Due to the rising requests from both government agencies and customers for stricter security, experienced privacy and protection experts are in high demand. Firms that adhere to the GDPR must legally have data protection personnel working full-time.
Employing a Data Protection Officer is among the best options you have to take to boost your data protection compliance program. A DPO must have privacy-related experience and the operational skills to work effectively with the key stakeholders across the business to promote guidelines, policies, and procedures to protect data, technical safeguards, and employee training programs.
DPO Skills
To be able to fulfill the duties outlined in General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a DPO will require a broad spectrum of knowledge, including both “soft” and “hard” abilities. Therefore, selecting the right DPO is challenging. Candidates should have the following abilities and experiences, which range from legal to technical.
1. Knowledgeable in Legal Matters
For a DPO, that is the essential skill they should have. A well-trained DPO should comprehensively understand these rules and monitor any legislation changes that could affect the company. This requires a keen sense of the finer details and the capability of quickly analyzing data to determine what category a given operation falls into and then providing the company with advice on the appropriate course of action.
A DPO with iso 27001 compliance must be well-versed in the law and, preferably, have some experience in law. They must be proficient in writing policies as well as various legal documentation.
2. Good Communication Skills
The success of a DPO depends on his ability to communicate with and work with people from every aspect of life. Being sensitive to culture can go far when working with people from different countries with different business practices and standards. They should be able to talk to regular people without being rude or using excessive technical language. In their job as complaint handlers, they must keep a good balance between being diplomatic and helpful and comply with a compliance assessment report.
A DPO will also have frequent interactions with higher-ups and other experts, many of whom might need to gain specialized expertise in privacy concerns. A DPO has to be a reputable authority and also be able to teach others.
3. Well-Versed in Technology
A Data Protection Officer (DPO) must have a solid knowledge of the IT systems that process data is carried out. You need to know the causes of breaches and the things you can do to stop them from being able to give the right advice to deal with them. They should know how new technologies function and their dangers to data security or standard procedures.
A DPO’s general familiarity with risk reduction is beneficial as they are frequently required to provide advice in data privacy by design. As data sensitivity grows, so should the level of security used.
4. Credible
A DPO candidate must prove that they have no conflicts of interest. If the director of the IT department were also the DPO, this would result in a conflict of interest since the head of the IT department would assess the performance of their department. The duties of the DPO must be separated from the duties of others employees.
The DPO should be perceived as credible when interacting with regulatory bodies and other regulatory agencies. Continuously cooperation can result in substantial financial savings due to reduced penalty assessments. Maintaining good relations with authorities is crucial.
5. Independent
Due to their distinct role, DPOs are very independent. The GDPR demands DPOs be independent. The GDPR requires a DPO to report to the top management. They need to be empowered and have the independence to manage any problems. Any other employee cannot influence them.
A DPO requires access to adequate resources from their employer to perform their work effectively. A DPO should be appropriately integrated into the business by management. If DPOs must do their tasks effectively, they must be included in ongoing initiatives and be informed of deadlines that are coming up.
