The Bharath Data Protection Officer (DPO) training and certification program has been inaugurated by the Speaker of Puducherry, Embalam Selvam, at the Rashtriya Raksha University, Puducherry campus last Friday.

In adherence to the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 and global data protection regulations, SASTRA in collaboration with SkillsDA and TCIL, is providing a three-day certified training program named Bharath DPO. The program aims to provide participants with a holistic understanding of the DPDP Act along with a comparative analysis of major international data protection laws.

Inaugurating the program, Puducherry Speaker Embalam Selvam emphasized the critical importance of data protection, highlighting its significance not only for safeguarding individuals but also for the security and development of the entire nation. Selvam pointed out that despite comprehensive protection measures, data theft through advanced methods remains a persistent challenge. He underscored the necessity for a permanent and robust solution to safeguard both individual and government data.

The Puducherry government, he assured, is committed to supporting initiatives like this program, which promise substantial benefits to the participants.

Education, Home, and Industries Minister A. Namassivayam highlighted the complexities of data protection in today’s technologically advanced era. He remarked that while technology is widely accessible, safeguarding individual rights over personal data remains challenging. The current situation allows for unprecedented access to personal data, transforming data from being merely a form of wealth to a potent weapon. Namassivayam stressed the critical importance of data protection and welcomed initiatives like this program, recognizing their vital role in addressing this pressing issue.

Col. Nidhish Bhatnagar, Managing Director of SASTRA highlighted key aspects of the DPDP Act, focusing on its provisions concerning data principals, data fiduciaries, data processors, and consent managers. He noted that, as per Section 10, subsection (2) of the Act, Data Protection Officers play a significant role in overseeing and ensuring organizational compliance with data protection obligations.

The program consists of more than 15 modules, including privacy governance, risk management, data breaches, ethical considerations, and so on, with various simulation exercises and assessments for the participants.

This certification is considered essential for data protection officers and chief information officers (CIOs), compliance officers, data protection lawyers, and other professionals entrusted with data management and protection. It will provide in-depth knowledge and essential skills and expertise required for proficient management and processing of digital data. The mentors in the program are Vaidyanathan Chandramouli, a distinguished techno-management leader with over twenty-five years of experience in governance risk and compliance, and Mahesh Balakrishnan, a senior professional in integrated risk management, cybersecurity, and cyber forensics, according to a press release.