What are the most in-demand data privacy skills and competencies in the market?

I believe the two most in demand skills for a privacy professional is the ability to give practical, realistic advice about how to operationalize and manage privacy compliance and risk to business people when there is so much grey in these laws. This means understanding your business, including how its technology works, its risk appetite, where is a company collecting and receiving data, and benchmarking, etc. Not every person can work in the grey.

In my view, the most in-demand data privacy skills include legal and regulatory expertise, proficiency in privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, DPDPA or global regulations knowledge), risk assessment capabilities, and strong communication skills. Technical competencies in data encryption, cybersecurity etc. are essential (at least the foundational knowledge to assess). For example, a Data Privacy Specialist might need to interpret and apply complex privacy laws, assess the risks associated with new data initiatives, and effectively communicate privacy policies to diverse stakeholders. As the field evolves, staying updated on emerging technologies and privacy trends is crucial for professionals.

If you look at Data Privacy roles in the market, the following appear to be major skills recruiters are looking for 1) CIPP/CIPM/ CIPT or equivalent certification depending on the role 2) Experience in tools such as One Trust 3) Good understanding of data protection laws across jurisdictions 4) Understanding of sectoral regulations on data protection. 5) Ability to conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments.

Regulators across the globe recognise the risk posed to end consumers when they park their data with applications.This shows in the statistic that 71% nations worldwide have a Data protection law in place, 9% in the pipeline. Moreover, these regulators are also extending the scope to data handling standards as well as privacy preserving practices. GDPR (EU) from 2017 has set a strong standard for nations across the globe for digital personal data protection. DPDPA (India), LGPD (Brazil), PIPL (China), PIPEDA (Canada) and a bunch of states from the US are following suit (HIPPA COPPA CCPA) This is a dynamic ecosystem and case work keeps setting new precedence and clarifying the scope and depth of the implementation of these laws.

In the data privacy field, the most in-demand skills include a comprehensive understanding of data privacy laws across different jurisdictions, proficiency in innovative technologies like blockchain, AI, and the ability to educate stakeholders on privacy best practices. Also, staying informed about emerging tech solutions such as Zero Knowledge Proofs and embracing a "privacy by design" approach in data-related projects are crucial for success in this evolving landscape.

Data governance is an important step in the implementation of any privacy framework. At its core, Data governance can be broken down in two parts: 1. Maintaining technical and business metadata that describes any record and helps systems understand the importance and/ or sensitivity of a particular data point. Tagging data correctly at its ingestion source and carrying over this context throughout your architecture is half job done 2. Policy definition on top of metadata that asserts access control based on roles/ attributes as well as allowed usage purposes, destinations, form factors and granularity of exposure for specific downstream data consumption use cases

Data Privacy and Governance are like two sides of the data management coin. While privacy brings in the crucial why’s behind the data management practices like data quality, lineage, metadata, literacy etc., data governance will bring the how’s and what’s to help implement and operationalize the data management practices including Privacy by Design.

Roles and responsibilities defined are important before establishing a data governance process. It is important to distinguish between Owner vs. Steward. An Owner has access to information assets within their functional areas. A Steward oversees the quality of a defined dataset on a day-to-day basis. Consider memorializing roles and responsibilities in RACI Charts. They can really help communicate the interaction and authority among leaders and teams clearly.

1. Regulatory Knowledge and Compliance: Understanding of Data Protection Laws,Compliance Management 2. Data Governance and Policy Development:Data Governance Frameworks,Policy Development 3. Risk Management and Assessment:Risk Assessment,Risk Mitigation 4. Data Security and Protection:Encryption and Data Masking,Access Control 5. Incident Response and Management:Incident Response Planning,Forensics and Investigation 6. Data Management and Lifecycle:Data Inventory and Classification,Data Lifecycle Management 7. Privacy by Design and Default:Privacy Engineering,Privacy by Default 8. Technology and Tools Proficiency:Data Privacy Tools,Security Technologies 9. Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills:Data Analysis,Problem Solving.

