Data Protection Consulting
Nowadays, an increasing number of business models are based on the processing of personal data. In order to ensure fair, transparent, and lawful data handling, there is growing demand across all industries for data protection advice and support from specially appointed or “designated” data protection officers or data protection consultants.
Specifically, data protection officers are responsible for identifying potential data protection risks, for example within a company, and developing solutions to prevent non-compliance with the GDPR and the BDSG. In addition, in the event of a data breach, they are responsible for recording and reporting it to the state supervisory authority. Another important part of their work is to educate employees on the subject, for example through training courses and workshops. A general distinction is made between internal (in-house) and external, i.e., independently working, data protection officers.
In principle, the GDPR does not specify any formal educational requirements for becoming a data protection officer: “The data protection officer shall be designated on the basis of professional qualifications and, in particular, expertise in data protection law and data protection practices, as well as the ability to fulfill the tasks referred to in Article 39.” (GDPR Art. 37 (5)).
However, due to the high requirements for data protection knowledge, a law degree is often required. Some employers also require further training or official certification in the field of data protection. Previous experience in the field is also often required, especially for non-lawyers, but also for lawyers. Certifications or expertise gained through previous assignments seem to be indispensable, especially for external data protection officers who have to prove themselves on the freelance market, while internal data protection officers can occasionally receive additional training for their position alongside their work.
Previous experience, IT skills, and good communication skills will help you get started
In order to gain the required experience and professional experience as early as possible, it is advisable to work in the field during your studies, for example as an intern or working student. It is also useful to specialize or focus on specific areas during your studies. A certain affinity for technology and a basic understanding of IT are also important in order to be able to analyze and evaluate the connections between legal regulations and technical processes. In addition, the ability to familiarize yourself with the organizational structures and work processes of an institution is crucial, especially for external candidates. Reliability, personal integrity, and excellent communication skills are also highly recommended due to the highly sensitive nature of the data and the communicative responsibility of the office. Depending on the organizational structure, the term data protection occasionally appears in job advertisements in connection with compliance or quality management, as these areas may also involve compliance with legal principles. Anyone wishing to apply on their own initiative should be aware that, according to the GDPR and BDSG, a data protection officer must be appointed or designated as soon as at least twenty people in a company or institution are involved in any way in the processing of personal data. If particularly sensitive data, such as data relating to origin or sexuality, is processed, a data protection officer must be appointed regardless of the number of people involved.
Job titles in this field vary from data protection advisor to data protection manager, coordinator, consultant, legal counsel, or consultant. In countries such as Germany, special data protection officers are tasked with ensuring the permanent implementation of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in individual companies or institutions.
