A data protection officer is an important figure in an organisation who is in charge of assisting the data controller or processor in maintaining GDPR compliance. They have expertise in the field of data protection law and data protection procedures. What does a data protection officer do?
What is the role of a Data Protection Officer?
A data protection officer, also known as a data privacy officer or DPO, is in charge of all aspects of data privacy within a company.
It’s a relatively newer role, but since the adoption of the GDPR in 2018 the demand for DPOs has increased. More and more countries are adapting their protection laws like the GDPF, and so, more data privacy experts are needed to make sure the regulation is maintained.
A DPO (data protection officer) is considered to be an administrator of sorts who is responsible for all strategies related to data privacy and protection. They make sure employees within a company are trained and in compliance with data privacy and are responsible for data collection and storage.
A data protection officer is directly answerable to upper management and usually has direct access to senior executives within a company.
Because the field of data protection is growing, there is now a huge demand for data privacy officers, especially in companies dealing with a large amount of data. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics, the demand for data protection officers is likely to see an increase of as much as 33% by 2030 due to more and more companies seeking professionals to help them deal with cybersecurity.
What are the responsibilities of a Data Protection Officer?
A data protection officer is responsible for creating data protection policies, guidelines and strategies for a company and also for educating all members of staff on topics related to data compliance.
Apart from creating policies, they also implement them strictly and make sure everyone present in the company adheres to them. They conduct regular audits to ensure company-wide compliance and maintain all records of data processing.
The Data Protection specialist is responsible for all the personal data a company holds from customers, staff, providers or any person related to the company. They make sure to protect these data subjects by ensuring their data is saved in compliance with the data protection rules.
Data privacy officers also mentor the company’s data processors when necessary and serve as a point of contact between a company and external data protection authorities.
They create documents and reports for senior management and provide them with information directly, especially when data is of a sensitive nature. Lastly, they make sure all data is up to date and that any and all guidelines involving the destruction of data are followed regularly.
Responsibilities of a data protection officer:
- Create data protection policies, guidelines and strategies
- Educate all members of staff on topics related to data compliance
- Implement policies throughout the organisation
- Ensure all staff members adhere to data compliance
- Conduct regular audits
- Maintain all records of data processing
- Mentor the company’s data processors
- Serve as a point of contact between a company and external data protection authorities
- Create documents and reports for senior management
- Make sure data is secure and up-to-date
- Ensure destruction of data is carried out properly
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Skills
Data privacy experts have expert knowledge of data protection laws and practices. If a data protection officer resides in Europe, they must have a deep understanding of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
GDPR was one of the most important changes in privacy regulation in Europe in the last few years. It was enforced in May 2018 and since then, it’s very important that all companies are GDPR compliant.
They must also possess strong IT skills and have experience working with software applications and privacy tools such as SolarWinds, Wired Relations, privIQ etc.
These data privacy experts must have the ability and drive to stay up-to-date on new technologies and trends, should be able to work well under pressure and have the skills needed to handle confidential information.
Excellent communication (both oral and written) is also a must as is the ability to work well in a team. Data privacy officers must also have strong project management skills and interpersonal skills.
Skills of a data protection officer:
- Expert knowledge in data protection laws and practices
- Deep and in-depth understanding of GDPR
- Strong IT skills
- Experience working with software applications and privacy tools such SolarWinds, and Wired Relations
- Ability to stay up-to-date on new technologies
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to handle confidential information
- Ability to work well in a team and independently
- Strong project management skills
- Good interpersonal skills
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What qualifications do I need to be a data protection officer?
To work as a data protection officer, you will most probably need a Bachelor’s degree in either Information Security, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
However, you can also find jobs as a DPO if you have extensive work experience in privacy compliance or security.
You may also boost your chances of finding employment by completing online courses or obtaining certifications related to data privacy and protection.
Below are some courses in data privacy that you can consider and some of the best data protection certifications:
- Complete GDPR, GDPR Certification, data protection, privacy
- Data: Law, Policy And Regulation Online Certification Course
- California Consumer Privacy Act-CCPA-Complete Course (CIPP)
- Data Protection Certification Course
- Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer
- CIPP/E Training
- Certified GDPR Foundation Self-Paced Online Training Course
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How much can I earn as a Data Privacy Officer?
The salary for a data protection officer can range from $20,500 to $174,500 for those with extensive experience and skills. The national average salary of a data expert is $86,300 per year in the US.
In Germany, data protection officers can earn anywhere between €24,000 – €60,000 whereas in the UK they can earn between £33,8000 – £65,000.
Salaries vary depending on the candidate’s qualifications and the industry they’re in. Also, the country where the company is based and the complexity of the data protection rules would play a role in the salary.
Salary of a data protection officer:
| US | $20,500 – $174,500 |
| Germany | €24,000 – €60,000 |
| UK | £33,8000 – £65,000 |
How much do freelance data protection officers make?
data protection officers on freelancermap charge on average:
Rates in this field range between $33 and $106/hour for most freelancers.
The daily rate for data protection officers (8 working hours) would be around:
