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IMDA Certification · Singapore

Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) Consultancy

NY Risk Consulting offers end-to-end DPTM (Data Protection Trustmark) consultancy in Singapore — guiding organisations through every stage of the certification process, from gap assessment to certification audit. We also assist eligible clients in applying for government grant support, including the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) and the Transformation Sustainability Scheme, which may cover up to 80% of consultancy costs.

What is the Data Protection Trustmark?

The Data Protection Trustmark (DPTM) is a voluntary enterprise-wide certification administered by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). It recognises organisations that have put in place accountable data protection policies, processes and practices aligned with the obligations of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The certification is valid for three years and maps to Singapore Standard SS 714.

DPTM-certified organisations have passed an independent assessment by an accredited certification body — which means their data protection regime is verifiably robust, not merely self-declared. For customers, business partners and procurement officers, that distinction matters.

NY Risk Consulting is DPTM-certified. We don't just guide clients through the certification criteria — we've passed the same certification audit ourselves. That gives us a first-hand read on what assessors look for and where organisations typically fall short. We are also listed on the IMDA website as a DPTM consultant.

Who should pursue DPTM certification?

DPTM is particularly well-suited to organisations that:

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Collect or use significant volumes of personal data — customer records, HR files, patient information, financial data.

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Face tender requirements, government procurement shortlisting, or customer due-diligence questionnaires asking for evidence of formal data protection governance.

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Have already invested in PDPA compliance and want independent, certifiable validation of that work.

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Want to reduce exposure to PDPC enforcement — penalties of up to S$1 million or 10% of annual Singapore turnover, plus reputational damage.

Why Get Certified

Benefits of DPTM certification

Stronger customer & partner trust

Displaying the DPTM mark signals that your data protection practices have been independently verified — not just claimed. It answers the procurement question "how do you protect our data?" clearly.

Competitive edge in tenders

More government agencies and large corporates require formal data protection governance before awarding contracts. DPTM is the most recognised standard for this purpose in Singapore.

Regulatory relief in a breach

Under the PDPA, an organisation's data protection efforts — including certifications held — may be treated as a mitigating factor during PDPC enforcement proceedings.

Our Approach

Our DPTM engagement process

Six structured stages — from an honest assessment of where you stand, through to supporting you through the certification audit itself.

Scoping & PDPA Readiness Briefing

We start with an honest conversation about your data flows, existing policies and current PDPA posture — so you know what the journey involves before any commitment is made.

Gap Assessment Against DPTM Criteria

We assess your policies, processes and controls against the full DPTM requirements and produce a prioritised gap report setting out exactly what to address, and in what order.

Policy & Controls Remediation

We develop or update the policies and controls needed to close the gaps — data inventory, consent, retention, access controls and breach response.

Staff Training & Awareness

Targeted training from DPO-level responsibilities to frontline handling, so the policies in place are understood and followed in practice.

Pre-Certification Internal Review

An internal readiness review that stress-tests your documentation and processes against the assessors' likely approach.

Certification Audit Support & Liaison

We prepare your team for assessor interviews, review evidence packages and manage liaison with the IMDA-accredited certification body throughout.

EDG & Transformation Sustainability Scheme

Government grant support may be available

Funding support of up to 80% of consultancy cost may be available for qualified organisations through two programmes:

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Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) — Enterprise Singapore. Supports capability upgrades including DPTM consultancy.

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Transformation Sustainability Scheme — NCSS. Supports social service agencies adopting data protection solutions.

Ask About Grant Eligibility

Our Credentials

A team that has done this ourselves

NY Risk Consulting holds DPTM certification. Sue Hui, who leads our data protection practice, holds both the Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) and Certified Practitioner in Personal Data Protection qualifications. Gary Ng, our founding director, holds the Practitioner in Personal Data Protection, Singapore credential and is a Singapore Certified Management Consultant (SCMC) — qualified to assist organisations in applying for EDG and other grant programmes.

Our data protection work sits alongside our internal audit and cybersecurity practices — which matters for DPTM, because most PDPA gaps are not about missing documents. They are about excessive access rights, weak IT controls, inadequate segregation of duties, and poor data handling. Spotting those takes audit and cybersecurity expertise as much as privacy knowledge.

Common Questions

Frequently asked questions on DPTM

What exactly is DPTM and who administers it?

A voluntary enterprise-wide certification administered by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) of Singapore, recognising accountable data protection practices aligned with the PDPA. It is valid for three years and maps to Singapore Standard SS 714.

How long does it take to get DPTM certified?

Organisations with a functioning PDPA framework can typically certify in three to six months; those starting from a lower baseline should plan for six to twelve. Our gap assessment gives you a realistic timeline for your situation.

Is government grant support available for DPTM consultancy?

Up to 80% co-funding may be available via the Enterprise Development Grant (EDG) from Enterprise Singapore and the NCSS Transformation Sustainability Scheme. Gary Ng is a Singapore Certified Management Consultant and has helped many organisations obtain grant support — contact us early so we can advise on eligibility.

Do we need ISO 27001 or ISO 27701 first?

No — neither is a prerequisite. Organisations that already hold these often find the DPTM process faster, as they have demonstrated aligned information security and privacy practices. DPTM maps to Singapore Standard SS 714.

Can you also provide an outsourced DPO during or after the engagement?

Yes. The PDPA requires organisations to designate at least one DPO. We can provide an outsourced DPO service — standalone or alongside a DPTM engagement, which many clients find efficient since the work overlaps significantly.

What happens after we achieve DPTM certification?

DPTM certification is valid for three years, during which organisations are expected to maintain and develop their data protection practices. We can support ongoing compliance monitoring, refresher training and renewal preparation as the three-year cycle approaches.

What are the consequences of not complying with the PDPA?

The PDPC may impose a financial penalty of up to S$1 million or 10% of annual Singapore turnover, whichever is higher, and may name organisations in breach publicly. A PDPC investigation can run for up to 18 months.

Ready to start your DPTM journey?

Speak to us for a no-obligation discussion on where your organisation stands and what's involved in getting certified.