Glossary: DSR

Definition: What Is a DSR?

A Data Subject Request (DSR) is a formal request made by an individual (data subject) to exercise their privacy rights under data protection laws such as GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, or HIPAA. These rights include—but aren’t limited to—the right to access, delete, correct, or restrict the processing of their personal data. DSRs form the foundation of user control over personal data and require organizations to respond in a timely, secure, and compliant manner.

How DSRs Evolved

Origin

The concept of individual privacy rights became law with regulations like GDPR (2018), introducing DSARs as a specific mandate for access.

Evolution

Over time, privacy legislation expanded DSR obligations, including:

More nuanced rights (e.g., opt-out of automated decision-making)
Cross-border request handling
Real-time data access via APIs or self-service portals

Organizations now require centralized, scalable DSR processes to handle growing request volume and complexity.

Key Components of DSR Management

Identity Verification – Ensuring requester is the data subject
Data Discovery – Locating all personal data tied to the subject
Response Management – Generating a secure, comprehensive, and timely reply
Legal & Regulatory Review – Ensuring request falls under valid legal rights
Audit Reporting – Documenting the request and response process

DSR vs. DSAR: What's the Difference?

Terms & Meaning

DSR (Data Subject Request) – Umbrella term for any request to exercise privacy rights

DSAR (Data Subject Access Request) – A specific type of DSR focused on accessing a copy of personal data

In short, DSAR is a type of DSR. DSR includes a broader range of rights, such as:

Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
Right to correction (rectification)
Right to restrict or object to processing
Right to data portability
Right to access (DSAR)

What DSR Means for Different Roles:

Data Security Teams

DSRs require locating, exporting, and in some cases deleting data across systems. Security teams ensure the safe retrieval and transfer of data without exposing sensitive records or violating access control policies.

Data Privacy Teams

Managing DSRs is a core function. Privacy professionals build workflows to automate, track, and fulfill requests in accordance with regional laws, ensuring lawful responses and proper identity verification.

Governance & Compliance Teams

DSRs are closely tied to regulatory compliance. These teams oversee policy enforcement, maintain audit trails, and ensure that DSRs are processed within legal timeframes (e.g., 30 days under GDPR).

Key Takeaways

DSRs empower individuals to take control of their data, and challenge organizations to respond efficiently and lawfully. While DSARs are the most common, a complete DSR program requires cross-functional coordination between security, privacy, and governance teams to stay compliant, build trust, and minimize risk.

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