The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has launched a new free training programme in Northern Ireland to help small businesses and sole traders strengthen their data protection skills.

This programme, called "Data Protection Essentials," is an online training designed to help small organisations understand their data protection responsibilities. It provides practical examples tailored to various sectors such as education, health, professional services, or retail. The training covers common activities like information sharing, secure record management, marketing and customer engagement, as well as reducing the risk of data breaches.

Individuals who complete the training receive a digital certificate. Organisations can also perform a self-assessment to obtain a certificate and choose to be listed on a dedicated public register. Access to this programme is free, including for entities exempt from paying the data protection fee.