U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is touting the benefits of the Senate advancing a pair of measures he authored, noting they seek to protect the nation’s small businesses from cyber crimes.
The SBA Cyber Awareness Act, which is co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to develop a cyber strategy, examine its IT system components’ country of origin and report any breaches and other cybersecurity incidents to Congress.
Additionally, the Small Business Cyber Training Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA), requires the SBA to establish small business development centers (SBDCs) training programs to prepare counselors in cyber planning assistance. SBDC employees would also become certified in small business cyber strategy counseling.
“Cyberattacks are becoming an increasingly common weapon used to steal valuable information and destabilize our national security,” Rubio said. “I’m glad to see the Senate pass these important bills to ensure American small businesses have the tools to defend themselves against cybersecurity threats, and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to quickly do the same.”
Rubio initially introduced the bills in March 2019. The measures now head to the House of Representatives for consideration.