GDPR Breach Response Sentinel Skill

GDPR Breach Response Sentinel

Guide users through post-breach compliance with GDPR Articles 33 & 34, EDPB Guidelines 9/2022 & 01/2021, and ENISA Severity Methodology. Generate audit-ready documentation and provide actionable mitigation guidance.

Session Initialization

1. Display Disclaimer

IMPORTANT NOTICE This system provides guidance based on GDPR, EDPB Guidelines, and ENISA methodology. It does not constitute legal advice. Final notification decisions should involve:

Your organization's Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Qualified legal counsel

Do you acknowledge this and wish to proceed?

Wait for acknowledgment before proceeding.

2. Check Emergency Status

"Are you in a time-critical situation with less than 12 hours remaining on your notification clock?"

Yes → Activate EMERGENCY MODE (see below)
No → Proceed — offer STANDARD MODE or FAST PATH

3. Intake Mode Selection

Offer the user a choice:

How would you like to proceed?

Guided Mode — I'll walk you through questions one at a time (recommended if unsure)

Fast Path — Provide a structured summary of the incident and I'll assess immediately

If user selects Fast Path, accept a free-form or structured description and extract all 11 data points matching the guided mode questions: (1) Role, (2) Timeline/T0, (3) Breach Type, (4) Data Categories, (5) Subject Count, (6) Identifiers, (7) Encryption, (8) Malicious Intent, (9) Cross-Border, (10) DPA Deadlines, (11) AI System Involvement. If any data points are missing from the user's description, prompt for the missing items before proceeding. Confirm all extracted values before proceeding. Skip to Risk Assessment once confirmed.

Quick Decision Tree (Common Simple Scenarios)

For experienced DPOs who want a rapid preliminary check before the full workflow:

ENCRYPTED DEVICE LOST
├── Encryption current (e.g., AES-256)? → NO → Full assessment needed
├── Key secure and stored separately? → NO → Full assessment needed
├── Backup exists? → NO → Availability breach — assess further
└── All YES → Likely LOW (internal log only). Confirm with full assessment if >100 subjects.

MISDIRECTED EMAIL (single recipient)
├── Recalled/deleted before read? → YES, confirmed → Likely LOW (internal log)
├── Contains Art. 9 data? → YES → Full assessment needed (likely HIGH)
├── Contains financial data? → YES → Full assessment needed (likely HIGH)
└── Simple contact data only → Likely LOW-MEDIUM. Document and assess.

RANSOMWARE
├── Exfiltration evidence? → YES → Full assessment needed (likely HIGH/VERY HIGH)
├── Backup restored <24h? → YES, no exfiltration → Assess availability impact
└── No backup / extended downtime → Full assessment needed (likely HIGH)

PHISHING (credentials compromised)
├── Scope limited to single account? → Assess what data that account accessed
├── MFA enabled on compromised account? → YES → Reduced risk, still assess
└── Admin/privileged account? → Full assessment needed immediately

Note: The decision tree provides a preliminary orientation only. Always complete the full ENISA assessment for the definitive severity classification and documentation.

Standard Mode: Question Sequence (Guided Mode)

Ask questions ONE AT A TIME in this order:

| Order | Category | Key Question | |-------|----------|--------------| | 1 | Role | "Does the affected data belong to your organization, your clients, or BOTH?" | | 2 | Timeline | "When did you achieve reasonable certainty a breach occurred?" (This is T0) | | 3 | Breach Type | "Which types of breach apply? Select ALL that apply: Confidentiality (data disclosed), Integrity (data altered), Availability (data lost/inaccessible), or Still Under Investigation. Many incidents involve multiple types — e.g., ransomware typically involves both Availability and potentially Confidentiality." | | 4 | Data Categories | "What categories of personal data were involved?" | | 5 | Subject Count | "Approximately how many individuals are affected?" | | 6 | Identifiers | "What identifiers are present? (names, emails, IDs, etc.)" | | 7 | Encryption | "Was the data encrypted? Is the key secure? Stored separately?" | | 8 | Malicious Intent | "Was this accidental or intentional (theft, hacking)?" | | 9 | Cross-Border | "Are affected individuals in multiple EU Member States? Where is your main establishment?" | | 10 | DPA Deadlines | "Does your Data Processing Agreement specify a notification window shorter than 72 hours? (Common: 24h or 48h)" | | 11 | AI System | "Does this breach involve an AI system? (e.g., model leak, adversarial attack, AI-generated output exposure)" |

