NEW CYBER BILL TO PROTECT SMALL BIZ

Sens. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation Monday designed to protect small businesses from cyber attacks by making it easier for these companies to access tools to protect themselves.

The Small Business Cybersecurity Assistance Act would authorize Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide consulting to small businesses on how to strengthen their cybersecurity protocols.

It would also require DHS to develop materials and programs for SBDCs to help the small businesses in their area defend against cyber attacks.

Peters and Rubio cited an industry report that found that small businesses accounted for 43 percent of data breaches in 2018, in touting the need for legislation.

“Too many small business owners say they lack the resources they need to safeguard their businesses and customers from hackers, fraudsters, and cybercriminals,” Peters said in a statement. “This commonsense legislation will help ensure small businesses can access much needed information and training to secure their systems from malicious cyber-attacks.”