02/08/2018

Data Breaches Affect Everyone

Small businesses, which include many nonprofits, are often prime targets for hackers

It is no secret that small businesses are far from immune to cyberthreats and data breaches. In fact, small businesses are often prime targets for hackers, based on the assumption that cybersecurity strategies are less than optimum for organizations that have limited resources. Unfortunately, many small businesses lack the tools and support to create a prevention strategy that will adequately mitigate cyberthreats. The federal government, through the implementation of the MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act, plans to change that.

What is the MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act? The MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act of 2017 is important legislation designed to help small businesses improve cybersecurity, by requiring NIST (National Institute of Security & Technology) to provide crucial resources to guide small businesses in protecting sensitive data affordably. Cybersecurity is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and current available resources are typically geared towards helping larger businesses, and smaller businesses simply do not possess the dedicated resources or personnel to take advantage of existing initiatives. The MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act of 2017 will require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide resources specific to small businesses and promote a more flexible framework based on international standards.

What will it do for small businesses? Only 30 percent of businesses utilize the available framework to help manage cybersecurity risk, and it is important that more businesses take advantage of resources that prevent cyberattacks. With this bill in place, small businesses would have access to up-to-date cybersecurity strategies, as well as assistance in understanding why and how to implement these strategies.

Please select this link to read the complete article from thinkCSC.