If you’re a small business owner, you may feel completely overwhelmed by the digital security threats you face, and you’re not alone. A recent survey indicated that more than 70% of all cyber-attacks are made against companies with fewer than a hundred employees. Unfortunately, those companies don’t have the deep pockets of the large multinationals, and are often ill-equipped to ward off determined attacks.
If that describes your current situation, then help will soon be on the way. There’s a new bill, the Main Street Cybersecurity Act, making its way through Congress that seeks to create cybersecurity guidance specifically tailored to small business.
The bill would require NIST to incorporate methods devised and adopted through the Small Business Development Cyber Strategy, which was enacted last year. Among other things, the new guidelines would include:
• Basic controls designed to assist small businesses in defending against common types of cyber-attack vectors
• Technology-neutral recommendations that rely on off-the-shelf products
The bill is almost certain to pass, although there will obviously be some lag between passage and the development of something truly useful. That will no doubt be an ongoing, iterative process, and as such, it won’t provide any sort of immediate help for beleaguered business owners.
Nonetheless, it is a very good sign that the government is aware of the threats small businesses face in terms of digital security, and that they’re taking steps to help address the problem.
If you’re a small or medium-sized business owner, take heart. Help is on the way, and once the new guidelines appear, if you’re worried that you may not have the staff necessary to implement them, we can help with that.
Just give us a call. We’ll put you in touch with one of our talented team members who can work with you to map out your digital security needs and craft a plan that will keep you safe and give you greater peace of mind so that you can focus on growing your business.
