It is imperative that you appoint a DPO with relevant experience and qualifications. Unfortunately, it is not enough to delegate the responsibility to a member of your team who does not have prior experience.
Your DPO needs to have:
Prior proven experience and expert-level knowledge in data protection law;
Qualifications proportionate to the type and frequency of your data processing activities;
Ideally, someone with industry experience and knowledge of the types of processing you do.
With demand for DPOs sharply increasing, it is not only expensive, but also difficult to hire someone as a permanent member of your in-house team.
Luckily, for many companies, using an external DPO as a service can be the perfect solution, bringing the necessary experience and qualifications, and maintaining the independence required for the role.