Efficiency comes from focus and automation. Start with a risk register. Standardize templates for policies, vendor reviews, and marketing approvals. Automate evidence capture from systems of record. Bake checks into code reviews and CI/CD. Keep one source of truth for controls, owners, and cadence.

Use a fractional lead to design the program, a managed service to collect evidence, and a virtual DPO/CCO for regulator and customer interfaces. Empower an internal owner with RACI. Add specialists for privacy, marketing, or financial rules as needed. Pair it with automation to avoid manual hunts.

Choose outcomes over checklists: faster deals, clean audits, scalable processes. Look for industry references, practitioner credentials, and tooling that automates evidence. Demand a clear operating model (RACI, cadence, metrics) and plain-English deliverables. Pilot against a real buyer requirement.