SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych

What SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych does

SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych (the Association of Personal Data Protection Officers) is a Polish non-profit professional association founded on October 12, 2016 in Warsaw by seven founding members under the leadership of President Jaroslaw Felinski. It serves as the primary membership body for Data Protection Officers (IOD/DPO) and other personal-data compliance practitioners in Poland, operating under the Polish Associations Act as a stowarzyszenie registered at ul. Ratuszowa 13, 03-450 Warszawa.

The association's core activity is professional education and advocacy in RODO/GDPR compliance rather than commercial technology. It organizes annual scientific conferences (held since 2017, with a 2026 edition focused on AI and information security), develops and supports IODO postgraduate curricula delivered through partnerships with at least eight Polish universities including Jagiellonian University, AGH Krakow, WSAP Szczecin, DSW Wroclaw, WIT Warsaw, WSE Bialystok, Akademia Polonijna, and Akademia Sztuki Wojennej, and maintains a content library of position papers and opinions submitted to regulatory consultations. SIODO does not offer commercial software products; its outputs are events, educational programs, and policy positions. The association engages directly with the Polish Personal Data Protection Office (UODO) and NASK on legislative consultation, including a July 14, 2026 meeting and July 22, 2026 formal position on the planned voluntary certification framework for DPOs.

The business model is subscription-based membership fees from individual professionals, supplemented by event-related income, with many conferences offered free to participants. The organization employs 7 people and is governed by an elected Board (President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Members) and Supervisory Committee elected by the membership at General Meetings. The most recent leadership transition occurred at the March 25, 2019 Extraordinary General Meeting, which elected a new Board and Supervisory Committee. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych

Legal name

Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych

Website

https://siodo.pl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SIODO is a Polish non-profit professional association founded in 2016 that serves Data Protection Officers through postgraduate education, conferences, regulatory advocacy, and partnerships with Polish universities. The organization represents practitioners in RODO/GDPR compliance matters and engages with UODO on legislative shaping.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Warsaw

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: Association operates primarily through membership fees from individual data protection officers and professionals. Additional revenue from organized conferences and training events.
2. Events and conferences: Revenue generation from organizing professional conferences and scientific events on data protection topics. Many events are free for participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SIODO is a non-profit professional association that provides education, training, scientific conferences, and regulatory advocacy for Personal Data Protection Officers (IOD/DPO) in Poland. It organizes postgraduate study programs in partnership with Polish universities, publishes official positions and opinions on RODO/GDPR legislation, and facilitates community engagement between practitioners, academic institutions, and the Polish data protection authority (UODO). Membership is open to individual data protection professionals, and most events are offered free to participants.

