capitol hill

House Passes Two Bills Aimed at Improving Cybersecurity for Small Businesses

Both measures, which aim to improve the Small Business Administration and resources for business owners, were adopted with bipartisan support.

Two pieces of legislation passed in the House of Representatives Monday seek to improve cybersecurity practices at the Small Business Administration and help small businesses across the country defend themselves against cyber threats.

The SBA Cyber Awareness Act, spearheaded by Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colorado), would require the agency to produce an annual Congressional report assessing its information technology and if any of its equipment was manufactured in China, The Hill reported. If the SBA was the victim of a cyber attack, the agency would have seven days to notify Congress and 30 days to notify individuals and small businesses affected by the incident.

“Our bill would require the SBA to be more proactive in protecting its data and more transparent in the event of a cyber breach,” Crow said on the House floor before the bill passed. “The goal of this bill is to put the SBA and the small businesses that it interacts with, and that depend on it, on the best footing possible to combat the rising threat of cyber attacks.”

The act was approved with bipartisan support, as was a measure that requires counselors at Small Business Development Centers -- run by the SBA -- to be certified in cybersecurity and assist business owners with protecting their businesses. The Small Business Development Center Cyber Training Act was spurred by the growing threats faced by business owners.

“Small businesses are increasingly popular targets for cyber criminals,” Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Small Business Committee, said prior to the bill’s passage. “The average cost of a cyber attack on a small business is over $30,000 which can destroy, literally, a small business.”

Both bills have companion measures that have been introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio, who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship. The legislation is awaiting a vote.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Tradeshow Work Can Be Fun

    While at ISC West last week, I ran into numerous friends and associates all of which was a pleasant experience. The first question always seemed to be, “How many does this make for you?” Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • New Report Says 1 in 5 SMBs Would Be Forced to Shutter After Successful Cyberattack

    Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) play a crucial role in the U.S. economy, making up 99.9% of all businesses and contributing to half of the nation's GDP. However, these vital economic growth drivers face an escalating threat—cyberattacks that could put them out of business. Read Now

  • The Yellow Brick Road

    The road to and throughout Wednesday's and Thursday's ISC West was crowded but it was amazing. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • An Inside Look From Napco at ISC West

    Get a look into the excitement at ISC West 2025 from Napco. Hear from some of their top-tech executives live from the show floor. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West
  • Upping the Ante

    I am not a betting man in terms of cards, dice, blackjack or that wheel with the black marble racing around the circumference of a spinning wheel, but I would bet on the success of ISC West this year. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • ISC West

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure.

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.