What Is a Data Protection Officer?

Key takeaways

A data protection officer (DPO) ensures that a business manages customers’ private data according to relevant laws and regulations.

• The median total salary for a data protection officer in the US is $118,000 [1].

• DPOs are skilled in cybersecurity software, IT systems, data collection and storage processes, encryption programs, risk assessment, and security reporting.

• You can become a DPO from multiple career paths as long as you build experience in compliance, law, operational risk management, information security, and other IT processes.

Explore what a data protection officer is, their standard job duties, education and experience requirements, typical salary, and the applicable technical and workplace skills to develop. If you’re ready to start preparing for a data security-related role, enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to identify common threats and risks, protect data from cyberattacks, and manage vulnerabilities and security for an organization in as little as six months. Upon completion, you’ll have earned a career certificate for your resume.

What is a data protection officer?

A data protection officer will manage a corporation's overall data protection strategy and monitor compliance to protect customers’ private data and information stored and managed within a business. These professionals hold an independent position within the company and keep the customer’s best interest at the forefront of everything they do. As a security leader, DPOs ensure firm-wide compliance with relevant laws and regulations and often educate key stakeholders or employees about data processing best practices and compliance regulations.

In 2018, the EU put the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into effect to strengthen its position on data protection and set forth specific requirements for data privacy and rules that detail how companies can gather and store the private data of EU citizens. Failure to remain compliant with these regulations results in significant penalties for corporations. One requirement for businesses is hiring a DPO to manage compliance and serve as an expert in data protection strategies and applicable laws [2].

The criteria for deciding if a corporation requires a data protection officer come down to four specific factors: 

1. Number of data subjects

2. Number of data items

3. Length of data retention

4. Geographic processing range

The EU uses these factors to determine which companies must have a data protection officer. Even though the US does not have rules that require data protection officers, it is still valuable for corporations that handle large quantities of data to consider these four criteria. 

Companies in the US have to abide by various laws and regulations regarding data privacy, depending on the industries they operate in and the type of personal data they collect. A few of the prevalent laws regarding privacy data include:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1966 (HIPAA)

• Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (COPPA)

• Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Due to the necessity to abide by these regulations and others, businesses in the US still understand the value of employing a data protection officer who has the necessary skills to protect personal data effectively. Additionally, the GDPR requires any corporation that manages or uses the private data of EU citizens to have a DPO. 

What types of companies do data protection officers work for?

Data protection officers can work for any company that works internationally in EU countries and handles personal data. It is a government regulation for these corporations to hire a DPO. Beyond international companies, health care or health insurance businesses may look to have a DPO because of the type of information they collect. Any business that ingests and stores large quantities of customer data may be a target for a data protection officer job, whether they are a large corporation or a nonprofit. In the EU, contrarily, it is a requirement that any business that frequently handles sensitive and private information about its customers appoints a DPO, regardless of the industry.

Other data-related roles within corporations, such as the role of chief information security officer (CISO), may appear similar to the duties of a data protection officer. However, critical distinctions exist between the roles, showing how unique data protection officer positions are. 

CISOs or other data officers strive to protect the data and critical information of a company and utilize it to gain important insights to optimize and enhance various functions within a business. As mentioned, a data protection officer aims to keep the customer’s best interests in mind and protect their privacy. However, it is important to note that smaller companies may have one individual handle the duties of both a CISO and a DPO. 

Data protection officer services and skills: What does a data protection officer do?

The duties performed in the role of a data protection officer commonly include the following:

• Determine the inherent risk of handling customer data.

• Monitor how personal data related to customers cycles through a corporation.

• Perform security audits on a standard schedule.

• Maintain compliance with all relevant laws by building a privacy framework.

• Identify each type of personal information ingested by a business.

• Become the primary contact to engage with various authorities governing data.

• Provide employee training and educate members of the organization.

• Measure company performance related to protecting data and aiding when required.

• Communicate with customers to explain their data privacy rights.

• Create an in-depth log of records detailing protection initiatives by a corporation.

