying business risks, assessing their likelihood and impact, and recording the controls that manage them, without any unnecessary fields getting in the way.

The file is supplied in fully editable MS Word format and can be easily customised and saved to Google Docs format if required. The document uses pre-defined style formatting throughout with styles to match the risk-ratings which are input using select boxes pre-populated with all possible risk ratings. All text is in Calibri font for improved readability.
The following document labelling is included in the footer:

• Form number and title
• Information-classification
• Version
• Page number / total pages

alphaZ documents - beautifully designed, tried and tested form templates. No junk, jargon or unnecessary fields. Simple and usable form templates developed over 25 years through practical use in the real world.

Further Reading

Further guidance on data protection and UK GDPR:

• Data Protection and UK GDPR
• Managing Information Security Risks
• Information Classification and Protection

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Document Preparation is included with the alphaZ subscription.

How to Download

This file is included in the alphaZ subscription. This example is also included in the GDPR / Data Protection Toolkit.

Data Protection and Privacy Business Risk Assessment

This fully completed data protection and privacy business risk assessment example has been prepared by experienced ISO management system consultants. It covers the risks that arise from handling personal data, including lawful basis and transparency, data minimisation and retention, individual rights, security and breach, data sharing, international transfers and the use of AI tools with personal data. It can be used as a starting point when developing your own business risk assessment documentation.

What Does This Data Protection and Privacy Business Risk Assessment Cover?

This risk assessment identifies the key data protection and privacy risks an organisation faces, including:

• Lawful basis and transparency
• Data minimisation and retention
• Individual rights and requests
• Security of personal data and breach
• Consent and electronic marketing
• Data sharing and processors
• International data transfers
• Records and accountability
• Staff awareness and human error
• AI tools and personal data

A residual risk rating is then assigned to each risk, demonstrating how effective controls - such as data minimisation, lawful basis and consent management, security controls, clear retention and disposal, impact assessments, approved AI tools and staff training - reduce the overall risk to a tolerable level.

A Professional Easy-to-Use Risk Assessment Template

This document uses colour-coded header styles matched to risk ratings, making it quick to read and easy to communicate during team briefings and staff training. A built-in risk rating matrix supports consistent evaluation of likelihood and consequence, and clear risk symbols help communicate each risk at a glance. An inherent and a residual rating are recorded for every risk, so the effect of your controls is easy to demonstrate.

Risk, Control and Prohibition Symbols

Each row in the assessment is tagged with a small symbol so the type of risk, the control that manages it and any prohibition are clear at a glance. The same icon set runs across every alphaZ business risk assessment, which keeps a finished document quick to read and easy to compare. You can read more about them in our blog post on the alphaZ business risk icons.

Included in the GDPR / Data Protection Toolkit

This risk assessment is part of the GDPR / Data Protection Toolkit - the registers, forms, policies, procedure and guidance for documenting how you collect and process personal data, in one download.

Who Is This Data Protection and Privacy Business Risk Assessment Template Suitable For?

This template is suitable for organisations of any size that handle personal data and need to assess and document their data protection and privacy risks. It is useful when implementing or maintaining an information security management system aligned with ISO 27001, when demonstrating accountability under the UK GDPR, and when supporting the risks and opportunities requirements (clause 6.1) of ISO management system standards. Directors, data protection leads and management system managers can all use it as a practical, ready-made starting point.