What triggers the completion of a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)?

The completion of a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) is triggered by the consideration of a new system for documentation. This is because a PIA's primary purpose is to evaluate how personal information is managed within new projects or systems. When an organization plans to implement a new system that will collect, use, or disclose personal data, it becomes essential to assess privacy risks and determine how to mitigate them effectively.

The PIA process helps ensure that the new system complies with privacy regulations and that the risks associated with handling personal information are identified and addressed before the system goes live. This proactive approach is a best practice for maintaining the protection of individual privacy rights and upholding the organization’s accountability for personal data management.