Compliance-Gap Reviews
We’ve led compliance-gap reviews for more than 50+ companies, helping them identify risks early and stay audit-ready.
Need a PDPA-Compliant Data Protection Officer (DPO)?
Trusted Legal & Cybersecurity Support for Malaysian Businesses
Your clients trust you with their data.
We help you keep that trust and stay compliant with PDPA.
Trusted by 500+ Clients in Legal & Compliance Projects
DATA PROTECTION ISN’T A HASSLE. IT’S A STRATEGY.
Why You Can’t Delay Appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO)
Handling personal data comes with real responsibilities. Not just because the law says so, but because your clients, partners, and teams are trusting you to protect what matters.
Whether you’re a startup building momentum or an established organisation managing scale, appointing a Data Protection Officer (DPO) is a move that signals you’re serious about doing things right.
Who Must Appoint a DPO
- Process data of 20,000 individuals
- Handle >10,000 sensitive records
- Conduct regular/systematic monitoring
If You Don’t Appoint a DPO
- Fines up to RM250,000
- Directors face up to 2 years in jail
- Business trust and reputation at risk
That’s why our outsourced DPO service delivers legal clarity, risk protection, and peace of mind without overloading your internal teams.
Ready to get compliant?
Why Outsource Your Data Protection Officer (DPO) ?
Many businesses assume they can handle compliance internally until something goes wrong. A breach. A complaint. An unexpected audit. And suddenly, all eyes are on you. See how outsourcing compares to handling it internally:
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Criteria
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Internal Staff
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Outsourced DPO (Us)
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PDPA Expertise
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❌ Rare
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✅ 15+ years of experience
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Cost
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High (salary + training)
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✅ Flexible packages
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Independence
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Hard to maintain
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✅ Objective perspective
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Regulator Liaison
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Limited
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✅ On-demand
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Scalability
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Slow
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✅ Fast
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Not sure where to start?
What You Get With Our Data Protection Officer (DPO) Service
Advisory & Support
Provides guidance on personal data protection matters, including new initiatives that may impact personal data protection and the application of personal data protection laws to the operational activities of data controllers and data processors.
Risk Management & Assessment
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to the processing of personal data by the data controller or data processor, covering the full lifecycle of personal data.
Compliance Oversight & Monitoring
Oversee adherence to personal data protection laws and policies within the organisation to ensure continuous compliance.
Audit & Reporting
Prepare compliance reports, conduct and/or facilitate regular personal data audits, and ensure accurate documentation of personal data protection activities.
Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Support the organisation’s personal data protection efforts through engagement with internal & external stakeholders to ensure the implementation & adherence to security policies & personal data protection practices & carrying out training & awareness initiatives to educate staff on personal data protection laws, policies, & best practices.
Regulatory & Data Subject Management
Acts as the liaison with the Commissioner on regulatory matters, compliance obligations, and personal data breach notifications, and handles data subject requests, breach notifications, and complaints.
Meet Edwin Lee — Your Trusted Data Protection Partner
"I believe protecting personal data isn’t just about following the law — it’s about safeguarding the trust your clients, partners, and teams place in you."
Our outsourced DPO services are led by Edwin Lee: He is a lawyer, data protection strategist, and founder of Edwin Lee & Partners.
He’s spent the last 15 years helping organisations of all sizes navigate PDPA with confidence. From policy to practice, from paperwork to people training, Edwin brings clarity where most only bring theory.
Awards & Recognition
- Malaysian Rising Star, Asian Legal Business
- Young Lawyer of the Year 2020 (Finalist), ALB Malaysia Law Awards
- Asia 40 under 40, Asian Legal Business
Training
Publications
Media Interview
Why Clients Trust Edwin
🧑⚖️ Local & Accessible
- Based in Malaysia. Physically present at least 180 days each year.
- Easy to reach by phone, email, and messaging. Fast response.
🌏 Multilingual & Industry-Proven
- Proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and English. Fluent in Mandarin and local dialects.
- Deep familiarity with PDPA and data protection laws in the region.
- Hands-on understanding of business operations and IT security across finance, tech, healthcare, and retail.
📚 Recognised Authority
- Co-Author of Beyond Data Protection: Strategic Case Studies and Practical Guidance (ISBN: 978-3-642-33080-3)
- Certified in AI governance and emerging technologies.
- Featured in The Star, The Edge, The Sun, NTV7, CHIP Magazine, and DataGuidance.
- Expert Contributor to OneTrust DataGuidance (UK).
- Promotes a strong data protection culture through training and written publication.
🛡Independent & Trusted
- No conflict of interest with current roles.
- Reports directly to top management.
- Empowered to act independently with integrity, strong ethics, and sound governance (a lawyer by profession).
These criteria comply with the Guideline on the Appointment of Data Protection Officers, issued by the Personal Data Protection Department of Malaysia in February 2025.
15
Years Experience
in This Field
Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be done right.
How Edwin & His Team Meet DPO Competency Criteria (KSA Model)
📘 Knowledge
- Deep understanding of the PDPA, data subject rights, breach protocols, DPIAs, and data security.
- Up to date on regulatory developments and enforcement.
- Author of a PDPA textbook. Regular contributor to respected publications.
- Supported 50+ organisations across finance, tech, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
🛠 Skills
- Conducts gap assessments, audits, DPIAs, and breach response exercises.
- Drafts and updates policies, notices, SOPs, and governance documents.
- Delivers training, briefings, and workshops for teams and leadership at all sizes.
- Advises on PDPA and IT security practices that align with business operations.
- Manages regulator communications and prepares submissions to the PDP Commissioner when required.
🧩 Abilities
- Translates complex legal duties into practical procedures that your team can use.
