April 6, 2017
A recently introduced cybersecurity bill, the Main Street Cybersecurity Act, has made its way through the Senate Commerce Committee. The legislation aims to broaden the resources available to small businesses and help protect their data from cybercrime.
The Act would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to “disseminate resources to help reduce small business cybersecurity risks, and for other purposes,” according to the bill. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework will play a key role in guiding small businesses in bolstering their cybersecurity practices.
The bipartisan bill was introduced by the committee chair, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and ranking member Bill Nelson (D-Fl). “This legislation will help small businesses get the information they need to protect themselves and their customers from cyberattacks,” explained Thune in his opening statement. The legislation has also been backed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Small Business Association.