A data protection officer ensures that a company complies with data protection guidelines. This includes data protection in digital form as well as the security of all documents and contracts that are stored in paper form. You can find out what qualifications a data protection officer should have in this article.
Requirements for data protection according to the GDPR
From a legal perspective, the job of data protection officer is not associated with any specific training. There is even no specific specialist knowledge. Instead, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) stipulates that the activities of data protection officers are based on the processes that are necessary for the protection of data in the context of data processing operations. Specifically, this means that data protection officers need the qualifications required for successful data protection in a company. The GDPR requires that the appointment of a data protection officer in the company is based on three factors. These three factors are these:
- Professional qualifications
- Specialist knowledge in the field of data protection in relation to law and practice
- the ability to perform the tasks listed in Article 39 GDPR
These three factors are the basis for being successful as a data protection officer. The tasks set out in the GDPR specify the requirements placed on data protection officers.
Article 39 of the GDPR
Article 39 defines 5 tasks for data protection officers:
- Advising and informing data controllers and employees who process data. This advice is based on the requirements of the GDPR, the regulations of the EU and the member states.
- Monitoring compliance with the requirements of the GDPR or other data protection regulations. This also includes the assignment of responsibilities and training on the topic, including review.
- Advice on data protection impact assessments on request.
- Cooperation with the supervisory authority
- Contact point for the supervisory authority for questions regarding data processing in the company
A data protection officer should master these tasks on their own. The specialist knowledge comes primarily from studies or through self-acquisition and further training.
Requirements for data protection officers
The tasks of data protection officers are well known. The activities, however, depend heavily on what the individual job requires. The more data a company collects in different ways, the more demanding the job of a data protection officer becomes. However, there are certain minimum requirements that basically describe the qualifications of data protection officers. At the very least, a data protection officer should meet these requirements: Data protection officers should have comprehensive knowledge of data protection law. This also includes the implementation of technical and organizational measures to ensure data protection. A data protection officer must be proficient in the technology used to ensure data protection. This is part of the technical requirements for data protection, as the measures cannot be implemented without the technical know-how. Specific knowledge relating to the company and its specialist areas is also important. The types of data collected depend heavily on the company. Where a lot of customer data is collected, the effort involved is greater than in companies that only collect their employees’ data, for example. Data protection officers must be able to analyze log files and review data. When looking for a data protection officer, you should pay attention to these requirements.
Conclusion
Data protection officers should have certain qualifications in order to ensure data protection in a company. This includes, among other things, handling the technology required to implement data protection measures.
