Data subject access requests (DSARs) are one of the fastest-growing compliance obligations for organisations. Between the Information Commissioners Office’s enforcement posture, one-month statutory deadlines and the sheer volume of personal data spread across enterprise systems, what should be a straightforward process often turns into a scramble. TCDI provides a managed, end-to-end DSAR service that combines process rigour with AI-enabled technology to deliver faster and more cost-effective responses.
Every DSAR project follows a clear path from request to delivery. Here is how we manage the process at each stage, keeping you informed and in control throughout:
Every DSAR engagement starts with a structured kick-off. We work with your legal, compliance, and IT teams to:
Our standardised playbook captures every detail from day one, so there is a clear, defensible record of how the request was handled. Where organisations handle recurring DSARs, we build reusable templates and workflows that make each subsequent request faster and more consistent.
With scope and data sources defined, collection begins with coordination between your team and ours. Our forensic analysts work closely with your IT and legal teams to advise on appropriate collection methods, helping ensure data is preserved correctly and transferred securely.
Collections can be performed remotely or through trusted in-country resources when local presence is required. Every engagement is built around compliance with UK GDPR, EU GDPR and other applicable privacy regulations, with encryption and chain-of-custody protocols throughout.
Raw data rarely arrives review-ready. Once your data is securely received, our team works closely with yours to define the right filtering approach, from date ranges and keyword parameters to your preferred de-duplication method. The data is then processed and converted into a usable format.
We apply GenAI-enabled workflows, along with targeted culling and searching, to reduce the dataset prior to review, saving you both time and money.
Every batch is quality-checked before it moves forward, and we report on the volume of documents processed so you have full visibility into how the population is narrowing at each step.
Click the image above to see how we’ve applied AI in our DSAR workflows
Review is where most DSAR costs live, which is exactly why we focus so much energy on what happens before it. Once data reaches the review stage, our team uses GenAI-powered document review workflows to prioritise and categorise records with speed and consistency.
PII identification tools flag personal information across the dataset, and human reviewers code against defined criteria with quality control checks running throughout.
AI provides full reasoning for every coding decision, building a defensible data control set and giving you a clear audit trail from first document to last.
Redactions are applied using automated AI tools, manual review or a combination of both depending on the matter’s requirements, with quality control built in at every stage. Together we confirm the disclosure format and delivery method that works for your organisation, whether that is PDF, native files, CSV or another format. Once the final set is approved, documents are delivered securely to the data subject.
After delivery, we close the workspace, delete data from TCDI storage per agreed protocols and provide an export of the CVLynx or Relativity ARM to maintain related documentation and tracking for your records.
For organisations handling a high volume of requests, case-by-case ad-hoc methods are not sustainable. TCDI’s managed DSAR service provides a governed, scalable operating model built on Lean Six Sigma methodology that treats DSARs as a repeatable business process rather than an emergency. As a result, you get:
Because the entire framework is rooted in continuous process improvement, every engagement feeds back into the next, driving faster turnaround, greater accuracy and lower costs over time.
In addition, we offer transparent, volume-based pricing options designed to deliver cost certainty as your needs evolve. Fixed-fee models with defined bands give you predictability, while built-in efficiency levers provide continuous cost reduction without sacrificing defensibility.
When a data subject’s personal data sits across UK, EU and international systems, responding to a single request becomes a multi-jurisdictional exercise. TCDI manages cross-border collections and processing with data residency requirements built into the workflow from the start, ensuring that personal data remains within the appropriate jurisdiction at every stage.
For matters where data must remain in jurisdiction, review is performed by trusted partners under the guidance and strategy of our London team. When data can be transferred across borders, review is managed by our US-based attorneys, paralegals and legal professionals. Either way, TCDI maintains oversight and quality standards throughout the life of the engagement.
