Getting Real About DSARs – Why Training Your Teams is a Game-Changer

I’ll be honest, when most businesses hear the term Data Subject Access Request (DSAR), their first reaction is usually a mixture of confusion and dread. And I get it. DSARs can feel overwhelming. They sound legalistic, they come with tight deadlines, and they cut across so many areas of the business.

That’s exactly why I’ve been spending more time with clients recently on DSAR training. In fact, just last month I delivered a session for a team where most hadn’t had to deal with one before. Watching the penny drop in that room was powerful. People suddenly realised that this isn’t “just HR’s problem”, it’s something that could land on anyone’s desk. Payroll, IT, line managers, even someone in finance might be asked to pull information.

The biggest shift I noticed during the training was confidence. At the start, people admitted they’d probably panic if a DSAR landed tomorrow. By the end, they were saying things like: “At least now I’d know where to start.” That’s exactly the point. It’s not about turning everyone into a GDPR lawyer – it’s about giving them a clear process and a bit of reassurance that they’re not on their own.

And it’s so worthwhile for the business too. Having processes in place and trained people who understand them saves hours of stress later on. Instead of running around trying to work out who does what, the team knows the steps, the deadlines, and when to escalate. One manager actually said to me afterwards: “I didn’t realise how much peace of mind this would give me.” That’s a win in my book.

The truth is, DSARs are only going to become more common as people get savvier about their rights. Businesses that bury their heads in the sand will end up scrambling when a request lands and that’s when mistakes happen. But businesses that invest the time now, in processes and training, will handle them smoothly and professionally.

For me, the whole experience reinforced something I’ve always believed: compliance doesn’t have to feel scary or dry. With the right approach, it can actually build trust and confidence, both for your teams and for the people whose data you hold. And honestly? That’s the part of my work I love most.

Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss how we can support training your team in DSARs, hopefully you’ll never receive one, but it will give you peace of mind.