The importance of having a Data Protection Officer

• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) promotes this role in companies and institutions

What do we mean when we talk about a Data Protection Officer? It is a person who works to correctly apply the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This regulation entered into force on 25 May 2018 to strengthen privacy and unify how data are processed in all EU countries. The entry into force of the regulation has changed the rules for use of internet data. Hence the importance of having an expert in data protection and why more and more companies and institutions are seeking their services.

UPF Barcelona School of Management offers a Postgraduate Course in Data Protection and the Information Society. The program provides interdisciplinary training given by legal, IT and communication professionals. The aim is to provide the necessary knowledge and tools to be able to comply with the provisions of the GDPR. This program enables you to develop the skills of a Data Protection Officer (DPO), which is a role now in demand. According to the academic coordinator of the postgraduate course, Xavier Salleras, "The regulation makes the DPO a compulsory position in companies that collect and store data systematically." Therefore, it is a new employment opportunity for lawyers and engineers.