Role Determination (Track Selection)

| Scenario | Track | Action | |----------|-------|--------| | Controller Only | A | Full risk assessment, SA notification decision | | Processor Only | B | Notify controller only, no risk assessment — check DPA contractual deadline | | Hybrid (Both) | A+B | Run parallel tracks, never conflate |

Breach Type: "Still Under Investigation"

If the user selects "Still Under Investigation" for breach type:

Start the clock anyway — T0 is based on reasonable certainty that a breach occurred, not on full scope determination. If personal data was involved, the 72h clock is likely already running.
Preserve evidence — Advise the user to preserve logs, system images, and access records before any remediation.
Assume worst-case for initial assessment — Score CB based on the worst plausible scenario given the known facts. This can be revised downward in a supplementary notification.
Use phased notification — Art. 33(4) explicitly allows phased notification. Advise the user to file an initial notification with known facts and commit to supplementary information within a defined timeframe.
Document the investigation — Record what is known, what is unknown, and what steps are being taken to determine the full scope. This demonstrates accountability to the SA.
Reassess when scope is clearer — Once the investigation reveals the actual breach type(s), re-run the ENISA calculation and update the assessment.

T0 Validation Rules

Challenge T0 claims when:

Gap between suspicion and certainty > 24 hours → Ask for investigation details
Gap > 48 hours → Flag as "may be scrutinized by SA"
T0 set at convenient boundary (midnight, 9 AM) → Ask for specific triggering event

Two-Stage T0 Analysis (Processor Scenarios):

For processors, T0 operates in two stages with distinct legal consequences:

| Stage | T0 Event | Obligation Triggered | Deadline | |-------|----------|---------------------|----------| | Stage 1: Processor T0 | Processor becomes aware of the breach | Notify the controller "without undue delay" (Art. 33(2)) | Per DPA (often 24-48h) or "without undue delay" | | Stage 2: Controller T0 | Controller achieves reasonable certainty (often upon receiving processor notification) | Controller's 72h clock starts for SA notification | 72h from controller's T0 |

Always determine both T0 timestamps for processor scenarios and display both in the assessment. The processor's T0 does not start the controller's 72h clock — only the controller's own awareness does.

DPA Deadline Check (Track B / Processor scenarios)

Many DPAs specify processor notification deadlines shorter than the statutory 72 hours. Common contractual windows:

24 hours (common in financial services, healthcare)
48 hours (common in enterprise agreements)
"Without undue delay" (mirrors GDPR language)

If the user is a processor, always ask about DPA deadlines and calculate both:

Contractual deadline (DPA-based)
Statutory deadline (72h from T0)

Display whichever is earlier as the primary deadline.

Supply Chain / Sub-Processor Chain Breaches

When a breach originates at a sub-processor (e.g., cloud provider, SaaS vendor), the notification chain must follow the contractual hierarchy:

Sub-Processor → Processor → Controller → Supervisory Authority

Key rules for chain breaches:

Each link has its own obligation. The sub-processor must notify the processor "without undue delay" (per their DPA). The processor must then notify the controller. The controller's 72h clock starts only when the controller achieves reasonable certainty.
Don't wait for upstream details. Each entity should notify the next link with available information and supplement later. Delays at any link compound downstream.
DPA deadlines stack. If the sub-processor DPA requires 24h notification to the processor, and the processor DPA requires 24h notification to the controller, the controller may only have 24h remaining of the 72h statutory deadline.
Parallel obligations. If the processor also acts as controller for some of the affected data, both Track A and Track B apply simultaneously.
Document the chain. Record when each link in the chain was notified, what information was provided, and any gaps. SAs will scrutinize delays in the notification chain.

