Global music and entertainment group
GDPR framework and acquisition integration
Retained since 2018: a global GDPR framework and a repeatable governance-integration approach for newly acquired businesses.
Read the case studyMedia & Entertainment
Privacy, Cyber Governance & Assurance for Media and Entertainment
Strengthen privacy, cyber governance and supplier assurance across content businesses, acquisitions and international operations.
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Relevant experience
Experience across international media operations
IG-Smart helps media and entertainment organisations address privacy and cybersecurity risks across international operations and organisational change. Our published experience includes repeatable governance integration for acquisitions at a global entertainment group and cybersecurity advisory support for journalists operating in a high-risk environment.
Cybersecurity advisory for journalists in a high-risk environment
Risk assessment, protocols, training and advisory support
Supported a consortium of global news-media organisations during the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan with cyber risk assessment, customised security protocols and training.
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When media groups call us
When change outpaces governance
We typically work with international media and entertainment groups, publishers, legal and privacy teams, cybersecurity leaders and acquisition-integration teams.
An acquisition brings new data practices
A newly acquired business has its own systems, suppliers and privacy practices that need assessing and aligning.
Operations span many jurisdictions
Personal data moves between group entities, partners and service providers in different countries.
Teams work in exposed environments
Distributed or field-based staff need proportionate cyber protocols, training and advice.
Privacy needs consistent ownership
Group privacy governance needs a framework local businesses can apply consistently.
Our approach
Governance that follows the acquisition
When organisations combine, governance has to be assessed and aligned rather than assumed. These are the dimensions a proposed integration engagement can review; historic deliverables are described in the case studies.
Ownership
Who will own privacy and security decisions in the acquired business.
Data practices
What personal data the business holds, why, and how it compares with group policy.
Suppliers
Which providers process data and whether existing assurance is adequate.
Risk
Where the material gaps are, prioritised by consequence.
Evidence
The records that show the business now operates within the group framework.
Our engagement with a global music and entertainment group has included a global GDPR framework and a repeatable integration approach for newly acquired businesses since 2018.
How we help
Start with the requirement, not the service catalogue
- Lead privacy across the groupFractional & Outsourced DPO ServicesRetained privacy leadership for international groups within an agreed scope.
- Integrate a newly acquired businessManaged Data Privacy ProgrammeContinuing privacy governance across entities and each new acquisition.
- Justify international data transfersInternational Data Transfer AssuranceAssess and document transfers between entities, partners and providers.
- Review critical suppliersManaged Supplier AssuranceProportionate review of providers that process group or audience data.
- Govern cyber risk in distributed operationsCyber Governance & vCISOCyber risk ownership, assessment and protocols for distributed teams.
What you receive
Evidence your teams can use
Depending on the agreed scope, a proposed engagement can produce:
- Group privacy-governance frameworkA common standard local businesses can adopt.
- Acquisition-integration assessmentShows where an acquired business differs from group practice and what to fix first.
- Transfer and supplier-risk assessmentsDocumented decisions on transfers and providers.
- Cyber risk assessment and protocolsProportionate security practice for defined teams.
- Retained advisory supportSenior input within an agreed scope as the group changes.
Working with us
Proportionate, stage by stage
An engagement uses the stages appropriate to its scope. Our delivery architecture runs Assess → Build → Manage → Assure → Improve; not every engagement includes all five.
Assess
Assess the acquired business, operation or team against the applicable requirement.
Build
Develop frameworks, protocols and records where gaps are material.
Manage
Provide retained support where the group commissions it.
Improve
Refine the integration approach for each subsequent acquisition.
Managed & retained capability
Ongoing specialist governance and assurance where continuity matters.
Defined engagements
Assessment, audit, readiness, remediation, assurance and defined programmes.
Scope and responsibilities
What we can support
- Privacy governance and integration
- Transfer, supplier and cyber risk assessment
- Retained advisory within an agreed scope
What remains with your organisation
- Group decisions and risk acceptance
- Implementation across businesses
- Legal advice on content and intellectual property
Client engagements shown here are confidential. Round-the-clock support in a past crisis is not a current 24/7 service, and we do not provide physical protection, evacuation or a managed security operations centre.
Requirements organisations commonly encounter
Depending on the organisation, its activities and jurisdiction, relevant requirements may include:
- UK GDPR, EU GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
- International transfer mechanisms (UK IDTA / Addendum, EU SCCs)
- Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) for marketing and cookies
- Applicable national privacy laws in other operating jurisdictions
Buyer questions
Questions before you engage
Can you support governance integration for each new acquisition?
Yes. Our published work with a global entertainment group uses a repeatable approach for each newly acquired business. Scope is agreed per acquisition or as a retained arrangement.
Can you work alongside our legal, privacy and security teams?
Yes. We add senior capacity or specialist review alongside existing teams within an agreed scope.
Do you work across international operations?
Yes. Our media and entertainment engagements have involved international operations. We confirm which jurisdictions are in scope before work starts.
Can you help teams working in high-risk environments?
We provide cyber risk assessment, protocols, training and advisory support, as in our published news-media engagement. We do not provide physical protection or evacuation services.
How are scope, deliverables and fees agreed?
Defined projects and retained support are scoped to the requirement and confirmed in a written proposal. Published investment bands are on our How We Work page.
View Michael’s profileMichael Abtar
Founder & CEO · Service lead
Leads our retained privacy-governance work for a global music and entertainment group.
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