Identity fraud and theft of data are serious concerns. Every day you can open the newspaper and read of fraudsters impersonating honest individuals and emptying their bank accounts or stealing valuable company secrets. There are many things that an individual can do to safeguard the data they hold, but what can you do to protect the data that you have given to businesses and other organizations? Every business with whom you share data has a responsibility to keep that data safe and to only use the data in the way that they have told you they will use it. If you are managing a company or have responsibility for data, there must be a data protection officer on your team.
What Is a Data Protection Officer?
An individual who has completed data protection officer training will understand how to coordinate a data protection policy across the company. They will ensure that your business is fully compliant with GDPR and that all data, whether it relates to your staff, your suppliers, or your customers, is being stored and used appropriately.
Do You Need a Data Protection Officer?
Under both UK and EU law, a data protection officer is legally required when a company will be dealing with large amounts of data. There are, however, advantages that a data protection officer can bring even for smaller organizations. When you are considering whether a data protection officer is needed within your organization, consider not just the amount of data that passes through the organization but also the type of data you hold, who that data relates to and where the subjects of the data live.
Who Can Be a Data Protection Officer?
Anyone can be a data protection officer, but to fulfil the role effectively and understand how the law relates to your business, completing data protection officer training can be helpful and will provide not just useful information but a valuable confidence boost. The DPO must know how the law applies and what legal responsibilities they have within the company. They should also know how to interact with the subjects of the data outside the organization. Look for a company that offers data protection officer training that is relevant to your specific context. They can offer training that can be applied directly to the organizational structure of your company. The training will go beyond abstract concepts. It will explain in practical terms what a data protection officer must do to maintain compliance with the relevant legislation.
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