U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced a build that would help equip the general public, as well as businesses and governments, with the tools and guidance to protect against cyberthreats.
The bill – the Cyber Essentials Act — directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to work with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop and publish evidence-based guidance Americans can follow to secure their technology and data.
“Today, cyberattacks are more pervasive than ever, and continue to cost individuals, businesses, and governments billions of dollars each year. While most Americans recognize cybercrime as a growing threat to their security and the security of our nation, many are unable to navigate the complexities of currently available cybersecurity guidance,” Katko, ranking member on the Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection & Innovation Subcommittee, said. “To effectively protect against cybercrime, we must make guidance more accessible to the general public. My bipartisan bill, the Cyber Essentials Act, achieves this by requiring CISA and NIST to collaborate on a list of basic actions the general public should take to secure their technology and data. In providing all Americans with the tools they need to strengthen cybersecurity, we will ensure our nation as a whole is better protected.”
Reps. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) also sponsored the bill along with Katko.
Malicious cyber activity cost the U.S. economy between $57 billion and $109 billion in 2016, according to a report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers.