What skills does a data protection officer need?

A data protection officer needs 31 essential skills including internal risk management policy, ICT security standards, ICT security legislation, cyber security, internal auditing. Core competencies include Learning Agility, Collaboration, Developing People.

Will AI replace data protection officer jobs?

The AI disruption score for data protection officer is 78/100 (very high risk). Some tasks may be automated but the role will evolve rather than disappear entirely.

Public Administration & LegalLegal, social and cultural professionalsISCO 2619

data protection officer

Data protection officers ensure that the processing of personal data in an organisation is compliant with data protection standards and with the obligations set out in the applicable legislation such as GDPR. They elaborate and implement the organisation policy related to data protection, are responsible for data protection impact assessments and handle complaints and requests from third parties and regulatory agencies. Data protection officers lead investigations into potential data breaches, conduct internal audits and act as point of contact within the organisation on any matters related to the processing of personal data. Data protection officers may develop training programmes and provide training to other employees on data protection procedures.

Do You Have the Skills for This Role?

Core competency requirements inferred from the occupation's skill profile. Take the free assessment to see how you match.

Must-Have Skills (Advanced)

Learning AgilityAdvanced

CollaborationAdvanced

Developing PeopleAdvanced

Self ManagementAdvanced

CommunicationAdvanced

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (31)

internal risk management policyinternal risk management policyThe internal risk management policies that identify, assess and prioritise risks in an IT environment. The methods used to minimise, monitor and control the possibility and the impact of disastrous ev...ICT security standardsICT security standardsBest practices and guidelines established for securing information and communication technology (ICT) systems and data. Standards as is the case of ISO 27000 series, provide a framework for implementi...ICT security legislationICT security legislationThe set of legislative rules that safeguards information technology, ICT networks and computer systems and legal consequences which result from their misuse. Regulated measures include firewalls, intr...cyber securitycyber securityThe methods and best practices that protect ICT systems, networks, computers, devices, services, processes and people against unauthorised access, modification and/or denial of service of assets.internal auditinginternal auditingThe practice of observing, testing, and evaluating in a systematic manner the processes of the organisation in order to improve effectivity, reduce risks, and add value to the organisation by installi...information governance complianceinformation governance complianceThe policies regarding processes and procedures for use of information, the balance between information availability and information security and IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and personal data p...data protectiondata protectionThe principles, ethical issues, regulations and protocols of data protection.information confidentialityinformation confidentialityThe mechanisms and regulations which allow for selective access control and guarantee that only authorised parties (people, processes, systems and devices) have access to data, the way to comply with ...legal researchlegal researchThe methods and procedures of research in legal matters, such as the regulations, and different approaches to analyses and source gathering, and the knowledge on how to adapt the research methodology ...legal terminologylegal terminologyThe special terms and phrases used in the field of law.GDPRGDPRThe General Data Protection Regulation is the EU regulation on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.data ethicsdata ethicsThe subfield of ethics that assess whether data practices are considerable ethical. It assesses processes such as collecting, analysing and disseminating structured and unstructured data that might ne...cooperate with colleaguescooperate with colleaguesCooperate with colleagues in order to ensure that operations run effectively.respect data protection principlesrespect data protection principlesEnsure that access to personal or institutional data conforms to the legal and ethical framework governing such access.implement ICT security policiesimplement ICT security policiesImplement statements, assertions or rules that specify the appropriate use and protection of the ICT assets and systems from an organisation. These ICT security policies cover topics such as data clas...ensure compliance with legal requirementsensure compliance with legal requirementsGuarantee compliance with established and applicable standards and legal requirements such as specifications, policies, standards or law for the goal that organisations aspire to achieve in their effo...develop organisational policiesdevelop organisational policiesDevelop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.protect personal data and privacyprotect personal data and privacyProtect personal data and privacy in digital environments. Understand how to use and share personally identifiable information while being able to protect oneself and others from damages. Understand t...develop information security strategydevelop information security strategyCreate company strategy related to the safety and security of information in order to maximise information integrity, availability and data privacy.use consulting techniquesuse consulting techniquesAdvise clients in different personal or professional matters.ensure information privacyensure information privacyDesign and implement business processes and technical solutions to guarantee data and information confidentiality in compliance with legal requirements, also considering public expectations and politi...apply information security policiesapply information security policiesImplement policies, methods and regulations for data and information security in order to respect confidentiality, integrity and availability principles.respond to enquiriesrespond to enquiriesRespond to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public.monitor legislation developmentsmonitor legislation developmentsMonitor changes in rules, policies and legislation, and identify how they may influence the organisation, existing operations, or a specific case or situation.manage data for legal mattersmanage data for legal mattersCollect, organise and prepare data for analysis and review during investigation, regulatory filings and other legal processes.identify legal requirementsidentify legal requirementsConduct research for applicable legal and normative procedures and standards, analyse and derive legal requirements that apply to the organisation, its policies and products.advise on government policy complianceadvise on government policy complianceAdvise organisations on how they may improve their compliance to the applicable government policies they are required to adhere to, and the necessary steps which need to be taken in order to ensure co...define organisational standardsdefine organisational standardsWrite, implement and foster the internal standards of the company as part of the business plans for the operations and levels of performance that the company intends to achieve.train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...provide legal adviceprovide legal adviceProvide advice to clients in order to ensure that their actions are compliant with the law, as well as most beneficial for their situation and specific case, such as providing information, documentati...keep up-to-date with regulationskeep up-to-date with regulationsMaintain up-to-date knowledge of current regulations and apply this knowledge in specific sectors.

Optional (15)

risk managementrisk managementThe process of identifying, assessing, and prioritising of all types of risks and where they could come from, such as natural causes, legal changes, or uncertainty in any given context, and the method...apply system organisational policiesapply system organisational policiesImplement internal policies related to the development, internal and external usage of technological systems, such as software systems, network systems and telecommunications systems, in order to achi...conduct impact evaluation of ICT processes on businessconduct impact evaluation of ICT processes on businessEvaluate the tangible consequences of the implementation of new ICT systems and functions on the current business structure and organisational procedures.maintain internal communication systemsmaintain internal communication systemsMaintain an effective internal communication system among employees and department managers.assist with litigation mattersassist with litigation mattersProvide assistance with the management of litigation matters, including document collection and investigation.support managerssupport managersProvide support and solutions to managers and directors in regards with their business needs and requests for the running of a business or the daily operations of a business unit.document project progressdocument project progressRecord the project planning and development, the work steps, the required resources and the final results in order to present and keep track of the realised and ongoing projects.perform data cleansingperform data cleansingDetect and correct corrupt records from data sets, ensure that the data become and remain structured according to guidelines.estimate impact of risksestimate impact of risksEstimate the potential losses associated with an identified risk by applying standard risk analysis practices to develop an estimate of probability and impact on the company. Take both financial and n...address identified risksaddress identified risksImplement a risk treatment plan to address the risks identified during the assessment phase, avoid their occurrence and/or minimise their impact. Evaluate the different options available to reduce the...write work-related reportswrite work-related reportsCompose work-related reports that support effective relationship management and a high standard of documentation and record keeping. Write and present results and conclusions in a clear and intelligib...manage digital identitymanage digital identityCreate and manage one or multiple digital identities, be able to protect one's own reputation, deal with the data that one produces through several digital tools, environments and services.perform project managementperform project managementManage and plan various resources, such as human resources, budget, deadline, results, and quality necessary for a specific project, and monitor the project's progress in order to achieve a specific g...manage keys for data protectionmanage keys for data protectionSelect appropriate authentication and authorization mechanisms. Design, implement and troubleshoot key management and use. Design and implement a data encryption solution for data at rest and data in ...analyse legal enforceabilityanalyse legal enforceabilityExamine the client's present situation, ideas and wishes under a legal perspective to assess their legal justification or enforceability.