In an era defined by data-driven decision-making and AI-powered systems, safeguarding personal information has become both a legal mandate and a business imperative. As India embraces its own comprehensive data protection law, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, organizations must adapt swiftly to meet rising expectations around privacy, accountability, and digital trust.
This book walks readers through the full lifecycle of compliance under the DPDP Act. It begins with the law’s foundations and the need for India-specific regulation, followed by understanding enterprise data types and classification strategies. The book addresses cross-border data transfers and cloud compliance, and emphasizes record-keeping and accountability via DPIAs. It then guides readers on audit strategies and continuous compliance, working with regulators and boards, embedding a culture of privacy, and safeguarding core systems like CRM and HR platforms. Each chapter blends legal guidance with enterprise practices, tools, and templates for real-world use.
By the end of this book, readers will be well-equipped to interpret the DPDP Act, design compliance-ready systems, and lead data protection initiatives across their organizations. They will gain practical skills in policy implementation, audit preparedness, breach response, consent governance, and regulatory engagement, empowering them to act as informed custodians of digital trust in India’s evolving data economy.
What you will learn
● Understand the structure and scope of the DPDP Act.
● Implement consent and data processing workflows effectively.
● Classify and safeguard enterprise data across systems.
● Design breach response and notification procedures.
● Manage data principal rights and requests confidently.
● How AI agents will reshape compliance.
Who this book is for
This book is for IT professionals, compliance officers, data protection officers, risk managers, legal advisors, and governance teams working in Indian enterprises. It is also valuable for SaaS architects, cloud security leads, and consultants who support organizations in implementing the DPDP Act and aligning privacy practices with evolving regulatory and technology landscapes.
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started with DPDP Act and Draft Rules
2. Evolving Data Landscape in Enterprises
3. Data Collection, Processing, and Consent
4. Data Security Measures
5. Data Principal Rights and Duties
6. Personal Data Breach Management under the DPDP Act
7. Taking Data Overseas and Using Cloud
8. Records, Documentation, and Accountability
9. Auditing and Compliance Monitoring
10. Dealing with Regulatory Authorities under the DPDP Act
11. Building a Data Protection Culture
12. Building Data Protection Across LOB Apps
13. Conclusion and The Road Ahead
Ashish Kumar is a seasoned technology leader with over 28 years of cross- disciplinary experience in engineering, consulting, technology sales, and product development. Currently serving as principal PM manager at Microsoft, he leads strategic initiatives that bridge business goals with cutting-edge technology solutions.
Nisha Narasimhan is a principal product manager at Microsoft, where she leads compliance and security innovation in Microsoft Purview. She leads the modernization of eDiscovery, enabling organizations to conduct investigations with greater efficiency, scalability, and security.
Amit Sachdev is a visionary technologist and serial entrepreneur with a relentless drive to transform industries through cutting-edge AI solutions, ERP innovation, and secure and scalable digital architectures.
