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Required Training for Internet and Technology Businesses in California

California is a dynamic hub of innovation, but with great digital power comes rigorous regulatory responsibility. For Internet and Technology businesses, staying compliant isn't a suggestion, it’s a critical requirement to mitigate legal risk and safeguard your most valuable asset: your employees.

The compliance landscape for tech companies is a unique cross-section of workplace safety laws and complex global data privacy mandates. To help you navigate this, we’ve broken down the Critical Compliance Training Checklist every CA-based tech and internet business needs to implement immediately.

Assigning EasyLlama's California compliance courses keeps you and your team prepared for the state's ever-evolving regulations, and can reduce the likelihood of costly fines.

Your Critical Compliance Training Checklist: CA Employees

As an Internet and Technology business in California, you are legally required to provide specific compliance training to every employee. Here’s a closer look at the mandates and why they matter to your bottom line.

1. California Harassment Prevention Training

  • The Mandate: Government Code §12950.1
  • The Significance: California law requires all employers with five or more employees to provide sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training. Supervisors must receive two hours of training, and non-supervisory employees must receive one hour, typically every two years.
  • For Tech Companies: In fast-paced, often casual tech environments, fostering a respectful and ethical culture is paramount. This training doesn't just check a box, it sets clear behavioral expectations, drastically reducing your exposure to costly litigation and improving employee retention by ensuring a safe, inclusive workplace.

2. California Workplace Violence Training

  • The Mandate: Labor Code §6401.9 (aka HB 553)
  • The Significance: Beginning July 1, 2024, virtually all California employers are required to establish a comprehensive Workplace Violence Prevention Plan and provide effective employee training. This new law is designed to equip employees with the knowledge to recognize, report, and respond safely to potential workplace violence incidents.
  • For Tech Companies: Even if your workforce is primarily remote or office-based, this law applies. Training must cover topics like identifying warning signs, understanding the plan's protocols, and recognizing environmental hazards, ensuring your employees are prepared whether they are in the office, at a company event, or working from home.

3. California CCPA Training (CCPA/CPRA)

  • The Mandate: Cal. Civ. Code §1798.130(a)(6)
  • The Significance: The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the CPRA, gives California consumers extensive rights over their personal data. The law specifically mandates training for all employees who handle consumer data or process consumer inquiries regarding privacy rights.
  • For Tech Companies: As data is the lifeblood of nearly every internet and technology service, compliance is non-negotiable. Training ensures your teams—from engineering to customer support—understand data minimization, consumer request fulfillment (like the Right to Delete), and the severe financial penalties for non-compliance.

4. PCI-DSS Training

  • The Mandate: PCI-DSS Requirement 12.6
  • The Significance: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. Training is required for all employees who handle this sensitive data.
  • For Tech Companies: If your platform involves e-commerce, subscriptions, or any direct handling of credit card data, this training is essential. It provides the necessary security awareness to prevent data breaches, protect customer payment information, and maintain your standing with credit card providers, avoiding potentially business-ending fines.

5. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Training

  • The Mandate: GDPR Articles 24, 32, 39, 47 (for companies established in the EEA and UK or serving users in the EEA and UK)
  • The Significance: The GDPR is Europe's landmark data protection law. If your CA-based tech company offers services to users in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom (UK), your compliance obligations are global. Training is crucial for employees involved in data processing.
  • For Tech Companies: Your user base likely spans the globe. GDPR training ensures that your product development, marketing, and legal teams understand international data rights, lawful basis for processing, and data breach notification procedures, shielding your company from the massive fines associated with GDPR violations.

6. Cybersecurity Awareness Training (Highly Recommended)

  • The Mandate: Highly Recommended (often driven by insurance, contracts, and best practice)
  • The Significance: While not always a specific state mandate, Cybersecurity Awareness Training is consistently recommended by regulators and is often required to secure cybersecurity insurance or comply with vendor contracts.
  • For Tech Companies: You are a prime target for cyber threats. Training your employees on topics like phishing, social engineering, password hygiene, and remote work security is your single most effective defense against ransomware attacks and data theft. A well-trained workforce turns your biggest vulnerability (your people) into your strongest line of defense.

Protect Your Business and Stay Compliant in Minutes

Compliance doesn't have to be complicated or boring. By prioritizing these six critical trainings, you empower your employees, protect your business operations, and demonstrate a commitment to both regulatory integrity and workplace safety.