WELCOME TO AFODD THE ASSOCIATION FOR ONLINE DUE DILIGENCE

Why join AFODD?

Membership will provide your business with a commercial advantage and ensure that you are at the heart of influencing the future of online search practices. AFODD membership consist of an Association of high quality and professional organisations representing end users, resellers, and standards bodies.

AFODD will be a self regulatory organisation, pre-empting what would otherwise be the statutory regulation of the online DD sector.

Why select an AFODD member?

This association has been formed to provide confidence to all organisations that want to use internet searches for pre-employment, investor due diligence and KYC purposes. Using one of our members means the information provided is from a reputable organisation and has been obtained entirely within the law through access to publicly held information on the internet.

When organisations choose their online due diligence services from a member of AFODD they have the assurance of professionalism and quality.

The rigorous membership criteria mean that when you choose an AFODD member, you can have confidence that you are entrusting the reputation and security of your organisation into good hands.

Standards

AFODD members are at the cutting edge of standards development for online due diligence. It is intended that AFODD codes of practice will be developed into British, European and Global Standards. This means consumers can be confident that AFODD members reflect current best practice in delivering online products and services.

POSS – Personnel Online Screening Standard

POSS is the first standard to address OSINT and Publicly Accessible Online Data. It will provide consumers with confidence that DD is only carried out by qualified people with the consent of the candidate, either at the pre-employment stage or during employment and that the requirements of UK data protection laws and GDPR are satisfied.

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About Us

The founder members of the association:

  • Neotas
  • Credentious
  • AIM Proactive
  • Lean Consulting
  • Avvanz
  • Audent
  • Inspired Acts

AFODD is the trade association for Online Due Diligence organisations and professionals. Its members are committed to providing consistent high quality online due diligence services to customers ranging in size from global companies to small and medium enterprises’ and end-users.

Our mission:

Our mission is to be the voice of the Online Due Diligence sector, supporting members, encouraging excellence and providing confidence to the organisations and individuals that use their services.

Our vision:

Our vision is to create a climate where Membership is the symbol of quality and professionalism.

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BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

1

Membership of AFODD and use of the AFODD logo ensures your company stands out from its peers, the Association offers real benefits which ensure you have the systems and processes to stay ahead of the competition.

The founder members will determine the constitution of AFODD which will include the process for the selection and membership of the AFODD Executive Committee.

Membership benefits will include:

  • The opportunity to shape and develop the sector
  • Provide your customers with confidence:
    • That you are a legitimate organisation that operates within the law
    • That you are audited against POSS
  • POSS – be instrumental in the ongoing development of this and future standards
  • Enhance your organisations profile
  • Advice and guidance from other members
  • Shared events

2

AFODD as the voice of the online due diligence sector will effectively communicate vital messages to consumers as a key function of the Association.

Promoting the capability of its members through regular contributions in the end-user trade media and events.

Promoting its members’ case studies and success stories to end-users via the Association website and social media.

Online communications are a key channel through which the Association will engage with industry practitioners, customers and end-users.

 

Regular members meetings and online forums to discuss the issues facing the sector and how to overcome them.

Benefit from reduced costs for services such as ISO27001 accreditation using the power of the Association.


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BENEFIT OF CHOOSING OUR MEMBERS

PRIVACY

AFODD members will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of people you deal with, people you hire, your customers, suppliers and people you invest in but never at the expense of their privacy. These checks are best carried out by an unbiased third party i.e. our members. This removes accusations of discrimination or unconscious bias i.e. once you’ve seen something you cannot un-see it especially when looking for Racist, Sexist, or Discriminatory Behaviour, Sexually Explicit Material, Threats or Acts of Violence, or Potentially Illegal Activity. It’s hard to prove that an organisation didn’t use that information in an employment decision i.e. in the event of a claim it may be assumed that if you accessed it, you used it. Outsourcing the service removes this possibility.

QUALITY

To become a member, each organisation must be audited against the Personnel Online Screening Standard (POSS) that ensures compliance with the law and in particular with the laws regarding data protection. An annual audit is carried out by an independent auditor to ensure objectivity, integrity and honesty. Members must be able to demonstrate that their staff are screened prior to employment and their service accesses only publicly available data and always with candidate consent.

MEMBERS MUST ADHERE TO STANDARDS

  • POSS
  • GDPR
  • ISO27001 (or equivalent)

MEMBERS STAFF ARE SCREENED PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF POSS WHICH INCLUDES:

  • BS7858 – 5yr career references, proof of ID, proof of address, financial probity, criminality check
  • Character checks via an in depth internet analysis in accordance with BS7858
  • All staff sign a binding confidentiality agreement

INSURANCE

  • All members maintain public liability insurance of £10m and professional indemnity insurance of at least £5m
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COMMITTEE

DAVID LEAN
DAVID DEVELOPED THE PASS AND WARRANTOR SCREENING AND COMPLIANCE SOFTWARE AND WAS CEO OF HIS OWN BACKGROUND SCREENING COMPANY. HE NOW USES THAT EXPERTISE TO ASSIST OTHER COMPANIES TO TAKE THEIR SOFTWARE AND SERVICES INTO THIS MARKET. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BS7858 SECURITY SCREENING COMMITTEE AND HIS KNOWLEDGE IS BEING PUT TO GOOD USE ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION.
VIPUL MISHRA
VIPUL IS THE CEO OF NEOTAS LIMITED. HE IS A CYBER SECURITY RISK & LEGAL INVESTIGATIONS EXPERT WITH A RARE BLEND OF CYBER SECURITY, LAW, IT AND BUSINESS EXPERTISE AND PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF DETECTING AND NAVIGATING COMPLEX COMPUTER CRIME AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LEGAL CASES. HE HAS PLAYED PIVOTAL ROLES IN SUCCESSFUL LITIGATIONS RESULTING IN EXTRADITION AND PROSECUTION OF OFFENDERS.
STEVE BAILEY
STEVE IS A CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANT AND A FORMER MEMBER OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY BOARD AT FINANCIAL REPORTING COUNCIL. HE IS A VERY EXPERIENCED COMPANY DIRECTOR WHO SPECIALISES IN BUSINESS GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION, MERGER AND ACQUISITION PROJECTS, GRANT APPLICATIONS AND R&D CREDITS. HIS EXPERTISE IN STRATEGIC PLANNING IS INVALUABLE IN FORMING THE ASSOCIATION.
RACHEL CARSON
RACHEL CARSON IS AN EXPERT IN CRIME AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS AND THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CRIME ANALYSTS. RACHEL HAS WORKED AT THE BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE AND TRANSPORT FOR LONDON (TFL), WHERE SHE LED THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS TEAMS. RACHEL IS CURRENTLY THE ANALYTICAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR FUTURUM CONSULTING AND TRAINING, DELIVERING TRAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORLDWIDE.
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Advisory Panel

PATRICK BUTLER

PATRICK BUTLER

PATRICK BUTLER IS CO-FOUNDER OF THE
CONDUCT AND CULTURE ACADEMY AT UK FINANCE AND FOUNDER OF CALITOR
LIMITED. A FORMER DIPLOMAT,
INVESTMENT BANKER, OPERATING OFFICER, HEAD OF COMPLIANCE, HE NOW ADVISES AND
COACHES SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND FUTURE LEADERS TO ENHANCE BEHAVIOURAL
UNDERSTANDING UNDERPINNING PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO MEET THE CHANGING REGULATORY
LANDSCAPE AND BUILD COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.
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CONTACT US

For enquiries about joining us or simply to find out more please contact us at: info@afodd.org or drop a message below.



VIEW OUR FULL MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY