Privacy has become the new center of discussion. People are becoming more aware, the governments are coming up with stricter laws. This has had a big impact on how businesses operate. They have had to take a closer look at how their customers’ data is being used and if they are violating their privacy or breaking any laws. But simply having someone who can handle the legal aspect of privacy compliance and a person who can create the systems to implement the privacy legislation is not enough. An organization needs someone in key positions who understands the importance of protecting a customer’s data and privacy. Someone who can spread awareness and encourage an environment amongst employees to “self-regulate”, to actively keep in mind the privacy aspect while handling people’s data. A person who can create and administer an organization-wide privacy program is an asset to the team. This is why the CIPM or Certified Information Privacy Manager has become a sought-after certification, both among professionals and organizations.

What is a CIPM?

The Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM) program is the world’s first and only management certification in personal data protection. It equips professionals with in-depth knowledge about privacy, helps organizations protect their data effectively, and gives privacy practitioners an edge in their careers. It is designed and offered by the International Association of Privacy Professionals, a non-profit organization working since 2000 to educate and guide privacy professionals as well as create awareness about best practices and trends.

The CIPM program allows a manager to make data privacy regulations work for your organization by understanding how to implement them in day-to-day operations. Learn to create a company vision, structure a data protection team, develop and implement system frameworks, communicate to stakeholders, measure performance, and more. The test consists of 90 questions that need to be answered in 2.5 hours. These would include some scenario-based questions as well, which require a potential candidate to have an in-depth understanding of the various elements of the body of knowledge provided for the exam. It may even include questions that are not part of the official text and therefore demands the students to be up-to-date on any developments in the privacy domain. There is no negative marking so candidates are advised to attempt all the questions to the best of their knowledge. Lastly, a candidate should aim to score somewhere between 65–80% in order to pass and qualify for the credentials.

The CIPM exam itself costs s$550 and for people re-attempting the exam cost will be reduced to $375. The candidate needs to pay an additional $250 towards the Certification Maintenence Fee, which covers the cost of membership for a period of 2 years. This fee can be paid while paying for the exam or after passing it