Integrating Dastra with External Tools

This page is a comprehensive guide on how to integrate Dastra with external tools, outlining practical use cases.

Organizations often need to integrate Dastra’s compliance and orchestration capabilities with external systems such as data discovery/redaction tools, IT asset inventories, CRMs, vendor management, or task management platforms. These integrations allow teams to:

  • Automate repetitive compliance tasks.

  • Synchronize data across systems.

  • Ensure legal and regulatory consistency (GDPR, CCPA, etc.).

  • Enhance visibility and collaboration.

This guide introduces three integration models (from lightweight to enterprise-grade), provides example workflows, and outlines typical use cases with relevant Dastra API endpoints.

🔹 Integration Models

1. Lightweight Workflows via Zapier (Webhooks + APIs)

Best for: Simple automations with low–moderate data volumes.

Workflow example:

  1. Trigger in Dastra → DSAR or event triggers a webhook.

  2. Zapier receives webhook → calls external tool’s API.

  3. Results processed → external tool returns data to Zapier.

  4. Update in Dastra → Zapier uses Dastra’s REST API to attach results (POST /requests/{id}/attachments) or update statuses.

✅ Pros: Quick to set up, no development needed. ⚠️ Cons: Limited payload size, execution timeouts.

2. Intermediate Workflows via Zapier + Microservice

Best for: Mid-scale workflows requiring more flexibility than Zapier alone.

Workflow example:

  1. Trigger in Dastra → Zapier.

  2. Zapier calls a custom microservice (AWS Lambda, Azure Function, GCP Cloud Run).

  3. Microservice handles heavy logic → retries, pagination, file processing.

  4. Microservice returns results → Dastra REST API updates.

✅ Pros: Combines low-code visibility with backend robustness.

3. Direct API Integration

Best for: Enterprise-grade deployments with strict SLAs, high volumes, and advanced security requirements.

Workflow example:

  1. Dastra calls the external API directly when a trigger occurs.

  2. External system executes workflow (discovery, classification, redaction, etc.).

  3. Results pushed back to Dastra via API (PATCH /requests/{id}, POST /requests/{id}/attachments).

  4. Dastra orchestrates compliance response across systems.

✅ Pros: Robust, scalable, eliminates Zapier limitations. ⚠️ Cons: Requires dedicated development, careful API security, and rate-limit handling.

🔹 Choosing the Right Approach

Scenario

Recommended Approach

Proof of concept, small datasets

Zapier (Webhooks + APIs)

Mid-scale, moderate complexity

Zapier + Microservice

Enterprise-grade, high-volume, regulated

Direct API Integration

📘 Typical Use Cases & API Endpoints

Below are common integration scenarios, what they achieve, and the Dastra API endpoints to use (API reference):

1. Data Subject Right Orchestration with External Tools

  • Purpose: Trigger external discovery/redaction workflows when a DSAR is received; aggregate and attach results.

  • Endpoints:

    • POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataSubjectRequests → create a DSAR.

    • POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataSubjectAttachments/{dataSubjectRequestId} → attach exports.

    • PATCH /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataSubjectRequests/{id} → update status.

2. Integration with IT Asset Inventory Management

  • Purpose: Synchronize IT assets with Dastra, link assets to processing records, and update automatically.

  • Endpoints:

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Assets / POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Assets.

    • PATCH /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Assets/{id}.

    • POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Assets/import.

3. Integration with CRM Systems

  • Purpose: Synchronize customer data, manage consent, create DSARs directly from CRM events.

  • Endpoints:

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Actors, POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Actors.

    • POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataSubjectRequests.

    • GenericRelationships / DataProcessingRelationships.

4. Integration with Vendor Management Systems

  • Purpose: Manage supplier contracts, monitor third-party risks, and link vendors to processing activities.

  • Endpoints:

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Contracts, POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Contracts.

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Assets / Actors.

    • GenericRelationships.

5. Integration with Data Catalog Systems

  • Purpose: Import metadata, classify fields, and enrich data processing registries.

  • Endpoints:

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataFields.

    • POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataProcessings, PATCH /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/DataProcessings/{id}.

    • DataProcessingRelationships.

6. Integration with Content Management Systems (CMS)

  • Purpose: Automate redaction, archival, or attachment of content/documents in compliance workflows.

  • Endpoints:

    • CloudStorage APIs: GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/CloudStorage/{providerName}/{fileId}, POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/CloudStorage/{providerName}.

    • DataSubjectAttachments.

    • Document management APIs.

7. Integration with Task Management Systems

  • Purpose: Create and assign compliance tasks (audits, reviews, follow-ups) linked to Dastra workflows.

  • Endpoints:

    • GET /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Tasks, POST /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Tasks.

    • PATCH /v1/ws/{workspaceId}/Tasks/{id}.

    • Users, Teams, Workflows for assignment & lifecycle management.

🚀 Key Takeaways

  • Zapier + Dastra enables fast, no-code integrations for simple use cases.

  • Hybrid models (Zapier + microservices) handle mid-scale complexity reliably.

  • Direct API integrations are the gold standard for enterprise-grade compliance.

  • With these models, organizations can integrate Dastra seamlessly into IT, data, and business ecosystems.

Contact us for more information.

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