Data governance is more than just setting rules; it’s about cultivating a mindset where data integrity and responsibility are integral to every function. The real test is aligning these practices with business goals, ensuring data is secure and used wisely. While tools are essential, the real difference lies in empowering individuals to make thoughtful, ethical decisions with data. In today’s digital landscape, those who excel at governance don’t just manage data—they turn it into a decisive advantage.

Data security and encryption are crucial for any privacy framework. Data security needs to be implemented at different layers in your stack: 1. Ingestion 2. Storage 3. Internal/ external transfers 4. Data Usage Data masking (pseudonymization, anonymization techniques) as well as encryption protocols protect raw data from any adversarial attacks on your storage, transit or usage endpoints. Advancements in cryptography mathematics are continuously upgrading the standards of data security while the fear of a post quantum world continuously looms over security professionals worldwide.

Coming from a Security Engineering background I found myself intrigued when learning about Privacy Engineering. Having prior knowledge and experience in security engineering helped bridge the gap we often find in Privacy initiatives.

Data security goes beyond protection; it’s about ensuring confidence in an era where a single breach can unravel an organisation’s credibility. Encryption is crucial, but proper security is found in a multi-layered approach—anticipating risks, adapting to new threats, and ensuring that every data remains secure, whether at rest or in transit. The goal is to refine your security practices to stay ahead of attackers continually. In a digital world, those who excel in data security aren’t just protecting information—they’re safeguarding the trust that holds everything together.

Data security and encryption are fundamental data privacy skills. They shield data from unauthorized access or loss, ensuring compliance and trust. Identifying and assessing risks is key, leading to tailored mitigation strategies. Implementing encryption, pseudonymization, and access controls safeguards data at rest and in transit. Secure communication channels, protocol adherence, and sound password management bolster protection. Following best practices in backup and recovery is essential. Given the prevalence of data breaches, staying updated with encryption technologies and regulations like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 is vital. These skills are pivotal in safeguarding data and maintaining compliance and trust.

1. Encryption Technologies:Symmetric Encryption,Asymmetric Encryption,Hashing 2. Public Key Infrastructure (PKI):Certificate Management,SSL/TLS 3. Data Masking and Tokenization:,Data Masking,Tokenization 4. Data Loss Prevention:DLP Tools,Policy Development 5. Database Security:Database Encryption,Database Activity Monitoring 6. Cloud Security:Cloud Encryption,Cloud Security Best Practices 1. Risk Assessment and Management:Threat Modeling,Risk Analysis 2. Incident Response and Management,Incident Handling,Forensics 3. Compliance and Regulatory Knowledge,Regulations,Compliance Audits

In my experience, the ability to properly articulate privacy by design philosophy is the top skill in demand. You need to be able to "shift privacy left" within the organization and bake in proper privacy fundamentals early in the SDLC. In order to accomplish this, you need someone that is a solid persuasive communicator that can get buy-in across an org from multiple stakeholders.

The concept of Privacy by design promotes the idea of proactively solving for privacy throughout system design and the software development lifecycle instead of reactively upgrading your tech for compliance purposes from time to time. Privacy by design takes into account all downstream data consumption use cases and dictates the right granularity, form factors and privacy budgets for each of them instead of a blanket policy for all use cases

Data ethics and privacy by design are crucial for upholding the principles enshrined in South Africa’s POPIA. This approach integrates ethical considerations into every aspect of data handling to ensure compliance and respect for individual rights. By embedding POPIA’s requirements into their data processes, organisations adhere to legal standards and build systems that genuinely align with the values and expectations of those they serve. In today’s data-driven world, prioritising ethics and POPIA compliance isn’t just about following laws—it’s about earning and maintaining trust.

Establishing a privacy-centric environment and culture within your organization, achieved through promoting awareness and emphasizing the significance of privacy to employees, is crucial in data privacy. One key principle supporting this is "Privacy by Design," which focuses on maintaining and nurturing data privacy from the outset of the software development life cycle. This involves implementing privacy measures before initiating any changes to tools, applications, or the organization itself.

Privacy by design is one of the most in-demand skills in the privacy sector. Why? The answer is simple. Every product, service or application requires privacy inspection from the first get-go because if privacy is embedded in each stage of the product then that helps the organisation to comply with applicable data privacy laws along with successful compliance to regulatory requirements. A good Privacy professional knows how to do that and do it right!