Product overview

SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych is a professional association for Personal Data Protection Officers (IOD/DPO) in Poland, not a commercial product company. The organization's primary activities include organizing scientific conferences, professional training sessions, postgraduate studies support, issuing positions and opinions on data protection legislation, and promoting information security culture. SIODO collaborates with universities and academic institutions to support education and professional development in personal data protection and GDPR/RODO compliance. The association does not offer commercial software products; its services focus on professional education, advocacy, and community building for data protection practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Membership for Data Protection Officers Annual membership for individual Data Protection Officers and compliance professionals in Poland, providing access to professional development events, conferences, workshops, postgraduate study support, and the SIODO professional community.
• SIODO Scientific Conferences Annual scientific conferences on data protection topics, including 'I Conference of SIODO' (2017), 'II Conference SIODO - RODO 2018' (2018), 'III Conference SIODO - 365 Days After GDPR' (2019), and 'SIODO Scientific Conference on AI - information security perspectives' (2026). Events are typically free for participants and attract hundreds of DPO professionals.
• Postgraduate Study Programs in Data Protection (IOD) Postgraduate study programs for Data Protection Officers delivered in partnership with Polish universities (AGH Kraków, WIT, DSW Wrocław, WSAP Szczecin, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Akademia Polonijna, WSE Białystok), including 'Data Protection Officer' and 'Data Protection Officer - Information Security Management System Auditor' tracks.
• Positions and Opinions on Data Protection Legislation Official position statements and opinions authored by SIODO and submitted to regulatory bodies (UODO, Ministry of Digital Affairs, NASK) on data protection legislation, certification frameworks, and professional standards. Latest published position on IOD certification transmitted to PUODO on July 22, 2026.
• Training Workshops and Specialized Sessions Specialized training workshops and educational sessions on personal data protection topics, including RODO implementation for local government units (JST), internet safety training for youth, and professional qualification preparation for Data Protection Officers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50 postgraduate program editions across partnered universities
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Zespół Szkół nr 11 w WarszawieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2018Cooperation for development of Information Security Technician vocational program. Initiative for policeal education in data protection.
• Akademia Polonijna w Częstochowie (Polonian Academy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2018Cooperation agreement for training specialists in information security management under RODO. Includes conference organization and specialized education programs starting from 2018.
• Uniwersytet Jagielloński (Jagiellonian University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2018Cooperation agreement signed on May 12, 2018 for developing education and privacy rights awareness. Includes joint conferences, seminars, and postgraduate program support. Focus on privacy protection and data security in the context of 2018 legislative changes.
• Wyższa Szkoła Administracji Publicznej w Szczecinie (WSAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 2014 for postgraduate studies in Data Protection. Multiple editions of IODO programs delivered. WSAP has run over 9 editions of specialized programs.
• Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza w Krakowie (AGH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Data Protection Officer - Information Security Management System Auditor' postgraduate program. Multiple editions since 2013. Focus on professional qualifications under RODO Article 37(5).
• Dolnośląska Szkoła Wyższa we Wrocławiu (DSW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for postgraduate studies in Data Protection. First graduates in 2017/2018 academic year. Ongoing cooperation for IODO education.
• Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki Stosowanej i Zarządzania PAN (WIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome institution of SIODO founders. Multiple editions of IODO postgraduate programs since 2016. hosts association events and meetings.
• Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczna w Białymstoku (WSE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for IODO postgraduate studies. First edition completed in 2018/2019.
• Urząd Ochrony Danych Osobowych (UODO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body consultation on data protection certification, legislative positions, and professional standards. SIODO submits official positions on proposed regulations.
• Stowarzyszenie Praktyków Ochrony Danych Osobowych (SPOD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint participation in consultations on data protection certification with UODO and NASK. Shared position on certification framework concerns.
• Akademia Sztuki Wojennej (ASzWoj)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for scientific conferences on public management, information security, and cybersecurity. SIODO in organizational committee for PUBLIC MANAGEMENT 2026 conference.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• (ISC)²: Global non-profit membership association for cybersecurity professionals offering CISSP and other certifications. Comparable to SIODO in its non-profit membership-conference-certification model, but focused on cybersecurity rather than data protection.
• International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP): Global professional association for privacy professionals with certification programs (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT). IAPP is the international incumbent at SIODO's category, offering similar certification, training, and advocacy but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
• ISACA: Global non-profit professional association for IT governance, risk, and cybersecurity professionals with certifications (CISM, CISA, CRISC). Operates a similar membership-fee, certification, conference, and chapter model as SIODO but in adjacent GRC domains.
• Information Systems Security Association (ISSA): Non-profit international organization for information security professionals with chapters, conferences, and educational programs. Similar volunteer-driven, membership-based model in a closely adjacent cybersecurity/privacy domain.

Regional players

• Stowarzyszenie ISSA Polska: Polish chapter of ISSA serving information security professionals in Poland. Regional peer operating in adjacent cybersecurity space with similar professional community, conference, and local advocacy model to SIODO.

Emerging players

• Cloud Security Alliance (CSA): Non-profit organization promoting cloud security best practices through research, certifications (CCSK, CCSP), and education. Comparable in its non-profit professional association structure with emphasis on emerging technology and standards-setting.

Direct peers

• Stowarzyszenie Praktyków Ochrony Danych Osobowych (SPOD): Polish professional association for data protection practitioners. SPOD is the most direct peer to SIODO, jointly participating in the July 2026 UODO/NASK consultation on IOD certification and serving the same Polish DPO member base.

Others

• Project Management Institute (PMI): Global non-profit professional association offering PMP certification and accreditation. Comparable as a structurally similar non-profit membership-and-certification organization that scaled from a niche professional community to a global standards body.
• BCS (British Computer Society) / The Chartered Institute for IT: UK-based chartered professional body for IT practitioners with registration, certification, and policy advocacy. Comparable as a chartered membership association in IT/cybersecurity with a strong regulatory and educational remit analogous to SIODO's DPO role.
• Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA): Global non-profit professional association for internal auditors with the CIA certification. Operates on a similar membership-conference-chapter model in a different but adjacent governance/risk profession; useful structural benchmark for SIODO's growth trajectory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/siodo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIODO Stowarzyszenie Inspektorów Ochrony Danych Osobowych