How to Write a Winning Data Protection Plan for Amazon SP-API in 2025
If you're applying for PII (Personally Identifiable Information) access via Amazon SP-API, your Data Protection Plan (DPP) is the single most critical document in your application. It's also the most misunderstood — and most frequently rejected — part.
As a consultant who's helped dozens of developers and businesses pass Amazon's restricted data approval in 2025, here's how to write a DPP that gets approved.
What is the Data Protection Plan (DPP)?
Amazon requires every developer requesting access to restricted data (such as buyer addresses or phone numbers) to submit a custom security document. The DPP demonstrates that:
- You store and transmit data securely
- You limit internal access
- You monitor access and log activity
- You have clear retention and deletion policies
Structure of a Strong DPP
Here’s the structure I recommend (and have used to successfully pass reviews):
1. Overview of the Application
- App name
- Developer ID
- Regions served (e.g., North America, EU)
- Summary of why PII access is needed
🟢 Pro tip: Include the specific endpoints you'll access, like GET /orders/{orderId}/address.
2. Data Flow Diagram (DFD)
Include a simple visual (or describe in detail) the flow of data:
- From Amazon → API Gateway → Internal Service → Database (encrypted)
This helps reviewers quickly understand where and how data is handled.
3. Data Storage & Encryption
✅ Detail:
- Where data is stored (e.g., AWS S3, RDS, GCP)
- Encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256)
- Encryption in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2+)
- Key management (e.g., AWS KMS with access policies)
4. Access Control
✅ Describe:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Who has access to PII (by role, not name)
- MFA requirements
- Session timeout, inactivity lock
5. Logging & Monitoring
✅ Must include:
- Centralized log storage (e.g., CloudWatch, Datadog)
- Audit log review process (monthly/weekly)
- Alerting for unauthorized access
🟢 Pro tip: Mention log retention policy (e.g., 90 days or 1 year).
6. Incident Response Plan
✅ Include:
- Steps to take if PII is leaked or accessed improperly
- Contact roles (security officer, technical lead)
- Notification procedures (to Amazon, users if needed)
7. Data Retention & Deletion
✅ State:
- How long PII is stored (e.g., 30 days after fulfillment)
- How it’s deleted (manual/automated scripts)
- Retention justification (e.g., for returns or refunds)
8. Compliance Alignment
✅ Reference:
- GDPR (if serving EU)
- CCPA (if serving California)
- Industry frameworks: ISO 27001, SOC 2, or NIST SP 800-53
🟢 Pro tip: You don’t need to be certified — just aligned.
Most Common DPP Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using Amazon's template without changes
Amazon can tell. Always customize based on your tech stack.
❌ Not mentioning key storage or log review
Amazon assumes you're NOT doing it unless you explicitly say so.
❌ Describing access by person, not by role
Avoid “John has access” → Instead say “Only DevOps Engineers have read-only access to logs.”
Bonus: Checklist for Your DPP
- Includes encryption details
- Covers internal access control
- Has log storage and review frequency
- Mentions retention period and deletion method
- Matches actual system architecture
- Aligns with relevant data protection laws
Final Thoughts
Your DPP is your compliance resume. Don’t treat it like a formality — Amazon takes it seriously, and so should you.
Need help writing or reviewing your DPP? I've helped 30+ businesses pass PII reviews in 2025.
Contact me to get a template or a 1-on-1 consultation.
Tags:
Amazon SP-API PII access,Data Protection Plan,Amazon API data compliance,Amazon restricted data,SP-API consulting