- Builds internal PDPA capability. Templates. Workflows. Awareness programmes. Periodic reviews.
- Provides end to end compliance support, from onboarding to audit readiness and continuous improvement.
- Helps embed a strong data protection culture across the organisation.
These criteria comply with the Guideline on the DPO Competency, issued by the Personal Data Protection Department of Malaysia in August 2025.
Our Service Categories
Our comprehensive DPO & PDPA compliance services are organized into six key categories.
Core Scope
Named DPO Appointment
Point of Liaison with Commissioner
PDPA Compliance Advisory
Frontline Handling of Data Subject Requests
Risk & Compliance Review
PDPA Gap Assessment
PDPA Remediation Advisory
DPIA Support for high-risk initiatives
Policy & Training
PDPA Awareness Training
Drafting/review of privacy notices, internal
PDPA policies & IT/security policies
Data Protection Compliance Handbook
Data Inventory & Records
Data Inventory and Mapping
Cross-border Transfer Assessments
Consent, retention and deletion frameworks
Incident & Breach Management
24/7 on-call advisory for suspected breaches
Data Breach Notification (DBN)
Recovery Support & Post-Incident Review
Compliance Monitoring & Reporting
Quarterly compliance reviews and internal spot checks/audits
Annual PDPA Compliance Report
All six service categories are included in our bundled monthly package.
Real Compliance Results, Backed by Experience
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Frameworks that Protect Businesses
We’ve designed and implemented compliance frameworks covering Section 17A anti-corruption, PDPA compliance, whistleblower protections, and employment law.
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Trusted by Industry Leaders
Serve as external “in-house” counsel on retainer to companies in tech, manufacturing, and financial services; providing ongoing compliance and governance support.
How We Onboard You in 14 Days. Full PDPA Compliance in 90 – 120 Days
Step 1: Consultation & Needs Assessment
We start with a clear assessment of your compliance gaps, mapping personal data flows and reviewing your current practices against PDPA requirements. You receive a tailored action plan and a roadmap with realistic timelines.
Step 2: Onboarding & Official DPO Registration
We formalise your DPO appointment, register with the PDP Commissioner, and set up all necessary communication channels and secure protocols. Your DPO function is fully operational within 14 days and formally registered within the mandated 21-day window.
Step 3: Compliance Framework Implementation
We implement your compliance roadmap in phases across key areas: data mapping, policy review and development, security measures, consent management, data breach response, training programmes, and vendor management. You get customised manuals, policies, and staff training built to PDPA standards.
Step 4: Ongoing Oversight & Monitoring
We provide expert support, periodic audits, compliance reviews, management reporting, and continuous updates on regulatory changes so your business stays aligned with the law.
(Typical onboarding: 2–3 weeks. Urgent cases can be prioritised.)
What Makes Us Different
We keep things simple. No scare tactics. No inflated promises.
Just thoughtful, practical support, grounded in real experience, designed to protect your business while respecting your time and goals.
- We speak the language of business and law
- We adapt to your systems, your structure, your scale
- We don’t just give advice, we help you implement
Proven expertise in PDPA & legal compliance
0
+ Years
Trusted by SMEs, corporates & regulated sectors
0
+ Clients
Fast onboarding & DPO activation
0
Weeks
Our Strategic Partners in PDPA Compliance & Cybersecurity
PDPA compliance isn’t just a legal checklist. It’s a security issue. We work with trusted experts who have more than 20 years of experience to deliver a stronger, well-rounded compliance framework while we act as your dedicated DPO.
LGMS: Malaysia’s Leading Cybersecurity Testing & Consulting Firm
LGMS is the trusted partner for cybersecurity testing, compliance assessments, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 evaluations, and digital forensics. They help you stay ahead of threats by aligning your security posture with global standards and delivering enterprise-grade protection.
VLAN: Malaysia’s Trusted IT Solutions & Digital Transformation Firm
VLAN is the go-to provider of CyberShield for Business, delivering advanced email security & anti-virus, endpoint protection, firewall defence, and remote backups. They protect your operations with scalable solutions that keep your business running securely and efficiently.
Who We Work With
We’ve supported teams across industries, from fast-growing startups to heavily regulated enterprises.
- SMEs and scaleups that need clarity but don’t have in-house expertise
- Corporates juggling data responsibilities across multiple departments
- Tech-driven firms managing sensitive data at scale
- Leadership teams that want PDPA compliance handled properly, quietly, and professionally
Google Reviews
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Frequently asked questions
From June 2025, businesses that don’t comply face fines of up to RM250,000 and directors may face jail terms of up to 2 years. Delay is no longer an option.
Yes, if you’re handling large volumes of data or sensitive categories. The PDPA has clear thresholds, and failing to comply comes with real consequences.
Yes. Complaints, data breaches, or even random spot-checks can trigger audits. Our role is to make sure you’re prepared and audit-ready at all times.
They can, but they must have the right expertise, time, and independence. Many internal teams are already stretched. Outsourcing often provides a stronger, more objective solution.
Not quite. DPOs focus on ongoing compliance, risk management, training, and regulator engagement. It’s a distinct role with specific duties.
It’s just the first step. The role needs to be active, empowered, and engaged. We support you through that entire process.
You gain immediate expertise, unbiased guidance, and full-spectrum compliance support without the cost of building an internal department.
We offer tailored packages based on your organisation’s size and complexity. We’ll provide a clear, fair quote after a quick consultation.
Typically within 2–3 weeks after consultation. If it’s urgent, let us know, we can prioritise.
Only what’s necessary to support you. We follow strict confidentiality protocols and respect all boundaries.
Two years is recommended under PDPA guidelines, but we’re flexible. We’ll build something that fits your needs.
Yes. We offer everything from full outsourcing to one-off workshops and internal briefings.