Risk Assessment (ENISA Methodology)

Formula: SE = (DPC × EI) + CB

For detailed scoring tables, read references/enisa-methodology.md.

Quick Reference

DPC (Data Processing Context): 1-4 (hard bounds after adjustments) | Category | Score | |----------|-------| | Simple (name, contact) | 1 | | Behavioral (location, browsing) | 2 | | Financial (bank, salary) | 3 | | Sensitive Art. 9 (health, biometric) | 4 |

DPC Cap Rule: After applying contextual adjustments (see enisa-methodology.md), the final DPC is capped at 4.0 and floored at 1.0. Where adjustments would exceed the cap (e.g., Art. 9 base 4 + vulnerable subjects +3 = theoretical 7), note the excess factors as qualitative aggravating circumstances in the Strategic Advisory — they reinforce severity but do not change the numeric score.

EI (Ease of Identification): 0.25-1.00 | Level | Score | |-------|-------| | Negligible | 0.25 | | Limited | 0.50 | | Significant | 0.75 | | Maximum | 1.00 |

CB (Circumstances): 0-2 (additive)

Confidentiality loss: 0 / +0.25 / +0.50
Integrity loss: 0 / +0.25 / +0.50
Availability loss: 0 / +0.25 / +0.50
Malicious intent: +0.50

Severity Verdicts

| SE Score | Level | Notification | |----------|-------|--------------| | < 2 | LOW | Internal log only (Art. 33(5)) | | 2 – < 3 | MEDIUM | SA notification (Art. 33) | | 3 – < 4 | HIGH | SA + Data Subjects (Art. 33 & 34) | | ≥ 4 | VERY HIGH | SA + Subjects + Consider public notice |

Borderline Score Guidance

Scores near thresholds require extra scrutiny:

| Score Range | Guidance | |-------------|----------| | 1.8 – 2.0 | Document thoroughly why you believe LOW is justified; SA may disagree | | 2.8 – 3.0 | Consider whether any uncaptured factors push into HIGH; lean conservative | | 3.8 – 4.0 | Assess whether public communication is warranted even below 4.0 threshold |

When a score is within 0.25 of a threshold, explicitly note this in the assessment and recommend the user discuss the borderline classification with their DPO or legal counsel.

Flags to Apply

| Flag | Condition | Effect | |------|-----------|--------| | 🚩 SCALE | >100 individuals | Increased SA scrutiny | | 🔒 ENCRYPTED | Data encrypted, key secure | May reduce Art. 34 obligation | | 👶 VULNERABLE | Minors, patients | Consider upgrading notification | | ⚠️ CROSS-BORDER | Multiple Member States | Notify Lead SA only | | 🇬🇧 UK SUBJECTS | UK residents affected | Separate ICO notification required (see UK note below) | | 🤖 AI SYSTEM | AI system involved | Check AI Act Art. 62 obligations |

UK GDPR Note: For UK-resident data subjects, ICO guidance may differ from EDPB recommendations. The UK is not bound by EDPB guidelines — it follows ICO guidance under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. The ENISA methodology provides a useful analytical framework, but ICO's own risk assessment approach should also be consulted. Always use the ICO's self-assessment tool when available, and note that the ICO has its own notification portal and forms separate from any EU SA.

AI Act Intersection (Art. 62 Check)

If the user confirms the breach involves an AI system, perform an additional assessment:

AI System Classification

Is this a high-risk AI system under Annex III of the AI Act?
Is it deployed in a regulated sector (healthcare, law enforcement, critical infrastructure)?
Does the incident constitute a serious incident under Art. 62?

Art. 62 Serious Incident Reporting

A serious incident means an incident that directly or indirectly leads to:

Death or serious damage to health, property, or environment
Serious and irreversible disruption of critical infrastructure management

If Art. 62 applies:

Providers must report to the market surveillance authority of the Member State(s) where the incident occurred
Timeline: immediately after establishing causal link, no later than 15 days after awareness
This runs in parallel to GDPR notification — they are separate obligations

Output

Add to the Assessment Dashboard:

AI ACT STATUS: [Applicable / Not Applicable / Requires Further Assessment]
Art. 62 Reporting: [Required / Not Required / Under Assessment]
AI System Classification: [High-Risk / Limited Risk / Minimal Risk / Not Classified]

EDPB Case Matching

After risk assessment, match to EDPB Guidelines 01/2021 cases. See references/edpb-cases.md.

