A Guide to Data Privacy Compliance and Consent Management Platforms
Leading Data Privacy Management Platforms
While privacy compliance has many related components, such as the starting point of transparency about data practices via a privacy policy, there are ancillary privacy operations-specific components of the privacy program that are streamlined by using a platform built for use in the privacy compliance context. A variety of platforms cater to different organizational needs, from large enterprises requiring comprehensive solutions to smaller businesses seeking user-friendly tools.
OneTrust
OneTrust is a prominent and comprehensive privacy management platform designed to help enterprises comply with global privacy laws and data protection standards. It offers a wide array of features across its Trust Intelligence Cloud platform, categorized into Privacy & Data Governance, Compliance Management, GRC & Security Assurance, and AI Governance. Key functionalities include data mapping and discovery, privacy risk assessments (PIAs & DPIAs), data subject rights management, consent and preference management, cookie consent, vendor risk management, and data breach management. OneTrust automates resource-intensive privacy operations, enabling organizations to focus on strategic objectives. It is recognized for its modular design, allowing businesses to select features based on their specific needs, and offers robust integrations with other business systems. Use cases span data privacy management, cybersecurity, AI governance, ESG management, and third-party vendor risk management. While comprehensive, its extensive features may be more suitable for large enterprises with complex privacy requirements, and can be complex to implement.
TrustArc
TrustArc is another established player, offering a comprehensive privacy management platform to simplify and automate compliance with global privacy laws. Its features include data mapping and inventory management, privacy impact assessments, cookie consent management, vendor risk management, data subject access request (DSAR) management, and breach notification. TrustArc provides customizable policy and notice templates and automated compliance reporting, serving as a centralized platform for managing compliance efforts.
New Entrants: The Infrastructure Layer Approach
A newer trend in data privacy compliance involves platforms taking an “infrastructure layer” approach, focusing on deep integration and automation across a company’s entire data ecosystem.
Transcend
Transcend is a notable example of this approach, offering data privacy infrastructure solutions that help companies give users control over their personal data and achieve privacy compliance. The platform focuses on automating data subject access requests (DSARs), making it easier for companies to respond efficiently. Transcend also provides robust consent management, allowing companies to track and manage consent preferences in real-time across every interface and system, not just cookies and pixels. It aims to proliferate user consent choices from client-side UIs to backend opt-outs, honoring signals like Global Privacy Control (GPC) and Do Not Track (DNT). Transcend’s technology is designed to handle complex data ecosystems, ensuring user data and privacy controls are consistently applied across all business systems, thus transforming privacy from a constraint into a catalyst for growth and innovation. The platform offers solutions for data discovery and classification, data inventorying, and privacy assessments. Transcend’s consent management is certified by Google and supports frameworks like IAB TCF 2.0. They have also launched plans specifically designed for startups and mid-market companies, aiming to make robust privacy infrastructure accessible beyond large enterprises.
Other Key Players in the Market
Beyond OneTrust, TrustArc, and Transcend, several other platforms offer valuable solutions for data privacy and consent management.
Osano
Osano positions itself as a user-friendly data privacy management platform, particularly suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), though it is designed to scale. It offers consent management, data mapping, data subject rights administration, comprehensive assessments, and vendor risk evaluation. Osano emphasizes ease of use, streamlined implementation, and strong customer support, aiming to simplify compliance without the complexity or high cost associated with some larger solutions.
Securiti
Securiti utilizes AI-powered technology to help organizations manage complex security, privacy, and compliance issues. Its platform aids businesses in complying with data privacy laws and protecting client data by offering features like automated backend privacy centers, instant mapping of personal data to identities, a Sensitive Data Catalog for data mapping, processing of data subject requests, and automated privacy impact assessments.
DataGrail
DataGrail specializes in helping companies automate data subject requests (DSRs/DSARs) and manage consent, offering integrations with over 1,900 apps. It focuses on streamlining compliance by tracking and managing customer data across various systems and provides tools for data mapping, policy management, and vendor management. Its no-code method for constructing data processing workflows is a key feature.
Didomi
Didomi provides a platform enabling streamlined compliance with global data privacy regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Its toolkit includes a multi-regulation consent management platform, a customizable preference management platform, a privacy request module, and advanced compliance monitoring. Didomi aims to make customer privacy a primary concern, offering branded and personalized consent banner experiences and cross-device consent synchronization.
Ketch
Ketch offers an efficient and scalable solution for managing data privacy, focusing on automating privacy compliance across various jurisdictions. It features automated consent management, policy enforcement, data mapping, and subject rights management, with an interface designed to be simpler than some more complex enterprise solutions.
Ethyca (Fides Platform)
Ethyca’s Fides platform focuses on building robust consent frameworks. It maps users’ consent preferences to specific data categories and use cases, allowing a user’s consent choice on a website to automatically govern downstream data flows. Fides enables companies to set up a custom, branded Privacy Center where users can manage consent choices and make data subject requests. The platform also provides real-time, exportable consent reporting for audit and regulatory requirements.
Other platforms in this space include:
- Cookiebot and CookieYes
- Microsoft Priva
- PrivacyEngine
- Zendata
- MineOS
- Segment by Twilio
- InMobi Choice CMP
- Cassie by Syrenis
The Evolving Landscape of Consent Management
The field of consent management is rapidly advancing, driven by tightening regulations and increasing consumer awareness. Key trends include:
- AI-driven Solutions: AI is being used to enable real-time compliance monitoring, predict user preferences, and streamline consent processes.
- Enhanced Interoperability: Platforms are increasingly integrating with marketing and other compliance tools for seamless data flow and consistent consent management.
- Real-time Data Processing: CMPs are adopting real-time capabilities to promptly respond to user consent changes.
- User-Friendly Privacy Experiences: There’s a shift towards intuitive interfaces that personalize privacy settings, moving away from complex legal jargon and towards transparency and ease of use, which is seen as a competitive advantage.
- Granular Consent Options and Preference Centers: Users are being offered more detailed choices and dedicated portals to manage their settings continuously.
- Multi-device Synchronization: Ensuring consistent consent preferences across devices is becoming standard.
- Emerging Technologies: Innovations like blockchain for immutable consent records and machine learning are being explored and incorporated.
As consumers become more vigilant about their data privacy rights, the demand for robust and transparent consent management platforms continues to grow. Choosing the right platform depends on an organization’s specific needs, size, complexity of data operations, and the regulatory environments in which it operates.
