Symantec and Dragon form training programme

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Symantec has hooked up with former Dragon’s Den star James Caan to help small businesses protect their data and intellectual property.

A six-month educational programme has been set up to give entrepreneurs a greater understanding of the risks they faced.

Between now and August educational material will be sent out and some hands-on events will be run, although Symantec was unable to confirm exact details.

Entrepreneurs who take part in the project will be informed what tools are available to help them mitigate against threats to corporate data.

“At the heart of every successful entrepreneur is an ability to calculate risk and understand its impact," said Caan. "The longevity of their business relies on informed decisions.”

“Many businesses tend to underestimate the importance of securing company information. The consequences of a leaked customer database or a confidential email can be very damaging to a company and potentially bring it to a halt.”

Caan, also the chief executive (CEO) of private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw, is not the only celebrity to have been recruited by Symantec this year.

TV presenter Konnie Huq was on hand last month to help promote the Norton Cybercrime Index, designed to raise awareness of the threats facing people today.

“We are driving this education programme to free up entrepreneurs to focus on driving their business forward, with the peace of mind that they understand the data risks and feel comfortable that they have the right precautions in place,” added Ross Walker, director of small business for Symantec UK.

A recent Symantec study suggested the average small business lost £5,000 a year because of poor data protection.

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