There is no denying that in today’s world, a lot of time, purchases and even decisions are made online. But how often do we consider our data and how it is being used? And more worryingly, the impact data breaches can have on ourselves or our businesses.
In the following article, we explore the role of the Data Protection Officer; their remit, and, though often overlooked, how they play a key part in a business.
What is a Data Protection Officer?
Data Protection Officers (DPOs) crucially ensure that an organisation complies with data protection laws, including the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Data Protection Officers are a point of contact for three key groups: Supervisory Authorities, Data Subjects and Internal Stakeholders. Some of the main responsibilities DPOs undertake include monitoring compliance, training and awareness, risk management and advising.
There are two key types of Data Protection Officers: 1) internal and 2) external. Internal officers are employed directly by the organisation and work within the company structure. They understand the internal workings of the organisation more deeply.
External officers work outside the organisation; they are contracted or work freelance, performing DPO services. An external DPO is not on payroll but is appointed under contract to fulfil the legal role and is more common in small to medium businesses.
An organisation is free to choose either an internal or external DPO, and there are pros and cons to each. Much of the choice will be based on the organisation’s size, needs and resources.
Why is a DPO important?
Article 17 of the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) states that privacy is a human right, yet as the world becomes increasingly more digital, it is far easier for your data to be exposed or breached.
For example, in 2018, the British Airways website and mobile app were compromised, affecting approximately 400,000 payment card transactions. The compromised data included information such as addresses, email addresses, credit card numbers and CVV codes. The breach went undetected for two months.
The existence of a DPO would have been crucial in such a situation, as they would have performed the necessary regular risk assessments to seek to avoid such a breach. A DPO would have been able to react faster to the breach, ensuring there were no other GDPR violations, resolving the issue far sooner, or perhaps even avoiding it altogether.
How can DPOs help small businesses?
DPOs are incredibly significant within organisations of all sizes. Although they are primarily used in larger companies with significant amounts of data, they remain vital for smaller businesses too. Smaller management teams can sometimes be less aware of the legal aspects involved. Therefore, having somebody specialised in the field can help avoid expensive mistakes that could risk the privacy of others is crucial.
DPOs also support by monitoring systems and training staff, educating them on how to handle customer data and guiding them on what to do in case of a data breach.
The rapid growth in technology has made DPOs not just a luxury but a necessity. They are key to protecting businesses and clients from a number of widely unknown dangers and mistakes, such as information leaks.
