U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Small Business Cyber Security Improvement Act of 2016 on Tuesday to enable the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) to work with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist in planning for cyber attacks.
“Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, but cyber security attacks pose serious threats to their businesses and their customers,” Peters said. “I am proud to join Senator Vitter in introducing this bill to provide hardworking Americans with the resources they need to protect their livelihood from cyber threats. We must help ensure small firms can enhance their cyber security infrastructure and preparedness, so that they can continue to focus on creating jobs, spurring innovation, and expanding economic opportunity.”
The legislation would authorize the creation of an SBDC Cyber Strategy through a partnership between SBA and the DHS, allowing the latter to provide cyber risk information to assist small businesses in developing and improving their cyber security infrastructure, cyber awareness and cyber training programs for employees.
The legislation would also direct the comptroller general to conduct a review of the current cyber security resources of federal agencies aimed at helping small businesses across the nation.
Vitter is the chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, of which Peters is a member.