Data protection officer skills

Understanding the various technical and workplace skills required to perform effectively is valuable before pursuing a job. The requirements of each position may differ slightly; however, having proven experience with technical concepts, such as cybersecurity, is helpful. 

Technical skills

Data protection officers use a wide variety of technical skills to complete their job duties, including:

• Experience with cybersecurity software

• Ability to build and develop information technology (IT) systems

• Familiarity with relevant data collection and data storage processes

• Ability to efficiently use encryption programs

• Risk assessment

• Experience with security reporting

Workplace skills

Relevant workplace skills for data protection officers include:

• Leadership

• Effective communication

• Management qualities

• Customer service

• Problem-solving

• Critical thinking

• Legal knowledge 

• Ability to ensure compliance

• Expertise in data protection regulations and laws

Data protection officer salary and job outlook

According to Glassdoor, the median annual total salary for data protection officers in the US is $118,000 [1]. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation. This is substantially above the median salary for all occupations in the US, which is $49,500 [3]. 

The salary you will receive as a data protection officer varies depending on your location and your specific employer. A few of the top 10 US cities offering the highest average pay for data protection officers include [4]:

• Green River, WY: $130,753

• San Mateo, CA: $125,740

• San Francisco, CA: $125,519

• Sunnyvale, CA: $124,428

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that roles related to data protection, such as information security analysts, will grow 29 percent from 2024 to 2034. On average, this growth rate corresponds to around 19,000 job openings per year [5].

Data protection officer career path

You can become a data protection officer from many different career paths and disciplines, depending on the skills you possess and the experience you have attained. Many successful DPOs come from a legal background and are exposed to relevant data protection laws and regulations. 

You can still land a data protection officer role without having privacy or security-related experience. People with backgrounds in finance, administration, and business can still apply. Having the necessary skills and knowledge for an information security role greatly affects your ability to enter this profession. Required knowledge may include the organization's structure, relevant technologies, information technology infrastructure, business operations, and industry-specific knowledge related to the company. 

Building relevant experience is also crucial to becoming a data protection officer since it is a senior-level role that handles and manages sensitive information. Consider gaining experience in areas such as:

• Compliance

• Law

• Operational risk management

• Information security

• Other various disciplines in information technology 

Who cannot be a DPO?

Individuals who cannot operate independently or have conflicts of interest are ineligible to be a DPO. This includes anyone involved in data processing decisions, like a chief technical officer (CTO), IT personnel, or anyone who reports to a direct superior. Their positions could hinder their ability to monitor compliance and lead to biased decisions that favor the organization over data protection regulations. Additionally, short-term employees are also ineligible to apply for the DPO role.  

Data protection officer training and education

To attain a data protection officer job, you typically need a bachelor’s degree in law, computer science, information security, cybersecurity, or another similar discipline. Proven experience or formal education in compliance roles, jobs focused on privacy, or auditing may qualify you for these positions. Having a law degree with valuable experience in the topics mentioned is also a possible option for you. 

Getting an advanced degree, like a master’s, is not a formal qualification for data protection officer jobs. However, some corporations may hire more educated candidates with additional experience.

Certifications tailored for data protection officers allow you to gain crucial training and build skills relevant to this profession. Pursuing certifications shows employers that you have the proper experience, particularly in cybersecurity, to handle a data protection officer role. Some of the top credentials for DPOs include:

• Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP)

• IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)

• Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT)

• Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)

• Security Engineer Nanodegree

Read more: What Is a Certified Data Protection Officer and How Do You Become One?

Navigate your next career move with confidence

Want to keep the momentum going? Get the latest career insights by subscribing to our LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat! Then, if you want to keep learning more about careers, courses, and skills related to cybersecurity, check out these free resources:

• Take the quiz: Which Cybersecurity Course Should You Take? Find Out in 1 Minute 

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Cybersecurity Careers: Your Path to Protecting the Digital World 

• Bookmark for later: Cybersecurity Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions 

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