Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT)
DDaT brings together three teams — Digital and IT, Data, and Architecture. We build and maintain the technology, data capabilities, and digital services that enable the ICO to regulate effectively and serve the public.
Digital and IT
The Digital and IT team provide ICO colleagues with access to leading digital and IT products and services, so the organisation can deliver its objectives and statutory obligations.
The team play a vital role in supporting the ICO’s business operation, keeping our IT and telephony systems running reliably so staff can work without interruption.
It’s the team’s priority to protect the ICO from cyber threats and keep our information and data secure. The team works proactively to manage risks, tackle vulnerabilities, and follows best practice to safeguard us from real-world threats.
Our Digital and Product team play a critical role by working with colleagues and external stakeholders to build products that put users first. User feedback shapes everything we create.
Data
Our Data team leads the ICO's Enterprise Data Strategy, with an ambition to make the ICO an exemplar of responsible data use and innovation.
Three specialist teams work together to deliver this:
- our Data and Information Management team ensures the ICO handles its own information in line with data protection legislation, embedding strong governance practices throughout the organisation;
- our Data Platform team maintains the tools and systems that power our data and analytics work, including a recently completed modernisation of our technology infrastructure; and
- our Analytics and AI team help colleagues use data to make better, more informed decisions. They also run our data literacy programme to build confidence and capability across the organisation.
Architecture
Our Architecture team ensures that our technology choices are coherent, strategic and aligned with our organisational objectives. They translate business priorities into clear technology direction, setting principles and roadmaps that reduce complexity and keep our systems consistent, scalable and secure.
The team’s core responsibility is leading the ICO’s Enterprise and Solution Architecture strategies. Architects define and develop clear roadmaps, architectural principles and guardrails that guide technology decisions across the organisation.
The team also provides essential assurance and governance. Through the Architecture Design Authority (ADA), the team reviews major IT projects, new systems, and significant design changes to confirm they support business strategy, maintain system integrity, and comply with internal principles and external frameworks such as the Government Functional Standards (GFS). This governance ensures consistency and quality across all architectural decisions, safeguarding interoperability, security, and data integrity.