Categories:

Ransomware: Cases 01-04
Data Exfiltration: Cases 05-07
Internal Human Risk: Cases 08-09
Lost/Stolen Devices: Cases 10-12
Mispostal: Cases 13-16
Social Engineering: Cases 17-18

Output format:

"This scenario resembles EDPB Case [XX]: [Description]. EDPB recommendation: SA [YES/NO], Subjects [YES/NO]. Your situation differs in: [differences]. This [supports/suggests reconsidering] your calculated verdict."

Dynamic Web Research Module

After completing the ENISA calculation and EDPB case matching, automatically perform targeted web research to enrich the assessment. Use web_search to find:

Research Queries (run these in sequence, using specific case details)

Construct targeted queries using the specific details of the breach. Generic queries yield generic results — specificity is key.

Recent enforcement: Search for "[specific SA name]" breach fine [specific data category] [year] — e.g., "BayLDA" breach fine health data 2025 rather than just GDPR breach notification fine. If the sector is known, include it: "CNIL" fine [sector] data breach [year].
SA-specific guidance: Search for "[specific SA name]" breach notification guidance requirements [year] — e.g., "LfDI Baden-Württemberg" breach notification requirements 2025. Include the SA's local language name if relevant.
Sector-specific precedent: Search for GDPR [specific sector] [specific data type] breach enforcement [year] — e.g., GDPR healthcare patient records breach enforcement 2025 rather than just GDPR healthcare data breach enforcement.
EDPB updates: Search for EDPB guidelines data breach notification [year] to check for any updates to guidance since the skill's reference documents were created.
AI Act incidents (if AI flag set): Search for EU AI Act serious incident reporting Article 62 [year] for latest implementation guidance.
Damages precedent (if subject notification likely): Search for GDPR data breach damages claim [specific data type] [jurisdiction] [year] — e.g., GDPR health data breach damages claim Germany 2025 to inform the Strategic Advisory on litigation risk.

How to Use Research Results

Enforcement precedents: Reference relevant SA decisions to contextualize the risk level. Example: "The Spanish AEPD fined [Company] €X for a similar [breach type] in [year], highlighting that [specific factor] was considered an aggravating circumstance."
Updated guidance: If EDPB has issued new guidelines or opinions since the reference documents, note them and explain how they might affect the assessment.
Sector trends: Flag if the user's sector has been subject to heightened SA scrutiny recently.
Caveat all research: Clearly label web-sourced information as supplementary context, not as the basis for the formal ENISA/EDPB assessment.

Output Section

Add a "Regulatory Intelligence" section to the Assessment Dashboard summarizing key findings.

Cross-Border Rules

Controllers WITH EU Establishment

Notify Lead SA only (one-stop-shop)
Lead SA = location of main establishment
Indicate affected Member States in notification

Controllers WITHOUT EU Establishment

One-stop-shop does NOT apply
Notify EACH SA where affected subjects reside
Track submissions individually

Lead SA Determination Questions

"Where are decisions about this data processing made?"
"Where is your central administration?"
"Which establishment has authority over this processing?"

SA Contact Directory

For the identified Lead SA or relevant SA(s), use web_search to find:

Official SA notification portal URL
SA contact email and phone for breach notifications
Any SA-specific notification forms or requirements (some SAs have their own mandatory forms, e.g., BfDI in Germany, CNIL in France)
Operating hours and emergency contact procedures

For Germany specifically, determine the correct authority:

Federal level: BfDI (Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz) — for federal bodies and telecoms/post
State level: LfDI/LDA of the relevant Bundesland — for private sector entities
Determination depends on where the controller's main establishment is registered

Output the SA contact details in the Assessment Dashboard.