I think the actual most essential skill for any privacy professional is the ability to collaborate with a wide range of folks. It is essential that you can both talk the talk with engineering and legal. I find it often that I am having to play the role of translator for both legal and engineering. The ability to communicate well with all parties and help other teams understand each other is an essential part of being a privacy professional.

La comunicación es importante y la clave porque se tiene que hablar con diferentes tipos de equipo; desarrollo, legal y de seguridad; para poder hacer que los requerimientos sean traducidos, entendidos y explicados desde sus fundamentos para todos los involucrados en su respectivo alcance.

I've always believed that effective communication and collaboration are at the heart of data privacy. It's essential to stay updated by attending workshops tailored for data privacy professionals. I think active listening can't be stressed, especially when understanding the concerns of various stakeholders. I've found that role-playing real-life scenarios help communicate complex topics more effectively. Regular meetings across functions ensure everyone's on the same page, and having some training in conflict resolution can be a game-changer when disagreements arise. It's all about continuous effort and striving for excellence.

In South Africa's POPIA context, communication isn’t just about getting the message across; it’s about making complex legal requirements understandable and actionable for everyone involved. The real challenge lies in uniting teams across functions to internalise and consistently apply POPIA’s principles. Collaboration becomes crucial when aligning these efforts with the organisation’s broader goals, ensuring privacy isn’t just a checkbox but a shared responsibility. When communication and collaboration truly resonate, they don’t just meet compliance—they build a culture of trust that strengthens the entire organisation.

Working in privacy teams, I learned that open communication is key. We face a unique challenge: collaborating with diverse teams while keeping data secure. The key lies in balancing transparency and collaboration: Be Clear: Explain how data is collected and used, making it easy for everyone to understand. Use Secure Tools: Leverage collaboration platforms with features like encryption to keep data safe. Educate Everyone: Foster a culture of data security awareness across all teams. Strong communication is also crucial for collaboration with data, engineering, legal, and program teams. Without it, balancing functionality with data protection becomes difficult.

Por mi experiencia, aprendizaje constante, rodearte de un equipo de trabajo experto o colaboradores que conozcan cada área y hacer las preguntas correctas. Hay que investigar y averiguar la finalidad del tratamiento, el flujo de datos personales y los medios.

There's no way around continuously keeping yourself updated on best practices in data privacy thanks to: 1. Frequently evolving privacy laws from regulators and new case work setting precedence for the right protection practices for different combinations of sensitivity, volume and usage of data 2. Hackers with malicious intent upping their game and finding newer and newer ways to break current data security and protection practices Standardisation of technology by research platforms and peer review/ testing new protocols with adversarial attacks can help educate all concerned about the latest developments

One of the most important roles for a Data Protection professional is to be able to explain the regulatory requirement in such a way that the business can understand, accept and apply the appropriate controls. Communication and influencing are key

In my experience, there are new and various privacy incidents on daily basis across the globe and hackers continously adapt and grow and hence it is very necessary for privacy professionals to continue learn and adapt as well to new technologies/tools and controls.

When considering South Africa's POPIA, addressing how emerging technologies intersect with data privacy is crucial. For example, AI algorithms must be transparent and compliant with POPIA's principles, ensuring they do not infringe on data subject rights. Additionally, blockchain technology poses unique challenges due to its immutability, which conflicts with data correction and deletion requirements under POPIA. Navigating these complexities requires adherence to the law and innovative approaches that integrate technology with regulatory demands. In this evolving landscape, understanding POPIA's application in new tech is not merely a regulatory challenge but a strategic advantage.

There is a common trend that it is happening where Data Privacy and Protection are being treated as its own. this thought is an error in how Data Privacy works. Data Privacy is the means to help to more reasonable and "healthier" business practices which turn into better governance practices. Data Privacy is more relevant to the ESG goals of corporations and it will contribute to their ESG analysis, and by effect to their value. This means to increase the desire to be invested or to be more trustworthy to clients/users.