Explanation of H.R. 2105 - NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act
H.R. 2105: NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act
What this bill is about:
This bill is designed to help small businesses improve their cybersecurity and protect themselves from cyber threats. It does this by requiring the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to provide easy-to-understand guidance and resources specifically made for small businesses.
Key points in simple terms:
- Who will provide help? The Director of NIST (a U.S. government science agency) will create and share information and tools to help small businesses.
- What kind of help? Clear guidelines, best practices, simple steps, and real-world examples that small businesses can use to identify, manage, and reduce cybersecurity risks.
- Tailored for small businesses: The resources will be made to fit different sizes and types of small businesses and the sensitivity of the data they handle.
- Easy to use: The guidance will focus on basic, effective cyber protections and a culture of cybersecurity without requiring expensive or complicated technology.
- Voluntary: Small businesses can choose to use these resources—they are not mandatory.
- Regular updates: NIST will review and update the materials as needed to keep them relevant.
- Wide availability: The resources and updates will be easy to find on government websites for any small business interested.
Why is this bill important?
Small businesses often don’t have the resources or expertise to protect themselves from cyber attacks, which can be costly and damaging. This bill helps by making trustworthy cybersecurity advice easy to find and use, helping these businesses stay safe in the digital world.
Additional notes:
- This law does not change any existing cybersecurity rules for federal agencies.
- The program will work with other government efforts and experts to provide the best information.
- The bill uses money already allocated to NIST, so no new funding is requested.