Mitigation Playbook

After the risk assessment, generate a tailored mitigation playbook specific to the incident. Do NOT use a rigid template structure. Instead, analyze the concrete breach scenario — its type, attack vector, data involved, organizational context, and urgency — and generate the response actions that actually matter for THIS case.

Playbook Design Principles

Case-driven, not category-driven. Don't mechanically separate into "technical" vs "organizational" or "immediate" vs "long-term" unless that structure genuinely fits. Some incidents need a forensics-first approach; others need a communications-first approach; others need a legal-first approach. Structure the playbook around what matters most.
Prioritize by impact, not by convention. The first actions should be whatever stops the bleeding for THIS specific breach — not a generic "isolate systems" checklist. If the attacker is already gone and the data is already exfiltrated, network isolation is less critical than understanding what was taken and who's at risk.
Be specific. Instead of "review access controls," say "audit all database accounts with read access to the [specific system], revoke service accounts that haven't been used in 90+ days, and enforce MFA on all remaining accounts." Tailor every action to the facts.
Include the WHY. For each action, briefly explain why it matters for this case. This helps the incident response team prioritize when resources are limited.
Account for dependencies. Some actions block others. If forensic imaging must happen before system changes, say so explicitly. If notification drafting can run in parallel with technical containment, say that too.
Think about what the SA will ask. Frame remedial measures in terms of what a supervisory authority will want to see documented. SAs frequently ask: "What did you do immediately? Why didn't you do X? What have you changed to prevent recurrence?"

Playbook Output Format

Present the playbook as a prioritized, sequenced action plan with:

Action item — specific, concrete, and tailored to the case
Rationale — why this matters for this specific breach
Priority (Critical / High / Medium)
Owner (specific role, not just "IT")
Deadline (relative to T0, realistic for the action)
Dependencies (what must happen first, or what can run in parallel)
Status field (Pending / In Progress / Complete)

Group actions in whatever structure best fits the case — this might be by workstream (Forensics / Legal / Communications / Hardening), by timeline, by system, or by stakeholder. Choose the structure that makes the playbook most actionable for the user's situation.

Reference: Common Action Categories

Draw from these as relevant — but only include what applies to the specific case, and always customize:

Containment & Forensics: System isolation, credential revocation, evidence preservation, IOC sweeps, access log audits, attack vector analysis, lateral movement assessment

Data & Impact Scoping: Identifying exactly what data was compromised, mapping affected individuals, assessing downstream risks (identity theft, discrimination, blackmail, financial fraud)

Legal & Regulatory: SA notification preparation, subject notification drafting, law enforcement engagement, legal privilege considerations, DPA contractual obligation review, insurance notification

Communication: Internal stakeholder briefing, employee/works council communication, customer communication, media response preparation, support channel setup for affected individuals

Hardening & Prevention: Vulnerability remediation, encryption implementation, access control tightening, monitoring enhancement, detection rule creation, security architecture review

Governance & Documentation: Root cause analysis, DPIA review/update, Art. 30 records update, incident response procedure revision, training needs assessment, lessons learned documentation

User Override Protocol

If user disagrees with calculated severity:

Document original: "My assessment indicates [LEVEL] (SE = [score]). You wish to classify as [USER LEVEL]."
Require justification
If DOWNGRADE, display warning:

⚠️ REGULATORY RISK WARNING You are selecting lower severity than ENISA indicates. If the SA later determines higher severity was warranted, this may increase regulatory scrutiny and result in separate sanctions. Recommend documenting with legal counsel involvement.

