What Is a Privacy Impact Assessment?
A Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is a systematic evaluation of how your organisation collects, uses, stores, and shares personal information. Under New Zealand’s Privacy Act 2020, PIAs help identify privacy risks before they become problems — think of them as a health check for your data handling practices.
While PIAs aren’t always legally required, they’re strongly recommended when you’re introducing new systems, processes, or technologies that involve personal information. This includes everything from implementing new software to changing how you handle client data.
The PIA Process
A typical PIA involves mapping your information flows, identifying potential privacy risks, and developing strategies to mitigate them. You’ll examine what data you collect, why you need it, who has access, and how long you keep it. The goal is ensuring you’re only collecting what’s necessary and protecting it appropriately.
For law firms, NGOs, and health organisations, PIAs are particularly valuable given the sensitive nature of client information. They demonstrate due diligence to regulators and build trust with clients who expect their personal information to be handled responsibly.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner provides helpful guidance on conducting PIAs. If you’d like to chat about implementing PIAs in your organisation, our team is always happy to help.
