With just two weeks left before the launch of the Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO) program, anticipation is building across India’s legal, policy, and technology communities. The program, run by the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), begins on September 6, 2025, and has already drawn hundreds of registrants from diverse backgrounds.
Participants include senior civil servants, defence personnel, cybersecurity professionals, risk consultants, PSU executives, law students, and data privacy enthusiasts. Their participation underscores the growing urgency of becoming DPDPA-ready as India prepares to enforce its landmark Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA).
The Precedent: CCMP’s Success with CERT-In
FCRF is no stranger to capacity-building on a national scale. Earlier this year, the foundation partnered with CERT-In to deliver the Certified Cyber Crisis Management Professional (CCMP) program.
That initiative was attended by over 500 top officials from India’s civil services, police, defence, critical infrastructure sectors, regulators, and cyber units. Through real-world simulations and leadership drills, CCMP became a benchmark for national-level cyber crisis preparedness.
Building on that credibility, FCRF’s CDPO course promises to be equally transformative, this time in the domain of data protection and privacy compliance.
Why India Needs More Data Protection Officers
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, passed in 2023, is on the verge of enforcement. It introduces strict obligations on how personal data is collected, stored, processed, and shared. The penalties for violations are steep, ranging from ₹10,000 for minor breaches to ₹250 crore (USD 30 million) for serious violations.
The law mandates that certain organizations, classified as Significant Data Fiduciaries, appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO), based in India, to oversee compliance, manage Data Subject Rights, conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), and serve as the liaison with regulators.
However, the availability of trained professionals in this space remains limited. With India’s economy digitizing at unprecedented speed, the gap between regulatory obligations and organizational preparedness is widening. This is why structured, industry-aligned programs like FCRF’s CDPO are increasingly seen as essential.
Inside the CDPO Program: Practical, Policy-Driven, Professional
Spanning 4 weeks with 16 one-hour live modules delivered on weekends (Saturday & Sunday, 11 AM – 1 PM), the CDPO program is designed to be accessible yet rigorous. Recordings will be available for those who miss live sessions.
The course is divided into five core tracks:
- Foundations of Data Protection – Global privacy evolution, GDPR, CCPA, and DPDPA fundamentals
- Governance & The Role of the DPO – Privacy frameworks, policy drafting, and organizational compliance
- Operational Compliance – Data mapping, RoPA, retention, secure disposal
- Consent, Rights & Transparency – Consent management, DSAR workflows, children’s data, cookie compliance
- Risk, Breach & Vendor Oversight – DPIAs, cross-border transfers, breach response, notification, and third-party risk
Each module incorporates real-world case studies, roleplays, and templates, ensuring that learners not only understand the law but also know how to implement compliance on the ground.
Upon completion, participants will earn the title of Certified Data Protection Officer (CDPO), issued by Future Crime Research Foundation.
Limited Seats Available: The Final Countdown
With only two weeks to go, the CDPO program is already being hailed as one of the most timely professional certifications in India’s digital landscape. For those seeking careers in cyber law, governance, compliance, or data protection, the program offers both credibility and practical expertise. Interested professionals can click here to register now.
As FCRF’s Chief Mentor Prof. Triveni Singh put it:
“Our CCMP program with CERT-In trained over 500 leaders to manage cyber crises. With CDPO, we now prepare India’s next generation of data protection officers, leaders who will safeguard privacy, strengthen governance, and make organizations DPDPA-ready.”
In a country where data is becoming the lifeblood of governance, commerce, and security, the Certified Data Protection Officer course by FCRF is not just a training program, it’s a national necessity.