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May 02 2021

How to Become a Data Protection Officer

Category: data security,Information Security — DISC @ 12:05 pm

The role of a Data Protection Officer (DPO) is a fairly new one in many companies. What’s more, the need to hire a DPO often comes as a response to the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which were implemented back in 2018.
As such, the responsibilities, reporting and structure of the role are primarily defined by GDPR guidelines.

But though it might be a fairly new role, it can be a very exciting and rewarding one. So if you’re considering a career as a data protection officer, this guide is for you. Below, we’ll take a look at what the role entails and what you need to do to get a job as a DPO.

What is a Data Protection Officer and What Do They Do?

In a nutshell, a data protection officer is a steward for data protection and privacy within a business. They must implement effective data protection strategies and facilitate a culture of data protection throughout the company. This is to ensure companywide compliance with GDPR. The appointment of a DPO is mandatory in some businesses, particularly those in the public sector or those that process a large amount of personal data. That being said, some businesses choose to appoint a DPO even though they are not legally required to as it pays to have someone in charge of compliance and data privacy.

In the general data protection regulations, it is stated that the DPO should report directly to the highest management level. As a DPO, some of the key responsibilities include:

Ensuring that a business applies the laws of data protection appropriately and effectively, as
well as following these regulations and legislations.
Educating and training management and all other employees about GDPR and other data protection statutes as well as about compliance and demonstrating effective measures and strategies for data handling and processing.
Conducting regular security audits.
Acting as the point of contact between the company and any supervisory authorities (SAs). For example, if there is a data breach, it is the job of the DPO to report this to the relevant authorities.

With this in mind, here’s how you can tailor your career path to lead to the role of a data protection officer.

In order to become a DPO, What skills you may need…

Becoming a Data Protection Officer

Certified Data Protection Officer

Data Protection and the Cloud

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Jul 30 2019

How to become a data protection officer

Category: GDPR,Information Privacy — DISC @ 3:28 pm

As you might have expected, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has created a spike in demand for data protection and privacy experts. Organisations are desperate to hire people who can guide them towards regulatory compliance and avoid large fines. In this latest blog discover what a DPO’s tasks are and how to become one.

For many organizations, this isn’t just a wish; they are legally required to find such a person and appoint them as a DPO (data protection officer).

The demand for DPOs makes it an ideal job role for those looking to advance their career. You need plenty of experience, as well as demonstrable soft skills, but it provides an opportunity with plenty of room for growth. Let’s take a look at how you can get started.

WHAT A DPO DOES

It’s worth summarising exactly what a DPO’s tasks are because you’ll see that they are responsible for more than simply reviewing GDPR compliance.

Yes, they are broadly tasked with advising organizations on how to comply with their legal requirements concerning data protection. But that doesn’t just include things like monitoring policies and looking into the need for DPIAs (data protection impact assessments).

It also involves helping staff understand their data protection obligations and serving as a point of contact for individuals who contact the organization with data protection and privacy queries.

This means that DPOs will be regularly discussing the GDPR to people who aren’t technically minded. As such, they must have strong communication skills and be capable of explaining complex issues without using jargon.

It’s much harder to teach skills like that than to train someone on the ins and outs of the GDPR, but still eminently possible.

SPECIALIST DPO TRAINING

If you’re interested in becoming a DPO, you will benefit massively from taking a training course dedicated to the role. It will help you understand the technical requirements of the GDPR and how they apply to each part of your job role and give you practical experience of the tasks you’re responsible for.

For example, you can understand exactly what’s required when performing, say, a DPIA, but you need to be aware of your boundaries. DPOs must operate independently and without any conflict of interest. Taking too active a role in tasks like this jeopardize your status as an advisor and violate the GDPR’s requirements.

IT Governance’s Certified Data Protection Officer (C-DPO) Masterclass Training Course gives you the technical and spatial expertise you need to become a DPO.

Over four days, our expert trainers will help you hone your knowledge of the GDPR and show you how to use that knowledge appropriately while fulfilling your tasks as a DPO.

If you already have a strong understanding of the GDPR, you might prefer our Certified Data Protection Officer (C-DPO) Upgrade Training Course.

This two-day course builds on the knowledge you would have gained from passing the GDPR Practitioner exam, focusing on the practical application of the Regulation in the workplace.

Source: How to become a data protection officer