The House Science Committee has approved by a voice vote a bill that would require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to provide small businesses with guidance and resources to counter cyber threats, Nextgov reported Tuesday.
Joseph Marks writes the NIST Small Business Cybersecurity Act would also direct NIST to help small companies facilitate partnerships with clients and vendors with a focus on data security.
The House panel also cleared Rep. Jerry McNerney’s (D-California) amendment to the bill that would ask NIST to offer small firms case studies that seek to build up their cybersecurity posture.
The Senate Commerce Committee also passed a similar bill – Making Available Information Now to Strengthen Trust and Resilience and Enhance Enterprise Technology Cybersecurity Act – in April.
