Free advisory data protection check-ups and free online training on cyber security
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has published a new blog about free advisory check-ups that it is offering to help small businesses make the best use of their personal data. Small organisations, including small businesses, small groups/clubs and sole traders, can apply for an informal session of up to two hours where they will work with a member of the ICO’s SME team to complete a health check of their practices. At the end, they will receive a brief report setting out what they need to do to handle data more effectively as their business grows. Small organisations can apply for a check-up by completing an online form, and they will then be contacted by the ICO if their request can be progressed.
In addition, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has announced that it is offering new free online training for small organisations, particularly aimed at those that do not have an IT department or technical staff responsible for cyber security. The training will guide businesses through the actions they need to take to reduce the likelihood of common cyber-attacks. The training demonstrates how businesses can improve their resilience, and covers five key areas:
- backing up data correctly
- protecting the business against malware
- keeping the devices used by employees secure
- the importance of creating strong passwords
- defending the business against phishing.