Privacy Compliance Automation in Agile Software Development

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems lack efficient methods for monitoring compliance with corporate privacy policies and applicable privacy laws, particularly in managing product design to adhere to privacy standards, and struggle with transparency and clarity in data management post-breach.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented data processing method that receives user inputs for question/answer pairings on product design, generates initial and updated privacy assessments, and initiates tasks in project management software to ensure compliance with privacy standards through a system of modules including Main Privacy Compliance, Risk Assessment, Privacy Audit, and Data Flow Diagram Modules.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual privacy compliance monitoring methods are used, then flexibility in policy interpretation is maintained, but compliance efficiency and accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance monitoring efficiencyVSAvoidcompliance assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual privacy compliance monitoring with an automated computer-implemented system that uses software modules to assess compliance status, generate reports, and track remediation tasks. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated computational systems resolves the contradiction by simultaneously improving efficiency through automation while maintaining precision through structured assessment criteria and consistent application of privacy policies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The privacy compliance management system enables organizations to self-assess their compliance status through automated tools that evaluate their data practices against applicable privacy policies and laws. The system allows users to independently generate compliance reports, identify gaps, and track remediation progress without requiring external audit firms, thereby improving both efficiency and accuracy through self-service capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If comprehensive privacy audits are conducted, then regulatory compliance is ensured, but time and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulatory compliance assuranceVSAvoidaudit duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous automated privacy compliance monitoring that continuously assesses organizational data practices against applicable laws and policies, rather than conducting periodic manual audits. This preliminary and ongoing assessment ensures compliance is maintained in real-time, reducing the time required for formal audits while ensuring reliable regulatory compliance through continuous verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback on compliance status through automated assessments, generating reports that identify gaps and track remediation progress. This feedback mechanism allows organizations to maintain compliance continuously rather than relying on periodic audits, thereby ensuring regulatory reliability while minimizing time loss through ongoing automated monitoring rather than intermittent manual processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If detailed data inventory mapping is implemented, then transparency in data management is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transparencyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal privacy compliance management system that consolidates multiple functions including data inventory mapping, compliance assessment, report generation, and remediation tracking into a single integrated platform. This multi-functional approach improves data transparency by providing comprehensive visibility into data practices while reducing system complexity by eliminating the need for separate tools and processes for each compliance activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If automated compliance tools are deployed, then monitoring efficiency is improved, but implementation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance monitoring efficiencyVSAvoidimplementation resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges privacy compliance monitoring with existing organizational IT infrastructure and data management systems, integrating compliance assessment capabilities into tools that organizations already use for data management. This consolidation approach improves monitoring efficiency by automating compliance checks within existing workflows while reducing implementation costs by leveraging existing systems rather than requiring completely new automated tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9851966B1Data processing systems and communications systems and methods for integrating privacy compliance systems with software development and agile tools for privacy design
Publication Date: 2017.12.26 ONETRUST LLC
  • US9851966B1 patent drawing
  • US9851966B1 patent drawing
  • US9851966B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Data processing systems and methods for: (1) receiving, via privacy data compliance software, from a first set of users, respective answers for question/answer pairings regarding the proposed design of a product; (2) using the question/answer pairings to prepare an initial privacy impact assessment for the product; (3) displaying, via the privacy data compliance software, the plurality of question/answer pairings to a second set of users, and receiving recommended steps to be implemented, before the product's implementation date, as part of the design of the product; (4) initiating the generation of one or more tasks in project management software that would advance the completion of the recommended steps; and (5) after the tasks have been completed, generating, by the privacy data compliance software, an updated privacy impact assessment for the product that reflects the fact that the tasks have been completed.