Course Overview
Course Overview
Today's organizations demand not just productivity but secure, compliant productivity. Whether launching a digital service, managing beneficiary data, processing payments, or sharing reports, leaders and regulators expect you to handle information safely and lawfully. This course transforms data privacy and security from a technical or 'IT only' concept into a practical, organization-wide responsibility. You will not become a cybersecurity engineer, but you'll become a smarter risk manager of information. Learn to recognize sensitive data, apply basic security controls, follow privacy principles, respond to incidents, and work confidently with IT and compliance teams. It's hands-on, scenario-driven, and tailored for professionals who must use, share, and protect data every day.
Intended Participants
- This training is designed for professionals who regularly handle or influence decisions about data and systems:
- Managers responsible for teams that process customer, citizen, staff, or beneficiary data
- Grant or program officers managing partner and beneficiary information
- Public sector staff handling citizen records, registries, or case files
- NGO leaders and project managers overseeing data collection in the field
- Procurement professionals engaging vendors that process or store organizational data
- Finance professionals processing payments and financial records
- HR and operations managers managing staff files and internal systems
- Strategy, governance, or risk officers overseeing compliance and information risk
- Product or service owners responsible for digital platforms and user data
Learning Outcomes
- This course equips you to protect, manage, and govern data using sound privacy and security practices.
- By the end of this course, you'll be able to:
- Understand core principles of data privacy and information security
- Identify different types of sensitive and personal data in your organization
- Apply practical controls for secure data handling, storage, and sharing
- Recognize common cyber threats such as phishing, social engineering, and malware
- Understand the basics of key privacy and data protection regulations
- Respond appropriately to suspected data breaches or privacy incidents
- Work effectively with IT, legal, and compliance teams on data protection issues
- Align daily work practices with organizational policies and risk appetite
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Data Privacy and Security
- What data privacy and information security mean in practice
- Why privacy and security are everyone’s responsibility, not just IT
- Types of data: personal, sensitive, confidential, operational
- Key concepts: confidentiality, integrity, availability, accountability
- Real-world consequences of poor data protection for people and organizations
Module 2: Identifying and Classifying Sensitive Data
- Personal, financial, health, and operational data categories
- Mapping where data lives across systems, files, and processes
- Recognizing high risk data flows such as email, file sharing, and mobile use
- Data minimization and only collecting what is truly needed
- Practical exercises in classifying sample datasets
Module 3: Legal and Regulatory Landscape
- Overview of major data protection regulations (for example GDPR, local laws)
- Key principles: lawfulness, fairness, transparency, purpose limitation
- Consent, legitimate interest, and data subject rights in simple terms
- Donor and sector specific data requirements in public and NGO spaces
- Compliance checkpoints in typical projects and programs
Module 4: Practical Security Controls for Everyday Work
- Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and secure logins
- Device and endpoint hygiene: updates, antivirus, and physical security
- Secure storage: encrypted drives, secure shared folders, and retention rules
- Safe use of email, messaging apps, and collaboration platforms
- Simple personal security checklist for daily use
Module 5: Secure Data Handling Across the Lifecycle
- Collecting data securely in the office and in the field
- Validating, storing, and backing up data in secure environments
- Sharing data internally and externally while controlling access
- Archiving and securely disposing of data and devices
- Exercises on redesigning a data collection or sharing workflow
Module 6: Managing Third Parties and Cloud Services
- Understanding vendor and partner data risks
- Questions to ask when choosing software, platforms, or consultants
- Data processing agreements and basic contract requirements
- Cloud storage, SaaS tools, and shadow IT risks
- Case study: evaluating a new cloud tool used by a project team
Module 7: Human Risk, Social Engineering, and Everyday Threats
- Phishing, spear phishing, and common scams targeting staff
- Social engineering through calls, messages, and social media
- Insider threats, careless behavior, and policy bypassing
- How to spot red flags and what to do when you see them
- Simulated phishing or scenario based group exercises
Module 8: Incident Response and Data Breach Management
- What counts as a data incident or suspected breach
- Immediate steps staff should take if something goes wrong
- Escalation paths and roles of IT, legal, and leadership
- Notifying affected parties and regulators where required
- Lessons learned and improving controls after incidents
Module 9: Privacy by Design and Risk Based Thinking
- Integrating privacy and security into new projects from the start
- Data protection impact assessments in simple, practical terms
- Balancing usability, cost, and security in solutions
- Prioritizing controls based on risk and impact
- Workshop: embedding privacy and security into a sample project
Module 10: Building a Culture of Data Protection
- Turning policies into practice through leadership and example
- Awareness campaigns, refresher training, and micro-learning
- Clear, simple internal guidelines for staff and partners
- Aligning incentives, performance expectations, and accountability
- Action planning: what you will do differently after the course