GDPR Compliant Web Agency: What Questions to Ask Before Hiring
I've seen businesses hire agencies that don't understand GDPR. The results? Non-compliant websites. Potential fines. Legal risk.
Let me show you what questions to ask, and what answers to look for.
The Questions You Must Ask
1. "What's your experience with GDPR-compliant websites?"
Good answer: "We've built 50+ GDPR-compliant websites. Here are examples. Here's our process. Here's our documentation."
Bad answer: "We're familiar with GDPR. We can make it compliant."
Red flag: Vague answers. No examples. No process.
2. "How do you handle personal data during development?"
Good answer: "We minimize data collection. We use secure handling. We document everything. We follow privacy by design."
Bad answer: "We handle it securely. We're careful."
Red flag: No specifics. No process. No documentation.
3. "What compliance documentation do you provide?"
Good answer: "Privacy policy, cookie consent implementation, data processing agreements, compliance checklists, audit trails."
Bad answer: "We provide a privacy policy."
Red flag: Missing documentation. Incomplete compliance.
4. "Do you understand EU data privacy requirements?"
Good answer: "Yes. We understand GDPR, country-specific requirements, cookie laws, data sovereignty. Here's how we implement them."
Bad answer: "Yes, we're familiar with GDPR."
Red flag: No depth. No specifics. No understanding.
5. "What's your approach to privacy by design?"
Good answer: "We build compliance in from the start. Data minimization. Security measures. User rights. Privacy-focused architecture."
Bad answer: "We add compliance features."
Red flag: Reactive approach. Not proactive.
Red Flags to Watch For
Vague Answers
Problem: Can't explain their process. No specifics. Generic responses.
Why it matters: If they can't explain it, they probably don't understand it.
No Documentation
Problem: No examples. No processes. No proof.
Why it matters: Compliance requires documentation. No documentation = no compliance.
Outdated Knowledge
Problem: Using old practices. Non-compliant approaches. Missing updates.
Why it matters: GDPR evolves. Outdated knowledge = non-compliance.
No EU Experience
Problem: No EU clients. No EU hosting. No EU compliance experience.
Why it matters: EU compliance requires EU experience. Without it, you're at risk.
What Good Answers Look Like
Experience
Good: "We've built 50+ GDPR-compliant websites. Here are 5 examples. Here's our compliance process. Here's our documentation."
Why it's good: Specific. Proven. Documented.
Process
Good: "We follow privacy by design. We minimize data collection. We implement security measures. We document everything. Here's our checklist."
Why it's good: Clear process. Comprehensive. Documented.
Documentation
Good: "We provide privacy policies, cookie consent, data processing agreements, compliance checklists, audit trails. Here are examples."
Why it's good: Complete. Comprehensive. Examples provided.
The Verification Process
Check Credentials
What to check:
- Compliance certifications
- Training records
- Client references
- Case studies
How to verify: Ask for proof. Check references. Review examples.
Review Processes
What to review:
- Compliance procedures
- Documentation standards
- Quality assurance
- Ongoing monitoring
How to review: Ask for documentation. Review processes. Verify implementation.
Assess Expertise
What to assess:
- Team qualifications
- Knowledge depth
- Update frequency
- Best practices
How to assess: Ask technical questions. Review knowledge. Verify expertise.
The Bottom Line
Hiring a GDPR-compliant web agency requires asking the right questions and verifying the answers.
Good agency: Specific answers. Proven experience. Complete documentation. EU expertise.
Bad agency: Vague answers. No experience. Missing documentation. No EU knowledge.
The choice: Ask questions. Verify answers. Choose wisely.
Ready to find a GDPR-compliant agency? Get your fixed-price quote in 24 hours and let's ensure your website is compliant from day one.