Most GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliance failures occur not because people don’t know the law but because they don’t know how to apply its requirements to their everyday working practices.

The GDPR Practitioner course bridges that gap by turning legal theory into practical competence, giving learners the confidence to handle real-world data protection challenges – from DPIAs (data protection impact assessments) to data breach response management.

Here are five hands-on skills you’ll master on our Practitioner course, plus how each one applies to day-to-day working life.

1. Conducting a DPIA from start to finish

Scenario:
Your organisation is rolling out a new HR system or marketing platform that processes sensitive personal data.

What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn to carry out a DPIA – from identifying risks to proposing mitigation measures and documenting your findings properly. You’ll understand how to decide when a DPIA is legally required, how to involve stakeholders and how to assess high-risk processing as defined by Articles 35 and 36 of the Regulation.

Why it matters:
Poorly scoped or undocumented DPIAs are a recurring cause of enforcement action. Completing one thoroughly shows accountability and helps avoid costly missteps when adopting new technology.

You’ll leave with:

• A repeatable DPIA process you can apply to any new system or supplier.
• Confidence in documenting risk decisions regulators will recognise as compliant.

2. Handling a DSAR (data subject access request) under pressure

Scenario:
A former employee submits a DSAR covering many years’ worth of sensitive emails and you’ve only a month to respond.

What you’ll learn:
You’ll follow the full DSAR process — identifying what data counts as personal, searching systems efficiently and redacting correctly. Trainers walk through real examples and show how to manage deadlines, exemptions and internal coordination when time is tight.

Why it matters:
DSARs are one of the most frequent and operationally complex GDPR tasks, especially as they come with a time limit. Mishandle them and you risk regulatory action.

You’ll leave with:

• A structured DSAR workflow to manage complex requests quickly and lawfully.
• Practical redaction and communication techniques you can use the next day.

3. Responding to and managing a data breach

Scenario:
An email containing personal data is mistakenly sent to the wrong recipient.

What you’ll learn:
You’ll work through breach triage and reporting using realistic scenarios. The course explains how to determine the severity of the incident, what to record and when to notify the ICO. It also covers how to manage internal communications and prevent similar breaches recurring.

Why it matters:
Breach response is where theory meets urgency. Having a clear, practised process ensures you act fast, contain damage and meet your regulatory obligations.

You’ll leave with:

• A step-by-step breach response plan aligned with Articles 33 and 34.
• The ability to brief senior management and regulators with confidence.

4. Writing compliant policies and procedures

Scenario:
You’re asked to update your organisation’s retention schedule or create a new data protection policy.

What you’ll learn:
You’ll translate regulatory requirements into practical, readable policies that your colleagues can actually follow. Trainers explain how to balance legal precision with usability, turning the GDPR’s principles into policies that withstand audit scrutiny while staying workable for employees.

Why it matters:
Policies are often where compliance fails in practice. Well-written, up-to-date and enforceable procedures prove accountability and reduce everyday errors that lead to breaches.

You’ll leave with:

• Templates and examples for key policies (retention, consent, breach reporting).
• The skills to write guidance that meets legal and operational needs.

5. Mapping data flows and identifying risk

Scenario:
Your business uses multiple SaaS (software as a service) providers and third-party processors and you need a clear view of how the data you’re responsible for is processed.

What you’ll learn:
You’ll practise building data flow maps that reveal how information moves across systems, suppliers and jurisdictions. The course shows how to use data flow mapping to spot weak points, such as missing contracts or insecure transfers, and prepare for audits or external assessments.

Why it matters:
You can’t protect data if you don’t fully understand how it’s processed. Data flow mapping and risk analysis are central to accountability, supply-chain assurance and breach prevention.

You’ll leave with:

• A repeatable process for documenting data flows and assessing transfer risk.
• Practical insight into using mapping outputs to prioritise controls and vendor actions.

Practical training that builds credibility

Practitioner-level training is about doing, not memorising. It equips you with:

• Real-world confidence
  Apply GDPR principles to actual business problems.
• Recognised accreditation
  Earn a recognised qualification respected by employers.
• Career progression
  Build the expertise expected of DPOs (data protection officers) and privacy leads.

If you’re ready to move beyond theory and lead compliance with assurance, this is the step that proves you can.

Book your Certified GDPR Practitioner Training today and gain the practical skills to manage data protection effectively.