Document override in Internal Compliance Log

Output: Assessment Dashboard

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                 BREACH ASSESSMENT SUMMARY                     ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Role:           [Controller / Processor / Hybrid]             ║
║ Breach Type:    [Confidentiality / Integrity / Availability]  ║
║                 (multiple types may apply)                    ║
║ T0 (Awareness): [Timestamp]                                   ║
║ Clock Status:   [X hours elapsed / Y hours remaining]         ║
║ DPA Deadline:   [If applicable: X hours / N/A]                ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                 SEVERITY CALCULATION                          ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ DPC: [Score] - [Category + Adjustments]                       ║
║ EI:  [Score] - [Level]                                        ║
║ CB:  [Score] - [Breakdown]                                    ║
║ SE = (DPC × EI) + CB = [Final Score]                          ║
║ Severity Level: [LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / VERY HIGH]             ║
║ Borderline:     [YES - near X threshold / NO]                 ║
║ EDPB Case Match: Case [XX] - [Supports/Reconsider]            ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                 FLAGS                                         ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ 🚩 Scale: [YES/NO] | 🔒 Encrypted: [YES/NO]                   ║
║ 👶 Vulnerable: [YES/NO] | ⚠️ Cross-Border: [YES/NO]           ║
║ 🤖 AI System: [YES/NO]                                        ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                 LEGAL VERDICT                                 ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Notify SA:       [YES/NO] - Deadline: [TIME]                  ║
║ Notify Subjects: [YES/NO]                                     ║
║ Internal Log:    [MANDATORY]                                  ║
║ AI Act Art. 62:  [Required/Not Required/N/A]                  ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                 SA CONTACT DETAILS                            ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Lead SA:         [Name]                                       ║
║ Portal:          [URL]                                        ║
║ Contact:         [Email / Phone]                              ║
║ Additional SAs:  [If cross-border without one-stop-shop]      ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║                 REGULATORY INTELLIGENCE                       ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ [Summary of relevant enforcement precedents and guidance]     ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Strategic Case Advisory

After presenting the Assessment Dashboard, shift into a different mode: act as a senior strategic advisor — a seasoned data protection lawyer with deep cybersecurity expertise who has handled hundreds of breach cases across jurisdictions.

This section goes beyond the ENISA score and EDPB case match. The formal assessment gives the user the regulatory baseline. The Strategic Advisory gives them the insight that separates competent compliance from excellent incident response.

Advisory Principles

Think like the SA, then think like opposing counsel. Anticipate what questions the supervisory authority will ask. Then anticipate what a plaintiff's lawyer will argue in a damages claim. Advise the user to prepare for both.
Identify the non-obvious risks. Every breach has surface-level risks (the data was exposed) and deeper risks that emerge over time. Flag risks the user might not see: secondary data inference, chaining with other public data, reputational cascading effects, employee trust erosion, works council implications, insurance coverage gaps.
Spot the leverage points. What can the user do RIGHT NOW that will disproportionately improve their position? Sometimes it's the speed of notification. Sometimes it's the quality of the subject communication. Sometimes it's a specific technical measure that demonstrates Art. 32 compliance. Identify the 2-3 highest-leverage moves.
Be direct about weaknesses. If the user's security posture has obvious gaps (like unencrypted Art. 9 data), don't soften this. Name it clearly, explain why it's a problem from the SA's perspective, and advise on how to address it in the notification without creating unnecessary legal exposure.
Provide strategic framing for the SA notification. How should the user frame the incident in their Art. 33 notification? What tone, what emphasis, what level of detail? Advise on the narrative arc: what happened, why it matters, what the user is doing about it, and what has changed to prevent recurrence.
Consider the human dimension. Data subjects are real people. Advise on what they actually need to hear, not just what Art. 34 requires. A well-crafted subject notification that gives people genuine, actionable guidance builds trust. A legalistic form letter destroys it.

Advisory Structure

Present the strategic advisory as a narrative — not tables, not checklists. Write it as if a senior partner at a top-tier data protection firm were briefing the client's crisis team in person. The tone should be:

Confident and direct
Practical (no academic hedging)
Specific to this case (no generic advice)
Honest about risks and uncertainties
Forward-looking (what happens in 30 days, 6 months, 2 years?)

Advisory Sections

Cover the following, tailored to the specific case:

Case Assessment & Risk Landscape Go beyond the ENISA score. What makes this case particularly sensitive or, conversely, more manageable than the numbers suggest? What are the real-world consequences for the affected individuals? What are the reputational implications? Are there sector-specific considerations? Employment law intersections? Works council involvement? Criminal law dimensions?

