Data Protection Specialist

Summary 

At Avanade, our cybersecurity specialists are innovators and challengers of the status quo. If you’re an experienced Data Protection specialist who enjoys solving complex challenges, this might be the perfect opportunity for you.   

In a client-facing consulting role, you will work on exciting projects that transform our client’s Data Protection solutions through the design and implementation of predominantly Microsoft Data Protection technologies, with a focus on the Microsoft 365 security capabilities. As a member of our security practice, you will work for both Avanade and Accenture clients, ranging from medium to large global enterprise clients.   

Join a curious and diverse team that’s passionate about next-gen tech and establish yourself as a Leader in the Data Protection space. Together, let’s transform cyber security.  

Key Responsibilities 

As a member of Avanade’s security practice, you will be in a unique position to work for both Avanade and Accenture clients, ranging in size from medium to large global enterprise clients. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the entire Avanade organisation by being a collaborative and knowledge-sharing individual, with the real opportunity to help shape the global Avanade security offerings as well as demonstrating your thought-leadership by producing blogs and articles for your region and for Avanade.com. We actively encourage and provide opportunity to undertake innovation, training, and development to ensure you are always at the cutting-edge Microsoft Security technology and our vendor solutions.This is a fantastic opportunity to establish yourself as a leader in the Data Protection space. You will learn how to deliver and solution large and global Data Protection solutions, as well as gain the knowledge and experience of Microsoft’s broader Security, Compliance, and Identity (SCI) ecosystem, which is already recognised as a world-leading integrated security platform.  

You will:   

• Work with Avanade customers to design and implement Zero Trust architectures using Microsoft security solutions, focusing on data protection.  

• Lead the deployment and configuration of:  

• Microsoft Purview for data governance, compliance, Information Protection, Data Loss Prevention and Inside Risk Management  

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Identity, and Cloud Apps  

• Microsoft Defender for Cloud for cloud security posture management  

• Develop and maintain data classification, labelling, and retention policies.  

• Develop and implement DSPM strategies for AI systems, ensuring secure data flows, model integrity, and privacy compliance.  

• Conduct data protection risk assessments and recommend mitigation strategies.  

• Support security workshops, discovery sessions, and technical governance activities  

• Provide guidance on compliance frameworks, data lifecycle management, and privacy controls  

• Provide technical guidance and training to internal teams on Microsoft security tools.  

• Stay current with emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and Microsoft product updates.  

• Work independently, with occasional validation of work efforts against strategic and operational objectives  

Skills & Experience  

• Proven experience with Microsoft Security technologies including Microsoft Purview, Defender, Sentinel, and Entra ID.  

• Hands-on experience with DLP policy design, migration and refinement  

• Strong understanding of data protection regulations (e.g. Privacy Act 1988, GDPR, CCPA, DPA 2018, ISO 27001, NIST, EU AI Act).  

• Familiarity with AI security concepts, including DSPM, model governance, and data lineage.  

• Understanding of Zero Trust architecture and cloud-native security controls.  

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.  

• Relevant certifications (e.g., SC-401, SC-200, AZ-500, CISSP, CIPP/E, AI-specific certs) are highly desirable.  

Ideally, you would have had experience working on the Microsoft platform, however we can provide focused training to the right candidates who can demonstrate their passion, experience and thought leadership in this space. 

To hit the ground running, your skills may include:  

• Proven experience of Microsoft Purview Information Protection and with data classification infrastructures and techniques to classifying unstructured and structured data both on-premises and in the cloud.  

• Proven experience of Data Loss Prevention technologies across endpoints, email and the internet, including Microsoft Purview.  

• Proven experience securing Microsoft 365, leveraging Microsoft Secure Score with a deep understanding of the security capabilities of Microsoft 365.  

• Proven experience in techniques and approaches towards the protection of data stored in databases and applications.  

• Deep expertise in data confidentiality and data integrity principles.  

• Deep expertise of business, privacy, security, and compliance challenges surrounding Data   

• Protection, including being able to research and understand data privacy requirements.   

• A keen interest in Cyber Security, maintaining a good understanding of capabilities across the industry, and in developing their own Cyber experience to continue progression.  

• With an eye to the future, you are aware of emerging technologies in the Data Protection space.  

About you   

• Experience in consulting and advisory discussions with clients and other consulting firms  

• Experience in owning the design and implementation of technology solutions  

• You are a subject matter expert, who has experience working on the Microsoft platform  

• Experience managing deliverables and being responsible for delivering against critical milestones  

• Ability to collaborate within a large global organisation   

• You have implemented work plans for assigned projects, programs and clients against established operational objectives  

• You are seen as a role model and act as a leader  

• You may possess one or more certifications