Data protection policies are a set of rules and guidelines that establish how an organization or entity should handle and protect the personal information of individuals. These policies are designed to protect the privacy and intimate information of individuals, provide transparency in the processing of data and ensure that the data being processed is accurate and available only to those who need to use it for specific purposes. The protection of this data is a constitutional duty of public and private entities that process personal data.

In Colombia, Law 1581 of 2012 and its regulatory decree 1377 of 2013 establish the legal framework for the protection of personal data. It is important to comply with these policies in Colombia because the law establishes that all organizations, public or private, that handle personal information of Colombian citizens must guarantee its adequate protection. Failure to comply with these standards may result in sanctions, with the possibility of fines of up to 2,000 legal monthly minimum wages and loss of reputation for the organization.

Data protection consultancies refer to services provided by data protection professionals who advise organizations on how to implement effective data protection policies and comply with legal obligations.

These consultancies may include:

Compliance assessment: A consultant assesses the current state of the organization’s data protection practices and determines whether it is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Design of policies and procedures: The consultant helps the organization develop appropriate policies and procedures to protect personal data and comply with regulations.
Training and awareness: Training is provided to employees so that they understand the importance of data protection and how to handle personal information appropriately.
Incident Management: The consultant helps the organization establish response plans for potential data breaches and provides guidance on how to handle and report incidents.

Professionals who can provide data protection consultancy services include lawyers specializing in data protection law. There are also specific data protection certifications and training programs that can accredit professionals in this area.