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Supporting the ICO's work

In the Digital, Data & Technology team, we make sure that the ICO’s technology and data empower our people to do their best work. We also develop customer-facing digital services that empower organisations to use data responsibly, and empower the public to have their information rights protected. 

DDAT is made up of six key teams:

  • Digital Design & Delivery – delivering new projects and ensuring that our products and services are user-centric and high quality.
  • IT Operations – keeping our technology running safely and effectively, managing change, solving problems and overseeing our key supplier relationships.
  • Architecture - working to ensure that the ICO's systems, processes and technology meet current and future needs.
  • Data - implementing the ICO's data strategy and using data and analytics to deliver value to our colleagues and our customers.
  • Product – optimising our key digital products and services, including productivity and collaboration tools, finance and HR systems, the ICO website and our case management systems. 
  • Cyber Security – protecting our people, customers and data.

In one of these teams, you could be working on projects like buying and setting up the latest software tools for our staff, using your user experience design skills to shape the ICO website, developing data insights that help us improve the way we work, or creating tools to help members of the public use their information rights.

After six years in finance across various roles, I joined the ICO in 2020 as a Compliance Officer, working closely with both the public and organisations. This experience gave me first-hand insight into the systems I now help improve as a Business Technology Analyst.

My first major project was the Subject Access Request (SAR) tool, where we followed Agile-Scrum methodology, conducting discovery, data analysis, process mapping, and user research.

Our team identified pain points and collaborated with developers to create a tool that simplifies SAR submissions, reduces ambiguity, and makes it easier for organisations to manage. Since its launch, it has processed over 13,000 requests and earned nominations for two prestigious awards.

Asad Rahmen, Business Technology Analyst

What we've been working on

  • We’re developing a new cloud data and analytics platform to help us better understand our organisation, provide insight and support predictive analytics using AI and machine learning.
  • We’ve led the definition of the target architecture for the next generation of our Case Management System, ensuring it supports consistent regulatory workflows, better data quality and long-term flexibility. This work has brought together business and technical perspectives to guide procurement and delivery decisions.
  • As part of our AI journey, we created and published our first Internal AI Use Policy in August 2025. This aligns with our vision of being a responsible innovator when it comes to data and analytics, and the policy brings knowledge and understanding around our own use of AI for colleagues to empower them to confidently explore opportunities for using AI in their roles. 
  • We launched our first Data Strategy in 2024 and are now well underway with progressing several initiatives to improve our data capability. These include the modernisation of data tools and services that will enable us to do more intelligent things with data. We also launched the ICO Data Academy in 2025, our business-wide programme intended to upskill data literacy and understanding for our colleagues. 
  • We’ve designed and established the core architecture for the our new Data & Analytics Platform, based on Microsoft Fabric. This work sets the foundation for a governed, scalable and insight-driven organisation, supporting reporting, advanced analytics and responsible AI experimentation.
  • Through the Architecture Design Authority (ADA), Technical Design Group and Ardoq implementation, we are improving design consistency, reducing risk and increasing transparency across all DDaT initiatives.
  • We’ve defined the network blueprint for Circle Square, our new head office in Manchester, improving security, connectivity and resilience across all ICO sites, and providing the foundation for a modern hybrid workplace.