A Career in Data Protection - How To Get Started

In this digital age, where it is commonplace to use mobile devices and mobile apps in our everyday lives, we see news about data breaches and data privacy concerns on a regular basis.

In Singapore, most people would be aware of the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA), which was passed in 2012, and the Do Not Call (DNC) Registry, the provisions of which came into force in 2014.

The Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), the data protection authority here, was established in 2013 to administer and enforce the PDPA. 

For those of you who are aware of the PDPA’s requirement for organisations, including non-profits and even small or one-person businesses, to appoint a data protection officer, you may be wondering: is a career in data protection for me - and how can I get started?

If I’m a student or a mid-career professional, what should I do?

In a three-part video series, Samantha Ng, a career consultant and founder of an education and career empowerment initiative, Project Jobless, speaks with Loke Qian Li, a data protection professional, about why data protection is relevant to both individuals and businesses.

In Part 1 of this series, Samantha and Qian Li discuss the following questions:

• How is Data Privacy different from Cybersecurity?
• When it comes to data protection, why should individuals and businesses care?
• If I am a student, what should I be studying if I am keen?
• If I am currently working and want to do a career switch, how should I start?

To read more about finding the right data privacy career for you, visit our guide on following a suitable data protection learning roadmap.

“Data in the wrong hands could lead to very severe consequences”

Some of the highlights in Part 1 include a comparison of Data Privacy and Cybersecurity as “cousins” (2:55), how the PDPA has implications on both organisations and individuals (4:45), and how scams and identity theft are just some of the harmful effects of personal data being exposed and misused (7:05). There is also advice on what a student or a mid-career professional should do to embark on a data protection career.

To watch the other parts of this series, please click on the following links:

Part 2: A career roadmap in Data Protection
Part 3: Tips on Data Protection for everyone – how to protect yourself and your loved ones

Article by: Yong Shu Chiang

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official view or position of DPEX Network.