This week, January 21-27, is Data Privacy Week, an initiative focused on raising awareness about the importance of protecting personal information. Data privacy should be a top priority year-round for financial services institutions like broker-dealers and registered investment advisers. However, Data Privacy Week serves as an important reminder to evaluate data handling practices and ensure compliance with regulations like GDPR and CCPA.

During Data Privacy Week, it’s wise for financial institutions to provide training and education to employees on best practices for data privacy. Seven relevant cybersecurity courses offered by Quest CE can help in this endeavor*:

*Note: A Needs Analysis is required prior to adding and implementing your program.

Customer Data Protection (General/Municipal Securities Representative)

Course Code: 17698

This course discusses ways in which client data can be compromised should you fail to recognize and implement security measures in your practice. It is intended for retail representatives, institutional representatives, investment advisers, supervisors, or any financial service industry professional interested in learning how industry rules apply to the use and supervision of customer data.

Cybersecurity and FINRA

Course Code: 17703

This course examines cyber-attack targets and types, their threat to the financial industry, disclosure requirements, regulatory prevention measures, and practical cybersecurity steps. It discusses recent FINRA guidance on cybersecurity priorities, practices, and investor alert warnings. The course provides practical risk reduction advice and covers consequences for firms failing to protect against cyber threats.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Course Code: 10210

This course covers the history of the European Union’s General Data Privacy Regulation which took effect in May of 2018 and how it could affect certain financial representatives in the U.S. Additionally, the course discusses how GDPR differs from other U.S. regulations and the penalties for non-compliance.

Privacy, Confidentiality, and Information Security

Course Code: 17751

This course outlines privacy and confidentiality rights and protections, as well as some of the latest threats and methods for protecting electronic data, including emails, wireless networks, and mobile devices.

California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

Course Code: 12347

This course is designed to provide a high-level understanding of the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and its implications for impacted consumers and businesses. By the end of this course, users should have a broad understanding of the key elements of the law, the new consumer rights it grants, the requirements for businesses, and the potential enforcement and civil liabilities businesses face for non-compliance.

Identity Theft: It’s Everyone’s Business

Course Code: 17730

This course provides representatives with a comprehensive overview of identity theft, as well as the things they can do while conducting their day-to-day business to help ensure consumer data is kept out of the hands of criminals.

Information Security: Protecting You, Your Clients, and Your Firm

Course Code: 17734

This course covers concepts to help understand procedures for protecting confidential customer information and detecting possible breaches in security. The objective of this course is to educate representatives on the importance of protecting client information and provide suggestions for what to do if customer information is compromised, along with steps to take to better protect this information.

Data Privacy Week reminds financial institutions about the immense responsibility of securing client financial data. Prioritizing ongoing training and education in data privacy and cybersecurity is key to avoiding compliance failures and maintaining trust. Quest CE’s cybersecurity courses offer a valuable boost to data protection capabilities. Strengthening institutional safeguards ultimately protects client assets and sensitive information.

To view Quest CE’s entire course catalog, click here.