Overview
With cyber threats and data breaches on the rise, organisations must be fully prepared to respond effectively to personal data breaches. This full-day training course provides a structured and practical approach to managing personal data breaches, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and regulatory obligations. Delegates will gain an in-depth understanding of incident response processes, risk assessment, and notification requirements, learning how to minimise legal, financial, and reputational risks. The course will cover real-life breach scenarios, allowing participants to apply their learning in a practical, hands-on way.
Whether you work in compliance, data protection, IT security, or risk management, this course equips you with the tools and confidence to handle data breaches effectively. From assessing risks to affected data subjects and notifying the ICO within 72 hours to developing clear communication strategies and ensuring robust record-keeping, attendees will leave with practical knowledge to strengthen their organisation’s response and resilience. With regulatory scrutiny increasing, knowing how to act swiftly and decisively in a breach scenario is critical—making this a must-attend course for any organisation handling personal data.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the definition of a personal data breach under UK GDPR.
- Learn the incident response process, including detection, containment, recovery, and lessons learned.
- Assess risks to affected data subjects and determine when notification is required.
- Develop clear communication messages for data subjects and stakeholders in case of a breach.
- Understand the ICO notification requirements and steps to follow within the 72-hour deadline.
- Learn record-keeping requirements for documenting personal data breaches.
- Evaluate technical and organisational controls to prevent future breaches.
- Understand the responsibilities of data controllers and data processors in breach scenarios.
- Identify the consequences of failing to notify the ICO of a reportable breach.
- Explore the legal implications of data breaches, including the right to compensation for affected individuals.
Qualification
This programme is CPD Certified by The CPD Certification Service, providing independent recognition that the course meets established standards for continuing professional development. Participants can use their attendance as evidence of structured professional learning and development.
What our Delegates say
The training exceed my expectations. I have a number of areas that I feel much more confident in my knowledge of. Any training that leads to an action list is both productive and informative! Thank you.
Air Marketing Group Ltd
Finance Director
A well-designed and delivered session with a knowledgeable and personable trainer. Exactly what I was looking for.
Strengthscope Limited
Head of People & Information Security
Overall it was a good experience which I would recommend!
The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
It Systems & Security Manager
Agenda
9:30
Registration and GovPD Welcome Address
09:40
Preparing for Personal Data Breaches
- Understand the key definitions and principles that determine how personal data breaches should be managed.
- Identify internal and external threats and assess them using an effective risk register.
- Develop preventative controls, an incident response team, a data breach policy and appropriate staff training.
11:00
Comfort Break
11:20
Detecting and Analysing a Breach
- Distinguish between a security incident and a personal data breach under UK GDPR.
- Assess the type, severity and potential impact of an incident using a structured decision-making framework.
- Apply an effective investigation and reporting process to a practical data breach scenario.
13:00
Lunch
13:40
Containing, Communicating and Recovering
- Take appropriate steps to contain a breach, identify its root cause and support organisational recovery.
- Determine when affected individuals and the ICO must be notified and what information communications should include.
- Apply notification, record-keeping and stakeholder communication requirements to a practical breach scenario.
15:00
Comfort Break
15:20
Learning from a Personal Data Breach
- Conduct a structured post-incident review and translate its findings into practical improvements.
- Understand the regulatory and legal consequences of failing to report a notifiable breach, including individuals’ right to compensation.
- Examine lessons from high-profile data breaches and use them to strengthen organisational resilience.
16:20
Trainer Summary and Q&A
- Consolidate the key principles and practical actions covered throughout the course.
- Identify priority actions to strengthen personal data breach preparedness within your organisation.
- Address outstanding questions and clarify how the learning can be applied in the workplace.
Looking for training beyond data breach response?
For training in related data and compliance areas, see our courses:
Data Protection: Compliance, Policy, Governance and Risk Management
Course Instructor
Kellie Peters
Kellie Peters is a seasoned GDPR and Data Protection Consultant with an extensive background in data governance, compliance, and security. As the co-founder of Databasix UK Ltd, she has spent nearly a decade providing strategic data protection consultancy to organisations across multiple industries, including healthcare, public sector, and corporate enterprises. Prior to this, Kellie held senior roles in Public Health England and Solutions for Public Health, where she played a pivotal role in data management, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. She successfully led national initiatives, including the design and rollout of England’s chemotherapy national patient-based database, ensuring compliance with data protection and governance frameworks. Read more
Who should attend?
This course is designed for professionals responsible for handling, protecting, or responding to personal data within their organisation, including:
- Data protection officers (DPOs) and privacy professionals responsible for UK GDPR compliance
- Compliance, risk, and governance professionals managing regulatory obligations
- IT security and cybersecurity professionals involved in incident detection, response, and recovery
- Information security managers and analysts responsible for protecting personal data
- Legal and compliance teams advising on data protection obligations and breach response
- HR professionals handling employee data and sensitive personal information
- Operations and business managers responsible for day-to-day data handling within teams
- Senior leaders and executives accountable for organisational data governance and risk management
- Customer service and client-facing teams who may handle personal or sensitive data
- Anyone involved in responding to, escalating, or managing personal data breach incidents
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