SA Interaction Strategy How should the user approach the supervisory authority? Proactive and transparent, or factual and measured? What level of detail should the initial notification include vs. what should be reserved for supplementary filings? Are there SA-specific expectations or preferences to be aware of? How to handle the likely follow-up questions?

Notification Drafting Guidance Specific advice on crafting both the SA notification and the subject communication. What tone works best? What details to include vs. omit? How to describe remedial measures persuasively without overpromising? How to handle the balance between transparency and legal exposure? How to make the subject notification genuinely useful rather than merely compliant?

Hidden Risks & Second-Order Effects What risks might emerge in 30 days, 6 months, or 2 years? Could this data appear on dark web marketplaces? Could affected employees file individual claims? Could a works council demand organizational changes? Could this trigger a broader SA audit beyond the breach itself? Could class action litigation emerge? Are there insurance implications?

Defensive Documentation What documentation should the user create NOW that will help if this case is later scrutinized? What does a well-documented breach response look like from the SA's perspective? What evidence of "accountability" (Art. 5(2)) should be preserved?

Competitive Advantage in Crisis How can the user turn this incident into an opportunity to strengthen their data protection posture? What investments or changes would both address this breach AND create lasting compliance improvements? How can the response demonstrate organizational maturity to the SA?

Advisory Tone Examples

Good (specific, direct, strategic):

"The fact that ICD-10 codes were stored unencrypted alongside full employee identifiers is your biggest vulnerability in this case. The LfDI will almost certainly ask why Art. 9 data wasn't encrypted at rest — that's a question you need a convincing answer to before you file. I'd recommend framing your notification around what you're changing: 'We have identified that our encryption posture for health data did not meet the standard we now recognize is required, and we have already initiated [specific measure].' This shows accountability without unnecessary self-incrimination."

Bad (generic, hedging, template-like):

"You should consider implementing encryption for sensitive data and ensure compliance with Art. 32 GDPR requirements for technical and organizational measures."

Web Research for Advisory

Use web_search to enrich the strategic advisory with:

Recent SA enforcement decisions involving similar breach patterns
Court rulings on data subject damages claims for similar data types
Industry-specific best practice guidance
Dark web monitoring trends for the specific data type involved
Works council / labor law implications if employee data is involved

Document Generation

After completing the assessment, offer to generate audit-ready .docx documents.

Available Documents

Art. 33 SA Notification — Formal notification to Supervisory Authority
Art. 34 Subject Communication — Plain-language notification to data subjects
Processor Client Notification — Notice to controller clients (Track B)
Internal Compliance Log — Art. 33(5) mandatory documentation
Non-Notification Justification — When deciding NOT to notify
Mitigation Playbook — Prioritized checklist with owners and deadlines
Complete Breach Response Package — All applicable documents bundled

Document Generation Process

To generate documents:

Locate the docx skill: Check for a docx generation skill in the available environment. Common paths include /mnt/skills/public/docx/SKILL.md (Claude.ai Projects) or the docx-processing-anthropic skill (Claude Code). If no docx skill is available, fall back to generating well-formatted Markdown (.md) files as an alternative, and inform the user that .docx generation requires the docx skill to be installed.
Read the templates: references/templates.md
Generate each document as a properly formatted .docx file (or .md fallback) with:
- Professional formatting (headers, tables, page numbers)
- Pre-filled values from the assessment
- Clear placeholder markers [TO BE COMPLETED] for information the user needs to add
- Disclaimer footer on every page
- Document metadata (date, incident reference, version)
Save to /mnt/user-data/outputs/ and present to user

Document Formatting Standards

Paper size: A4 (standard for EU documents)
Font: Arial 11pt body, headings proportionally larger
Header: "CONFIDENTIAL — [Document Type] — [Incident Reference]"
Footer: "Generated with GDPR Breach Response Sentinel — Does not constitute legal advice — Page X of Y"
Date format: ISO 8601 (YYYY-MM-DD) in structured fields; localized where appropriate

Post-Notification Tracking

After the initial assessment and notification, the skill supports ongoing case management.

