Washington, D.C. – This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act, legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and James Risch (R-Idaho). The bipartisan bill will provide a consistent set of standards and resources for small businesses to best protect their digital assets from cybersecurity threats. Small businesses are a pillar of the American economy and make up more than half of all jobs in the United States. Nevada alone has over 238,00 small businesses in the state, yet these businesses have also become a major target for cyberattacks.
“Nevada small businesses are often vulnerable to and targeted by cyberattacks because many lack the resources to protect themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “I am pleased that this legislation will give small businesses, who are increasingly reliant on the Internet, the additional tools they need to make sure they can defend their businesses from cybersecurity threats.”
BACKGROUND:
In addition to Cortez Masto, Schatz and Risch, cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). The bill now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
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