Inquiry

Data protection. It’s a phrase that everyone is familiar with but do you know what it really means? More importantly, does your organisation? In this digital age, organisations of all types and sizes are collecting and accumulating more data than ever. It’s vital to their operation, but many are unaware of the rules and regulations relating to the collection, usage and storage of data. Failure to meet data protection laws can have serious consequences for both the organisation and those people whose data it holds, yet too many organisations are leaving data at risk and blindly walking into the distinct possibility of legal action being taken against them. For people first approaching data protection, the regulations can seem daunting and difficult to navigate. This course, however, is designed not only to provide organisations of all types with an understanding of the DPA but also help them understand how they can apply it to their own activities.Spread over five modules, students will learn about:

The Data Protection Act, its purpose and the eight Principles that govern it
The practical implications of the Principles
The role of the Information Commissioner’s Office
The Register of Data Controllers
The definitions of personal and sensitive data
Conditions attached to how information is used and disclosed
The regulations attached to sharing data both within the EEA and globally
The rights of data subjects, and how they can be exercised
Responding to requests from data subjects
Practical applications of the DPA
What to consider when creating compliant policies and procedures
The importance of data security
What constitutes a data breach and how one should be handled
How to handle complaints
Exemptions to the DPA and its Principles
Changes to EU regulations and what this will mean for British organisations
The potential impact of Brexit

To help students get the most out of their learning, each module includes activities related to the topic, examples that demonstrate real life applications and multiple choice questions to test their knowledge. Each module also comes with an additional worksheet where students can consider real life scenarios relating to the subjects that have been covered. Once completed, students will understand the DPA, be able to assess their organisation’s current compliance, implement improvements, and ensure its readiness for the future. They will also be able to explain the implications of data protection laws to others.