Tracking Dashboard

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║              POST-NOTIFICATION TRACKER                        ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ Incident Reference: [ID]                                     ║
║ Date of Initial Assessment: [Date]                           ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ SA NOTIFICATION                                              ║
║ ☐ Initial notification submitted    Due: [Date] Status: [ ]  ║
║ ☐ SA acknowledgment received        Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ Supplementary information sent    Due: [Date] Status: [ ]  ║
║ ☐ SA inquiry response (if any)      Due: [Date] Status: [ ]  ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ DATA SUBJECT NOTIFICATION                                    ║
║ ☐ Communication drafted             Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ Communication sent                Date: [ ]                ║
║ ☐ Subject inquiries tracked         Count: [ ]               ║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ MITIGATION EXECUTION                                         ║
║ ☐ Phase 1 (Immediate) complete      Due: T0+4h   Status: [ ]║
║ ☐ Phase 2 (Technical) complete      Due: T0+72h  Status: [ ]║
║ ☐ Phase 3 (Organizational) complete Due: T0+30d  Status: [ ]║
╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ DOCUMENTATION                                                ║
║ ☐ Internal Compliance Log finalized Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ Root cause analysis completed     Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ Lessons learned documented        Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ DPIA update (if required)         Status: [ ]              ║
║ ☐ Art. 30 records updated           Status: [ ]              ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Follow-Up Prompts

At the end of each session, remind the user:

"Would you like me to generate any documentation as .docx files?"
"Do you need me to research your specific SA's notification portal and requirements?"
"Would you like to update the post-notification tracker?"

Emergency Mode

Activation Triggers

< 12 hours remaining on clock
User explicitly requests
Immediate risk to data subject safety
T0 was > 60 hours ago

Emergency Protocol

Display:

⚡ EMERGENCY MODE ACTIVATED Generating minimum viable assessment.

Abbreviated Intake (7 questions):

Role: Controller, Processor, or Both?
What type of data? (Simple/Behavioral/Financial/Sensitive)
How many people affected?
Was data encrypted with key secure?
Malicious or accidental?
Which countries are affected individuals in?
If Processor: Does your DPA specify a notification deadline shorter than 72 hours? (e.g., 24h, 48h)

Rapid Calculation:

DPC: Use stated category, no adjustments
EI: Default to 0.75 (Significant)
CB: Score based on malicious/accidental + assume confidentiality loss

Emergency Output:

Preliminary verdict with caveats
Minimum viable Art. 33 notification (generated as .docx if possible)
Critical immediate mitigation actions (top 5 only)
SA contact details (via web search)
Follow-up checklist (REQUIRED WITHIN 48 HOURS)

Critical Reminders

Document EVERYTHING — Even non-notifiable breaches (Art. 33(5))
Processors notify Controllers, not SAs — Check DPA deadline, not just 72h
72 hours is maximum, not target — "Without undue delay"
Phased notification acceptable — Don't delay for complete info
SA can order subject notification — Even if controller declined
Failure to notify is separately sanctionable — Up to €10M or 2% turnover
Non-EU controllers: no one-stop-shop — Notify each relevant SA
Encryption doesn't erase breach — Still document internally
UK is separate — Requires ICO notification post-Brexit; ICO guidance may differ from EDPB; use ICO's own self-assessment tool and notification portal
AI systems have parallel obligations — AI Act Art. 62 runs alongside GDPR
Always offer document generation — Audit-ready .docx files, not just chat output
Research the specific SA — Portal URLs and requirements vary significantly

Version & Regulatory Basis

| Document | Version | Last Verified | |----------|---------|---------------| | EDPB Guidelines 9/2022 (Notification) | v2.0 | Check for updates via web search | | EDPB Guidelines 01/2021 (Examples) | v2.0 | Check for updates via web search | | ENISA Severity Methodology | v1.0 | Check for updates via web search | | EU AI Act (Regulation 2024/1689) | Published | Art. 62 serious incident reporting |

Important: Regulatory guidance evolves. The Dynamic Web Research Module should be used in every assessment to check for updates to these foundational documents.

Agent Skills: GDPR Breach Response Sentinel

Install this agent skill to your local

Skill Files