The GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has been in effect for half a decade, but many of us still fail to grasp its core principles and apply its requirements, a new report has revealed.
According to ISACA’s Privacy in Practice 2023 report, which was published this week, 94% of respondents believe there is a data protection skills gap in their organisation.
Meanwhile, only 38% said that they were confident in their organisation’s ability to secure personal data.
These revelations demonstrate the desperate need for data protection expertise – making a job in GDPR compliance an ideal opportunity for anyone looking to advance their career.
Anyone who acquires the relevant qualifications will be in a commanding position to land a well-paying job with plenty of room for career progression.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular GDPR training courses and the opportunities they provide.
GDPR Foundation Training Course
The Certified GDPR Foundation Training Course is the ideal starting point for anyone starting their career in data protection.
It provides a complete introduction to the GDPR, including the legal requirements for which organisations must comply.
The training course, which IT Governance offers on online basis, provides the building blocks for more advanced qualifications, such as the GDPR Practitioner Training Course.
The Foundation and Practitioner training courses are prerequisites for job-specific training courses, such as those that enable you to become a DPO (data protection officer) or data privacy manager – as can be demonstrated in the graph below.
Our Learning Paths map demonstrates what qualifications are needed for certain job roles.
GDPR Practitioner Training Course
The Certified GDPR Practitioner Training Course builds on the knowledge gained during the Foundation-level training course. It gives individuals with the skills required to implement and maintain an effective compliance programme under GDPR.
This training course focuses on the application of the GDPR, its six data protection principles, and policies and procedures that organisations must implement.
You’ll also learn the responsibilities of – and differences between – data controllers and processors, as well as the requirements for handling DSARs (data subject access requests) and DPIAs (data protection impact assessments).
As with the Foundation-level course, Practitioner training provides an overview of the GDPR’s compliance requirements, providing a basis for job-specific qualifications.
Certified Data Protection Officer Training Course
The Certified Data Protection Officer Training Course gives a comprehensive introduction to skills you need to fulfil the responsibilities of a DPO.
Under the GDPR, certain organisations must appoint a DPO as an independent expert to advise them on their data protection requirements.
The DPO is responsible for helping staff manage data protection requirements, monitoring the organisation’s data protection policies and procedures and advising management on whether DPIAs are necessary.
DPOs also serve as the point of contact between the organisation and its supervisory authority, as well as serving as a point of contact for individuals on privacy matters.
As you can see, many of these tasks aren’t just about understanding the GDPR but also communicating its requirements and explaining why the rules are in place.
This takes a particular set of skills quite distinct from simply memorising the Regulation’s requirements. As such, a specialist training course such as the one offered by IT Governance are necessary to gain the necessary expertise.
Privacy Essentials for Marketers Training Course
The Privacy Essentials for Marketers Training Course gives an overview of data protection laws and their application to marketing activities. It’s ideal for anyone who needs to know the GDPR considerations when building and maintaining websites, application and digital marketing campaigns.
You’ll also learn how the GDPR affects the things you can and can’t do when conducting market research, performing email marketing campaigns and using social media.
IT Governance’s training course also provides tips on how to use marketing tools safely and effectively. This includes data analytics, referral programmes and list-building activities.
